The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Lutz since 1964 and Pasco since 1981.
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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Avalon Park Group

Pasco Art Community Loses Great Leader With The Passing Of Jo Baughman

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The recent death of Joanne (Jo) Baughman, long-time director of the Pasco Fine Arts Council (PFAC), has been especially sad for art lovers in Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills and Dade City because her leadership was instrumental in the founding of the East Pasco Fine Arts Gallery.

It was just one year ago that the executive team at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel met with Baughman to offer its community’s Welcome Center as a new gallery for the Pasco Fine Arts Council. The developer also committed to building an Arts Center in its new downtown, as a permanent location when its downtown opens.

Enjoying a reception at the East Pasco Fine Arts Gallery are from the left: Janet Franks, Lisa Owens, Jo Baughman and Carolyn Eckerty.

For Baughman, who was involved in the Pasco Fine Arts Council for 22 years, and director for the past five, the invitation from Avalon Park Wesley Chapel to work together accomplished a long-held dream.

“We’re very excited about expanding the presence of the Fine Arts Council to East Pasco County,” Baughman said, in an interview with The Laker/Lutz News in September 2019. “It will be thrilling to feature local artists and discover new artists through these events and educational opportunities made possible through this partnership.”

In the year that Baughman headed up activities at the East Pasco Fine Arts Gallery, there have been bi-monthly art shows exhibiting the works of local artists, and several workshops for beginning and experienced artists. And, when the pandemic changed how people could meet, Baughman organized virtual art shows and workshops.

Baughman was 75 when she died Sept. 18 after a short battle with lung cancer. She passed away at her New Port Richey home while under the care of Gulfside Hospice, with her husband, Jack, at her side. The Baughmans were married for 57 years.

The loss of Baughman was especially emotional for Stephanie Lerret, who worked closely with Baughman to set up the location of the East Pasco Fine Arts Council at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel.

Jo Bauman with her paintings, photographed when she won third place in a competition for Historical Painting of Pasco.

“Jo had an unrivaled passion for the arts! Her desire to share that passion with others was an inspiration. Our relationship with PFAC started with a couple of “what-if” conversations and quickly expanded into a blossoming presence of the arts in East Pasco County. We are blessed to have known Jo and to absorb her knowledge of the finer things,” said Lerret, senior vice president of the Avalon Park Group.

Bob Langford, chairman of the Pasco Fine Arts Council, said replacing Baughman will be a formidable task.

“Jo meant a great deal to our organization. She was a very capable person who not only ran the center and all of its programs, but also continued her first love of teaching,” said Langford.

Opening the East Pasco Fine Arts Gallery was one of Baughman ‘s proudest achievements, Langford said. “We had been trying to do something on the east side of the county for many years, and Jo was so proud of our new center at Avalon Park.”

Langford announced that board member Susan Ray has been appointed interim director of the Pasco Fine Arts Council, and that a search has begun for a new executive director.

Jo Baughman was recognized for her many contributions to the Paso Fine Arts Council by Janet Litzel, a former board member, in this 2016 photo.

“Jo had so much energy and such dedication to the center,” said Ray. ”Her love of arts was contagious, and she was an inspiration to all of us. She was an excellent teacher and so encouraging to her students, whether they were taking their first lesson or were an experienced artist.”

Rita Wilson, a Land O’ Lakes watercolor artist who took lessons from Baughman, shared the following about her mentor.

“Jo never gave up on anybody. She was easy to learn from and was very good at gentle criticism that made you a better painter. She did so much for her students and the center‚ I can’t tell you how much she will be missed,” said Wilson, who also was one of the first artists to exhibit at the East Pasco gallery.

Dozens of art lovers and former students also shared their thoughts about Baughman’s passing, on the Facebook page for the Pasco Fine Arts Council.

“When I began my watercolor journey, Jo was my first teacher and I was in her very first class, 19 years ago this month. She was so warm and friendly, eager to bring out the best in all her students, to help us find our artistic voice. She was the best kind of teacher and I have always felt so blessed to have found her. But most of all, she was my friend, my art ‘mom,’ always cheering me on. To say that Jo was the heart and soul of PFAC is true, but still seems inadequate. I was always in awe of her boundless energy. I will miss her warm smile, sense of humor, and our talks more than I can say. Such a wonderful, joyous lady. It has been such a privilege to know her.” – Suzanne McManus Natzke

“I’m really at a loss for words. She was a formidable mentor with boundless energy. She could juggle more tasks at one time than anyone I knew. I loved the way her students loved her and how she would encourage them. I’m so grateful she was able to keep the center going and thriving. If she was so loved, the greatest gift you can make to her memory is to keep the center moving and growing…as her legacy. Knowing her showed me there is a season for all things.” – Laura Knox

“I met Jo about 5 years ago, when I visited the Pasco Fine Art Center, after moving to Florida. I was looking for artists wishing to join the art community in the area. When I opened the Art Center’s door and introduced myself, Jo opened her heart and introduced me to her soul. Her smile was never absent on her face, and her usual greeting and good-bye was always a warm hug. Thanks to her I was able to organize my first solo exhibition in the States. She worked hard to keep the Art Center running, infusing energy to everybody through her love for the Art. Now Jo is not with us. She departed and left us her smile, her goodness, her passion. I am honored to have meet such a woman, such a person, such a friend.” – Ernesto Miguel Blanco Sanciprianm

A Catholic Memorial Service was held Sept. 28, which would have been Baughman’s 76th birthday, at Grace Memorial Gardens in Hudson. In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations be made in her memory to the Pasco Fine Arts Center, 4145 Fairford Drive, New Port Richey, FL 34652, or online as PascoArts.org/donate.

Published September 30, 2020

D.R. Horton To Build Up To 1,000 Homes In Avalon Park Wesley Chapel

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Westgate Village is the name of the newest village coming to Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, with up to 1,000 homes to be built by D.R. Horton, the country’s largest homebuilder.

In late July, Avalon Park Group/sitEX announced that it had closed on a 285-acre parcel adjacent to Avalon Park Wesley Chapel for its third phase, and that D.R. Horton will be the builder in  Westgate Village.

Camden kitchen

“Our foundation is a single, guiding principle: a value-first dedication to the individual needs of each and every one of our nation’s homebuyers,” says Donald R. Horton, founder and chairman of the homebuilder.

D.R. Horton plans to break ground on Westgate Village during the first quarter of 2021, with plans to build townhomes and single-family homes, which will be built in two series — Express Series and Preferred Series.

Homes in the Express Series will be built on 40-foot to 50-foot homesites, and range in size from 1,239 square feet to 2,601 square feet. Floor plans will offer three to five bedrooms, two to three baths and one- or two-car garages, depending on a family’s needs.

The Preferred Series will include higher-end features and finishes. Homes will be built on 50-foot homesites and range from 1,844 square feet to 3,561 square feet.  Floor plans will vary between three to five bedrooms, two to three-and-a-half baths and one- or two-car garages.

Coral master bedroom

Townhomes will include three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, and a one-car garage with a two-car driveway. Two floor plans will be available at 1,673 square feet and 1,758 square feet.

“I am looking forward to watching our dreams for this community continue to come to life with this newest addition,” says said Beat Kahli, president and CEO of Avalon Park Group/sitEX. “Working with D.R. Horton has been such a smooth process so far, and we cannot wait for the end result!”

The Westgate Village community will embrace its own set of amenities for its residents, including a resort-style pool, open-air clubhouse with an outdoor kitchen, playground, open sports field, and picnic area with pavilions.

All D.R. Horton homes will come equipped with a smart home automation system called Home is Connected, America’s Smart Home®. Both townhomes and single-family homes will be built with concrete block on the first and second floors — a superior construction process. D.R. Horton is the only production builder that utilizes concrete block on two floors in its homes.

Call C

Schools, Amenities and Downtown
Opening for the 2020-2021 school year is a new charter school at the community entrance, Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel, with 650 students in kindergarten through sixth grade. The school offers a core curriculum of English/language arts, mathematics, social science, science and electives, such as performing and fine arts, and world languages.

Few communities offer the recreational activities found at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, thoughtfully created for residents of all ages. New in 2019 was an expansive second amenity center with a zero-entry pool, splash pad, spa and picnic area. Avalon Park families also enjoy a wide array of other amenities, including another swimming pool, tot lot, basketball courts, pocket parks with mini-libraries, dog park, and trails and walkways that will interconnect with its planned downtown.

Coral

Avalon Park Wesley Chapel soon will offer residents places to shop and work when its downtown center is completed. Infrastructure construction has begun on the first phase, which will include two office buildings, two mixed-use retail/residential buildings and a community park.

Avalon Park Wesley Chapel is east Pasco County’s premier master-planned community to live, learn, work and play. The plan includes 4,800 residential homes and over a half-million square feet of commercial and civic uses, where residents will be in walking and bike-riding distance to schools, shops, restaurants, workplaces and recreational amenities.  Already, 1,500 people call Avalon Park Wesley Chapel home, and over 800 homes have been sold since it opened in 2012. The community will continue to grow over the next several years and, at build out, will be home to 10,000 residents.

For more information about these homes and the Avalon Park Wesley Chapel community, please visit AvalonParkWesleyChapel.com.

About D.R. Horton
As America’s Builder, D.R. Horton focuses on the satisfaction of the families that makes its houses into homes. Horton builds houses for every stage in life and provides personalized services tailored to each individual need. D.R. Horton proudly operates in 43 of homebuilding’s top 50 markets in the U.S., in which it ranks among the top five in 31 of these markets. For more on D.R. Horton, please visit DRHorton.com.

About Avalon Park Group

Avalon Park Group is a uniquely diversified family of companies engaged in businesses ranging from master-planned community development, to homebuilding, mining and property management, in Florida, Texas and Switzerland. With more than $1 billion in total assets, Avalon Park Group combines its exceptional reputation, sound business experience and significant financial resources to invest in extraordinary opportunities. At Avalon Park Group, our mission is to change the way the world lives, learns, works and plays through creating healthy sustainable communities and every aspect thereof. For more information on Avalon Park Group, visit AvalonParkGroup.com, or call (407) 658-6565.

Published August 26, 2020

Multifamily townhomes Glen and Vale

Art Workshops Welcome Beginning Artists

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If you’re looking for something inexpensive to do that is interesting, artistic and safe in these days of social distancing, sign up for workshops sponsored by the Pasco Fine Arts Council at the Avalon Park Amenity Center in Wesley Chapel.

These upcoming workshops are taught by local artists and welcome beginning artists. They are fun, informative and a great way to unwind and learn something new.

Land O’ Lakes artist Lionel Sanchez will teach ‘Drawing from Still Life’ at a Nov. 13 workshop at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel. Sanchez’s works include this Tarpon Springs painting, ‘Under Repair.’

Classes are limited to just eight students, and Zoom participation also is welcome. To keep class sizes small, students must sign up prior to the day of the workshop — there are no same-day registrations. Classes are free, although there may be a small charge for provided materials.

The Pasco Fine Arts Council Inc., has been the local arts agency for Pasco County since 1978. Over the past 30 years, its goal has been to encourage community involvement in the arts, provide art education to residents and students, and stimulate art and cultural organizations throughout Pasco County.

From this Council sprung the Pasco Fine Arts Center, where artwork by local and renowned artists are exhibited at its studio locations in New Port Richey and Wesley Chapel. Its programming includes a year-round schedule of art instructions in visual arts and fine crafts, organizing and promoting workshops and demonstrations, and developing art programs for children and students.

​The Pasco Fine Arts Council recently opened a new gallery in Wesley Chapel to build relationships with local artists and community groups, and to provide cultural opportunities, art education and art exhibitions for East Pasco residents.

This gallery is the result of a unique partnership that began in 2019 between the Pasco Fine Arts Council and the developer of Avalon Park Wesley Chapel.

“Our goal is to bring art and cultural events, exhibits and educational classes to East Pasco County,” explains Stephanie Lerret, senior vice president of the Avalon Park Group. “In our first year, this partnership has led to the discovery of local artists, introduced art workshops to our community and given member artists the opportunity to feature their work in a new venue. We couldn’t be more pleased with this program!”

“It has been an overwhelming positive experience as well for the Pasco Fine Arts Council to expand its presence in East Pasco, thanks to the vision and generosity of the Avalon Park Group,” said Jo Baughman, director of the Council.

For the Avalon Park Group, one of the main goals of this partnership is to introduce people to local artists with monthly exhibits and demonstrations at its facilities.

“This partnership has allowed us to expand the arts not only to our residents, but also to the entire east side of the county,” said Lerret.

For Baughman, who has been involved in the Pasco Fine Arts Council for over 20 years, the invitation from Avalon Park West to work together accomplishes a long-held dream.

“This partnership has been a tremendous asset to the artist community and our patrons, and has greatly expanded our ability to bring arts to all of Pasco County,” said Baughman.

It is the vision of Avalon Park Wesley Chapel for its planned downtown to be the cultural and event center of East Pasco County. The downtown’s first phase will include a dedicated Arts Gallery that will become the permanent East Pasco home for the Pasco Fine Arts Council.

Upcoming Art Workshops

Textures and Mixed Media
With Patricia Garrow
Sept. 21, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Must sign up by Sept. 14

Fun With Wire Art
With Melinda Paproski
Oct. 3, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Must sign up by Sept. 26

Drawing From Still Life
With Lionel Sanchez
Nov. 13, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Must sign up by Nov. 6

Location
Avalon Park Amenity Center
5060 River Glen Blvd.
Wesley Chapel 33543

Published August 26, 2020

Abstract Artist Cindi Vinci Exhibits at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel

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If you’re looking for something free to do that is interesting, artistic and safe in these days of social distancing, stop by and see the latest artist show at the Welcome Center at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel.

‘Brain Games’

Artist Cindi Sherman Vinci is exhibiting over 20 paintings of her colorful, graphically intriguing paintings at the show sponsored by the Pasco Fine Arts Council and hosted by the developer of this master-planned community on State Road 54, located about three miles east of I-75.

Vinci paintings ask the question, “Do artists create reality as they see it, or does reality show the artist what to create?”

“As far back as I can remember, I have always interpreted the world in an abstract manner — I knew nothing I saw and heard was all there was to the story,” Vinci writes on her website. “For me, the world is a jumble of thoughts and ideas that run amok.”

She goes on to explain that her art reflects her idea of life and all of its jumbled aspects.

“My work reflects what I feel about life and all the changes that have occurred in my life. All my pieces tell my story,” she writes.

Vinci has been fascinated with abstract art since she was 6 years old. Born in 1953 in a stereotypical Italian family, her father also was an artist and taught her as a child. Vinci later studied interior and architectural design at Parsons School of Design in New York City, and also studied studio art and art history at State University of New York in Purchase, New York.

Vinci’s show, which runs through Aug.22, is the result of a partnership that Avalon Park Wesley Chapel began with the Pasco Fine Arts Council over a year ago.

‘Railroad’

“Our goal was to bring art and cultural events, exhibits and educational classes to East Pasco County,” explains Stephanie Lerret, senior vice president of the Avalon Park Group. “In our first year, this partnership has led to the discovery of local artists, introduced art workshops to the community and given member artists the opportunity to feature their work in a new venue. We couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome!”

“One of the main goals of this partnership was to introduce people to local artists with monthly exhibits and demonstrations,” said Lerret. “This partnership has allowed us to expand the arts not only to our residents, but also to the entire east side of the county.”

“It has been an overwhelming positive experience as well for the Pasco Fine Arts Council to expand its presence in East Pasco, thanks to the vision and generosity of the Avalon Park Group,” said Jo Baughman, director of the Council.

For Baughman, who has been involved in the Pasco Fine Arts Council for over 20 years, the invitation from Avalon Park West to work together accomplishes a long-held dream.

“This partnership has been a tremendous asset to the artist community and our patrons, and has greatly expanded our ability to bring arts to all of Pasco County,” said Baughman.

It is the vision of Avalon Park Wesley Chapel for its planned downtown to be the cultural and event center of East Pasco County. The downtown’s first phase will include a dedicated Arts Gallery that will become the permanent East Pasco home for the Pasco Fine Arts Council.

Artist Cindi Vinci
Gallery Show
Through Aug. 22
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday – Saturday

Reception
“Something Different”
Friday, Aug. 21, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Free – Refreshments Served

East Pasco Fine Arts Gallery
Avalon Park Information Center
33613 State Road 54, Wesley Chapel

Free Fall Workshops
Explore your artistic side at these upcoming seminars hosted by the Pasco Fine Arts Council. Classes are limited to just eight students, and Zoom participation also is welcome.

Beginning Drawing
With Shawn Dell Joyce
Great for beginners and teens
Aug. 25, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Must sign up by Aug. 17
Avalon Park Amenity Center

Getting Started Powerfully
with Polymer Clay
With Ann Larsen
Great for beginners and teens
Sept. 11, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Must sign up by Sept. 3
Land O’ Lakes location provided at registration

Textures and Mixed Media
With Patricia Garrow
Sept. 21, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Must sign up by Sept. 14
Avalon Park Amenity Center

Published July 29, 2020

Avex Homes Introduces New Model Home At Avalon Park Wesley Chapel

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A beautiful new model home by Avex Homes is welcoming buyers at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, one of the most in-demand, master-planned developments in this high profile central Pasco community.

The new Clayton model, which has been open for less than a month, is one of the builder’s most popular plans because its spacious floor plan is perfect for families of all kinds.

“This is my favorite floor plan because they were brilliant in how they did the layout — it’s very open, but at the same time, everything is very nicely tucked away, which makes it feel much larger than its 2,000 square feet,” said Carlie Meadows, a sales associate for Avex Homes.

The Clayton is Avex Homes’ new model home in Avalon Park Wesley Chapel. This three bedroom, two-and-a-half bath home begins at $270,000, and is a tremendous value for a new home in Wesley Chapel.

Meadows explains that every home built by Avex Home comes standard with granite countertops, 42-inch kitchen cabinets and ceiling heights of 9 feet, 4 inches on both the first and second floors.

The home opens into its dining room, which shows off the open floor plan that flows into the great room and kitchen. The master bedroom suite is on the first floor — a very popular feature that is attractive to families with children, and empty-nesters. A huge walk-in closet is located through the master bath.

“I love having the walk-in closet in the back of the bathroom, because when you’re getting ready in the morning, you don’t want to wake up your spouse,” said Meadows.

The two additional bedrooms upstairs are quite large, at 14.4 feet by 11.2 feet, and each has a large walk-in closet. A full bath is located between the two bedrooms.

The new sales center also is close to new townhomes being sold by Avex Homes. Several townhomes have already been sold, and five inventory townhomes are available, including the Bellevue model home.

The maintenance-free townhomes all feature two-car garages in the rear, with alley access. Three floor plans are available, ranging from 1,608 square feet to 1,834 square feet, with three bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths. Each townhome has a front porch, covered lanai or private breezeway that connects to the garage.

The townhome lifestyle is especially popular with young families buying their first home, and empty-nesters wanting to downsize. Townhomes begin in the low $230s.

“Our townhomes are beautifully designed with upscale custom finishes, and are a tremendous value for the Wesley Chapel area,” said Cheryl Gonzalez, sales representative for Avex Homes.

For families wanting to select their single-family floor plan, finishes and colors, Avex offers eight plans in its traditional single-family home options, ranging from 1,585 square feet to 2,856 square feet, built as one- or two-story homes. Each home features a classic design with rich architectural detail and a traditional focus on the front porch. Homes start in the mid-$200s and are available on a variety of lots, including conservation and water views.

If building from scratch, Avex allows its homebuyers to upgrade home finishes to their individual lifestyle and design preferences — from moving electrical outlets, to upgrading cabinets and flooring, to choosing colors that best show off their individual taste.

Amenities and Downtown
Few communities offer the recreational activities found at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, thoughtfully created for residents of all ages. New in 2019 was an expansive second amenity center with a zero-entry pool, splash pad, spa and picnic area. Avalon Park families also enjoy a wide array of other amenities, including another swimming pool, tot lot, basketball courts, pocket parks with mini-libraries, dog park, and trails and walkways that will interconnect with its planned downtown.

Avalon Park Wesley Chapel soon will offer residents places to shop and work when its downtown center is completed. Infrastructure construction has begun on the first phase, which will include two office buildings, two mixed-use retail/residential buildings and a community park.

“We will be building beautiful, multi-story buildings with commercial space designed for businesses our residents want close to home — restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops, bars and entertainment, hair and nail salons, as well as activities like dance, gymnastic and karate studios,” said Stephanie Lerret, senior vice president of the Avalon Park Group.

In addition to shops and markets, the community’s downtown area will have over 500,000 square feet of commercial space.

“We are not just developers— we are building a brand new town with family events all year-long,” said Lerret. “We’re bringing together everything a family needs to enjoy life today, and in the future.”

Already, 1,500 people call Avalon Park Wesley Chapel home, and over 750 homes have been sold since it opened in 2012. The community will continue to grow over the next several years and, at build out, will be home to 10,000 residents residing in 4,400 single and multifamily homes.

Published July 29, 2020

PFAC Partnership Continues

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Avalon Park Wesley Chapel began a partnership with the Pasco Fine Arts Council last summer, with the goal of bringing art and cultural events, exhibits and educational classes to East Pasco County. In its first year, this partnership has led to the discovery of local artists, introduced art workshops to the community and given member artists the opportunity to feature their work in a new venue.

“One of the main goals of this partnership was to introduce people to local artists with monthly exhibits and demonstrations,” said Stephanie Lerret, senior vice president of the Avalon Park Group. “This partnership has allowed us to expand the arts to not only our residents, but also to the entire east side of the county.”

“It has been an overwhelming positive experience for the Pasco Fine Arts Council to expand its presence in East Pasco, thanks to the vision and generosity of the Avalon Park Group,” said Jo Baughman, director of the Council.

For Baughman, who has been involved in the Pasco Fine Arts Council for over 20 years, the invitation from Avalon Park West to work together accomplishes a long-held dream.

“This partnership has been a tremendous asset to the artist community and our patrons, and has greatly expanded our ability to bring arts to all of Pasco County,” said Baughman.

It is the vision of Avalon Park Wesley Chapel for its planned downtown to be the cultural and event center of East Pasco County. The downtown’s first phase will include a dedicated Arts Gallery, which will become the permanent East Pasco home for the Pasco Fine Arts Council.

Artist Cindi Vinci
Gallery Show
July 1 – Aug. 22
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday – Saturday

Reception
“Something Different”
Friday, Aug. 21, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Free – Refreshments Served

East Pasco Fine Arts Gallery
Avalon Park Information Center
33613 State Road 54, Wesley Chapel

Published June 24, 2020

In Just Six Weeks, A Brand New School Opens

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Few planned communities can boast of a public library AND a tuition-free charter school at the main entrances to their development. But, these bragging rights go to Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, the only development in Pasco County to offer both.

First to open is Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel, when students will pour through its doors on Aug. 10, the first day of the 2020-2021 school year in Pasco County. And then, a few months later, the New River Library will be re-opening in a completely remodeled building just a few blocks west of the school.

There will be over 600 students in kindergarten through sixth grade at the new charter school — the first Pinecrest Academy in Tampa Bay. With 16 schools nationwide, Pinecrest Academy offers advanced programs for its students, including STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) curriculum, and a dual English/Spanish language program.

At Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel, students in all grades also will be immersed in new technologies, including robotics, and will work in fully functioning STEM labs — something most schools do not offer.

“All Pinecrest schools have an emphasis on high-quality instruction. We’ll continuously be monitoring the data so we know what each student needs, and have many different programs available to focus on the needs of the individual student,” says Principal Aimee Mielke.

There are still openings for students, and Mielke encourages interested families to explore the school’s website and complete its application as soon as possible. Information and the application form can be accessed at PinecrestWesleyChapel.com.

Mielke has hired most of the school’s 27 teachers, including classroom, art, music, Spanish, and physical education, as well as an instructional coach and office staff.

“We have a nice combination of experienced teachers from both public and charter schools,” said Mielke, who adds that over half of her teaching staff have master’s degrees.

The school, which is located on State Road 54 about three miles east of Interstate 75, will have several sections at every grade level, with kindergarten and the lower grades having the most.

The school also is offering self-contained classrooms for gifted students, where pacing will be faster and performance tests much more in-depth.

Everything designed and purchased for the classrooms was chosen for student engagement, Mielke explains, and technology is an essential component of the new school. Laptops are being provided for every student in grades two through six, as are iPads for first-graders and kindergartners.

Blue and green colors brilliantly burst along the hallways of the modern building that has 49 large classrooms, oversized art and music rooms, and high-tech science labs. The school is visually notable with unusual windows in the shape of half-moons, circles and squares that give students and faculty stunning lake and conservation views.

The New River Library and Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel, along with New River Elementary, are all important elements of the goal to build a brand-new town, says Stephanie Lerret, senior vice president of marketing and community relations for the Avalon Park Group, the developer behind the community.

“We are ecstatic to have both a brand new library and charter school in our community to give our residents the best opportunities for themselves and their children,” said Lerret.

New Charter School Ready For Students at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel

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Pasco County’s newest charter school, Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel, is on track to open later this summer with 652 students in kindergarten through sixth grades.

Principal Aimee Mielke reports there are still openings for students in all grades, and encourages interested families to explore the school’s website and complete its application as soon as possible. Information and the application form are at PinecrestWesleyChapel.com.

The school, which is located on State Road 54 about three miles east of I-75, will have several sections at every grade level, with kindergarten having the most.

“We’re looking at opening with between six and eight kindergarten classes, and four classrooms each for first and second grades,” said Mielke. “It is very rewarding to be a new school that is flexible and able to offer the number of classrooms per grade that our community needs.” Grades three through six will have two and three sections.

Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel is a tuition-free public charter school situated at the community entrance of Avalon Park Wesley Chapel. It is the first Pinecrest Academy in Tampa Bay, and will be expanding to add seventh and eighth grades in subsequent years.

With 16 schools nationwide, Pinecrest Academy Inc. has made a name for itself in the education community. It offers advanced programs, including a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) curriculum, and a dual English/Spanish language program. With the STEM program, Pinecrest students will learn about new technologies, such as robotics, and will have fully functioning STEM labs in all grades — something most schools do not offer.

Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel also will have self-contained classrooms for gifted students, where pacing will be faster and performance tests much more in-depth, to allow gifted students to flourish in their education.

“All Pinecrest schools have an emphasis on high-quality instruction. We’ll continuously be monitoring the data so we know what each student needs, and have many different programs available to focus on the needs of the individual student,” says Mielke.

Everything designed and purchased for the classroom was chosen for student engagement, Mielke explains, and technology is an essential component of the new school. Laptops are being provided for every student in grades two through six, as are iPads for first-graders and kindergartners.

Each classroom will have a 70-inch Clear Touch Interactive Board mounted on the wall that will be used to pull up textbooks and other teaching aids. Teachers and students will be able to work on the screen, much like a giant, touch-screen white board.

The inviting furniture Meikle’s team selected for their classrooms was chosen to give students a feeling like they are walking into their living room, not a traditional school classroom.

The modern architecture of Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel gives students and faculty stunning lake and conservation views.

“There is a lot of research that proves that children have different learning styles, and we want our classrooms to be flexible and versatile so kids can break up into small groups to work together most effectively,” said Mielke.

The Principal is especially excited about a large whiteboard table in every classroom that children can work directly on, and which the teach can then elevate and flip up to create a large white board for the entire classroom to see. Plus, every chair and table is on wheels, so they can be easily moved around the classroom for small group learning.

The furniture and technology will begin to arrive at the school in mid-June, and Mielke hopes to open the school’s doors for tour to families and teachers in July. The school schedule is tied to that of the Pasco County Public School system, which is expecting schools to open August 10.

Mielke has hired most of the school’s 27 teachers, including classroom, art, music, Spanish and physical education, as well as an instructional coach and office staff.

“We have a nice combination of experienced teachers from both public and charter schools, with seven teachers at more than 20 years of experience. Plus, we have two brand-new teachers who I am very excited about,” said Mielke, who adds that over half of her teaching staff have master’s degrees.

Blue and green colors brilliantly burst along the hallways of the modern building that has 49 large classrooms, oversized art and music rooms, and high-tech science labs. The school is visually notable with unusual windows in the shape of half-moons, circles and squares that give students and faculty stunning lake and conservation views.

“There’s no question that Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel is a visually stunning architectural masterpiece,” said Miekle.

Pinecrest is offering before and after care for their students, which will start at 6 a.m., and end at 6 p.m. It will be fee-based, but Mielke ensures it will be affordable. Pinecrest also will be providing a fee-based private Pre-K program for siblings of Pinecrest students; to be considered for the Pre-K program, a child must be 4 years old by Sept. 1.

Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel is one of the most important elements of the goal to build a brand-new town in Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, says Stephanie Lerret, senior vice president of marketing and community relations for the Avalon Park Group. Lerret noted that the developer’s goal is to have the very best school in the entire state.

“Our residents are ecstatic to now have the option to send their children to one of the top charter school operators in Florida,” said Lerret.

Published May 27, 2020

Every Townhome Has A 2-Car Garage At Avalon Park Wesley Chapel

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Maintenance free townhomes with two-car garages in the rear with a private alley are now open for tour and purchase at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel.

“Our townhomes are beautifully designed with upscale custom finishes, and offer buyers a tremendous value for the Wesley Chapel area,” said Cheryl Gonzalez, sales representative for Avex Homes. “Plus, every home comes with a two-car garage — something you rarely find in townhomes that begin at $225,000.”

Beautiful inventory townhomes are now available at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel. Every home has a two-car garage, and all feature unique architectural elements, including front porches, sweeping kitchen islands, covered breezeways and grass courtyards.

Three floor plans are available, ranging from 1,608 square feet to 1,834 square feet, each with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. Homes are solidly built with families in mind, and rich in architectural design with distinctive exteriors and open floor plans. Each home has a front porch, covered lanai or private breezeway that connects to the garage.

“Buyers love our townhomes’ cozy feel and old-fashioned, traditional look,” said Gonzalez.

“People always comment on how spacious they feel because of our open floor plans and standard 9-foot ceilings on both the first and second floors.”

Homebuyers can upgrade their home’s finishes to their individual lifestyle and design preferences — from moving electrical outlets, to upgrading cabinets and flooring, to choosing colors that best show off their individual taste. The most popular upgrades are quartz countertops and luxury vinyl flooring.

“Folks really appreciate that they can select the finishes they want, including flooring, cabinetry, countertops and lighting,” said Gonzalez. “Unlike most townhomes in this price range, our buyers can choose the colors and finishes that are best for them. These are not cookie-cutter homes.”

Families also choose the townhome lifestyle because it offers carefree, maintenance-free living.

“Our HOA covers all exterior painting and maintenance, including the roof, and all lawn and landscaping services,” said Gonzalez. “People are busy and love not having to worry about these chores.”

The first five Avalon Park Wesley Chapel townhomes have recently been completed, and three are available now as inventory homes. A second building with six townhomes is underway, with completion and move-ins planned for the end of the year.

3 Inventory Homes:

Cambridge: 1,608 sq. ft., with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. Tile floors, two-tone expresso cabinets, private lanai, huge master suite. $233,144 (base price $224,990)

Montgomery: 1,834 sq. ft., with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. Front porch, flex room/den, large island kitchen, tile floors, grass courtyard. Two units available. $234,190 and $248,581 (base price $238,990)

The kitchen in the Bellevue boasts premium white cabinets and a large kitchen island with quartz countertops.

Bellevue Model Home: 1,820 sq. ft., with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths, end unit, master on first floor. Premium white cabinets, large kitchen island with quartz countertop, luxury vinyl flooring, private breezeway/lanai, huge master suite. Large loft upstairs with 2 bedrooms, and bath with double vanities. (base price $243,990)

Avex Homes and Beazer Homes are builders in Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, a 1,650-acre master-planned community located on State Road 54, three miles east of I-75. In addition to its new townhomes, Avex Homes also builds single-family homes in the development’s two neighborhoods — Cypress Village and Hawthorne Village.

“It is very rewarding to offer local residents affordable homes for first-time homebuyers, as well as luxurious, move-up homes for families wanting a larger home in a community like ours that offers great schools and so much to do,” said Stephanie Lerret, senior vice president of marketing for Avalon Park Group.

Single-family homes in Avalon Park Wesley Chapel start in the mid-$200s, and are built on a variety of lot styles, including conservation, corner and pond view. Avex Homes currently is selling its model home the original Cypress Village, and has four inventory homes that will be ready this summer in its new Hawthorne Village.

“There is still time to make your personal design and color selection on these inventory homes, if you move fast,” said Gonzalez.

Already, 1,500 people call Avalon Park Wesley Chapel home, and over 800 homes have been sold since it opened in 2012. The community will continue to grow over the next several years and, at build out, will be home to 10,000 residents residing in 4,400 single and multifamily homes.

Avex Homes is open daily for tour, with or without an appointment. Sales staff strictly follow COVID-19 safety protocols and always make sure families tour models by themselves, without other people in the model. For more information, stop by the model center at 5216 Autumn Ridge Drive, Wesley Chapel, 33545. To schedule an appointment, call Todd Simon at (407) 590-3501.

Amenities And Schools
Families enjoy an array of amenities at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel. This includes a recently opened second amenity center with a zero-entry pool, splash pad, spa and picnic area. Other amenities include the original swimming pool, tot lot, basketball courts, pocket parks with mini-libraries, dog park, and trails and walkways that will interconnect with the community’s downtown.

Nearing completion is a new charter school at the community’ entrance, Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel, which will open for the 2020-2021 school year with 650 students in kindergarten through sixth grade.

Pinecrest Wesley Chapel will offer a core curriculum of English/language arts, mathematics, social science, science and electives, such as performing and fine arts, and world languages. For more information, go to the website, PinecrestWesleyChapel.com.

Downtown Center
Avalon Park Wesley Chapel also will offer residents places to shop and work when its downtown center is completed. Infrastructure construction has begun on the first phase, which will include two office buildings, two mixed use retail/residential buildings and a community park.

“We will be building beautiful, multi-story buildings with commercial space designed for businesses our residents want close to home — restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops, bars and entertainment, hair and nail salons, as well as activities like dance, gymnastic and karate studios,” said Lerret.

In addition to shops and markets, the community’s downtown area will have over 500,000 square feet of commercial space.

“We are not just developers— we are building a brand new town with family events all year-long,” said Lerret. “We’re bringing together everything a family needs to enjoy life today, and in the future.”

Daytona Beach Newest Avalon Park Community
Avalon Park Group, the Orlando-based developer of Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, has announced its next master-planned community will be in Daytona Beach.

Avalon Park Daytona Beach will be built on undeveloped land located west of I-95 along State Road 40. The proposed new town that will include 730,000 square feet of retail space, 270,000 square feet of office space, 5,000 multi-family units, 1,650 single-family attached units and 3,350 single-family detached units.

“Building a town of this magnitude allows us to build in a compact and contiguous manner that discourages urban sprawl and has a much lighter environmental impact than typical suburban development,” says Beat Kahli, chief executive officer of Avalon Park Group.

All communities developed by Avalon Park Group incorporate a walkable, mixed-use and interconnected community that achieves efficient use of land and infrastructure costs. Additionally, its master plans preserve large contiguous space for conservation lands and incorporate a network of streets to reduce automobile trips. Together, this creates walkable neighborhoods that are centrally located around a downtown commercial center for all ages to live, learn, work and play.

For more information, call Stephanie Lerret, senior vice president of marketing and community relations, at (407) 427-6073, or email .

Published April 29, 2020

Pasco County Backs Downtown Avalon Park

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The Avalon Park Group has overwhelming support and backing from the Pasco County Commission to create a brand new town center for the Wesley Chapel community.

Downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel is being planned as a mixed-use development on 215 acres located north of State Road 54, about three miles east of I-75. The plan includes four freestanding office buildings that will have a mix of retail and commercial uses.

Avalon Park Wesley Chapel is developing a downtown that includes four freestanding office buildings that will have a mix of retail and commercial uses.

The first phase is already under construction and, when completed, will have 75,000 square feet of commercial space within walking distance to residents living in the community’s single-family homes, townhomes and apartments.

“We are creating a real downtown with businesses offices, shops and restaurants, because we want to greatly reduce the need for our residents to drive outside their community to get to work, take kids to school, shop and dine, and enjoy indoor and outdoor activities,” said Stephanie Lerret, senior vice president for the Avalon Park Group. “And now, with the full support of Pasco County, downtown Wesley Chapel will become a reality within the next few years.”

In February, the Pasco County Commission unanimously voted to approve an incentive package totaling $33.5 million. The agreement outlines that in exchange, the Avalon Park Group will spend about $83.3 million to build roads, multi-story parking decks and transit-related infrastructure.

In all, Avalon Park Group is planning to spend more than $800 million to develop its Wesley Chapel community of homes and downtown center. In return, Pasco County has agreed to provide an annual rebate of the previous year’s property tax payments, which will be capped at $32 million. These county rebates represent 38% of the total cost of public improvements.

David Engel, manager of the county’s office of economic growth, spelled out some specifics at a recent county commission meeting.

Beat Kahli

“The typical buildings are four stories in height. Commercial will occupy the first floor and three floors of residential above it. There also are five to six parking decks and four freestanding Class A office buildings,” Engel said.

Avalon Park Wesley Chapel will include 2,695 residences, 165,000 square feet of Class A Office, and 190,000 square feet of commercial space, Engel said. “Fifty percent of the residential trip generation on the site will stay on the site, once the project is complete,” Engel said.

The project is expected to generate 1,065 full-time jobs and have a total economic output of $84.4 million, according to county documents.

“Instead of building subdivisions, we are building towns,” said Beat Kahli, president and CEO of Avalon Park Group. “Having jobs within our community is the best way to  resolve traffic congestion caused by daily commutes.”

Kahli’s company already has done a similar project — Avalon Park Orlando — and is currently developing Avalon Park Tavares and Avalon Park Daytona Beach using the same standards.

Commissioner Jack Mariano said he’s aware of Kahli’s “tremendous success” in Orlando.

“I know you’re going to have it right here, as well. I’m glad you picked Pasco County,” Mariano said.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey added, “This is cutting-edge planning, right here. Being able to live, work and play in the same neighborhood is a great solution for sprawl.”

Published March 25, 2020