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Newland Communities

Bexley Wins Big at Parade of Homes

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Bexley and four of its outstanding builders were big winners at last month’s 2019 Parade of Homes. The annual event is sponsored by the Tampa Bay Builders Association.

In all, builders at Bexley earned three Grand Awards and three Silver Awards for model homes, along with two Best in Class Awards. The community’s model homes were the winningest of any other community competing in this year’s Parade.

Model homes throughout Bexley were judged by a panel of industry experts. Bexley also had the honor of being the Parade’s featured Showcase Community.

Parade of Homes award winners at Bexley include the elegant Savannah model by Cardel Homes and the Bayshore II model from Homes by WestBay, with its beautiful outdoor living area shown here.

Pulte Homes’ Summerwood in the Del Webb at Bexley 55-plus community earned a Grand Award in the $350,000 – $399,000 price range category. In the $600,000 – $649,000 price range, the Bayshore II model from Homes by WestBay also earned Grand Award honors.

Cardel Homes’ Savannah and Henley took home both the Grand Award and Silver Award in the $750,000 – $799,000 price category.

Homes by WestBay’s Cypress Model received a Silver Award in the $400,000 – $449,000 price category while David Weekley’s Tangelo also earned a Silver Award in the $550,000 – $599,000 category.

Best in Class honors went to Cardel Homes for its Master Suite and Bath in the Savannah model. The single-story floor plan features four bedrooms, three baths, a three-car garage and more than 3,300 square-feet of living space in a single-story design.

Homes by WestBay also earned a Best in Class Award in Outdoor Living for its Bayshore II model.

“We’re honored to have several of our outstanding builders recognized,” said Pam Parisi, vice president of marketing for Newland. “This year’s Parade of Homes also recognized Bexley as its Showcase Community. It was wonderful to host so many prospective homebuyers during the event because it offered them the chance to experience Bexley’s unique and vibrant community first-hand.”

Bexley is one of the top-selling communities in the Tampa area, with a variety of home styles ranging from low-maintenance townhomes to single-family and luxury homes.

Nestled among cypress domes, oak hammocks and pine flatwoods, Bexley features significant conservation areas and a myriad of opportunities for recreation, exercise and social entertainment and connection.

The Bexley Club, a lakeside clubhouse is the centerpiece of the community and home to The Twisted Sprocket Café. This popular meeting spot is open to the public and serves breakfast items, gourmet lunches, desserts, smoothies, wine, craft beer and coffee drinks. Next to the clubhouse, Suncoast Trailside Bicycles sells a variety of bikes, gear and clothing, and offers repairs. If you’re looking to cycle around the community or hit the Bexley BMX pump track, you’ll find everything you need at this one-stop shop.

Bexley residents also enjoy miles of multi-surface Avid™ trails with Fit Stations to add fun and variety to workouts, whether walking, biking or jogging. And don’t forget about the custom-built playgrounds, two dog parks and sports fields.

At Bexley, prospective homebuyers can tour a variety of home options all in one visit. Best of all, the community offers an exclusive Resident for a Day program, which gives potential residents a chance to experience what Bexley has to offer. To learn more, visit www.BexleyFlorida.com or call (813) 425-7555.

Published April 24, 2019

93 Models To Tour In This Year’s Parade Of Homes

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The 2019 Tampa Bay Parade of Homes, hosted by the Tampa Bay Builders Association (TBBA), takes place over the next two weekends — March 1 to March 3 and March 8 to March 10. This is one of the largest Parades in Florida, with 93 model homes representing 40 builders at locations throughout Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties.

The Parade of Homes is a hands-on way to see the latest in floor plans, interior designs and architecture styles of the area’s most prominent builders and developers. There is no cost or appointment needed to tour Parade homes.

Included in today’s Laker/Lutz News is a 12-page Parade of Homes Guidebook, which gives detailed maps pinpointing the location of each Parade home. In Pasco and south Hernando counties, there are 40 homes to tour, and in north Hillsborough County, 12 homes.

You can create a self-guided map of homes you want to tour at the Parade’s website, TampaBayParadeOfHomes.com. You can also view individual model homes online by builder, as well as entries from custom builders and remodelers.

A great place to start your tour is in Land O’ Lakes at the Parade’s showcase community of Bexley, a master-planned development by Newland Communities, located on State Road 54 and the Suncoast Parkway.

Seven models representing three of Bexley’s award-winning builders are on display during the Parade, with entries from Cardel Homes, David Weekley Homes and Homes by WestBay.

“It is a great time to buy a new home in Tampa Bay with a wide range of price points, including very affordable options, Cheryl McCormick Brown, chairperson of the 2019 Parade of Homes.

“The variety of plans, locations and price points that our 93 entries represent is truly indicative of the spectrum of buyers moving into this market every day. There truly is something for everyone at every life stage,” she said.

Parade of Homes models are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., on Friday and Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m., on Sunday.

During the Parade, home entries are judged by an expert panel of building industry professionals from across the country, who consider site plan, curb appeal, design, materials, outdoor living spaces, architectural detailing and workmanship.

In addition to Bexley, other sponsors of the 2019 Tampa Bay Parade of Homes are MidFlorida Credit Union, TECO Peoples Gas, and Opendoor.

The TBBA has more than 800 members from the local building industry, including builders, developers, suppliers, subcontractors, lending institutions, architectural and engineering firms, as well as other related businesses. The organization promotes professionalism and continuing education within the tri-county building and development industry.

For further information, call (813) 571-TBBA, or visit TBBA.net.

Published February 27, 2019

Asturia, Bexley and FishHawk Are Home To ICI Homes

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ICI Homes, one of Florida’s most acclaimed builders, is building new homes in three of Tampa Bay’s most desirable communities — Asturia in Odessa, Bexley in Land O’ Lakes and FishHawk in Lithia.

All are master-planned communities with beautiful homes sites, excellent schools and expansive amenities that promote an active lifestyle. They are conveniently located close to major transportation arteries for quick access to downtown Tampa, MacDill AFB, the Westshore business district and area beaches.

ICI Homes’ award-winning model, the Shenandoah, is located in FishHawk Ranch and is a two-time grand showcase winner in the Parade of Homes.

Because so many families are currently buying homes while the economy is booming and interest rates remain low, ICI Homes is building inventory homes in all three communities, with several homes ready now.

“A lot of families have been waiting for Phase III to open because of our pristine homesites with conservation views and affordable pricing,” said Leah Turner, sales manager for ICI Homes. “We’re seeing lots of first- and second-time buyers because they love Asturia’s affordability, convenient location and outstanding amenities.” ICI Homes in Phase III begin in the low $300s.

The popular 4-bedroom, 3-bath Costa Mesa floor plan is one of the builder’s models. This 2,565 square-foot, one-story home brings together the gathering room, gourmet kitchen and dining room in one expansive space that incorporate lots of windows to bring in natural light and sunlight.

ICI Homes has 38 homesites available in Phase III, and over a dozen distinctive floor plans. The builder also has a few homesites remaining in the Asturia’s almost-completed Phase II, including three inventory homes and its Serena model home.

Bexley
For families looking for a new home in Land O’ Lakes, this is the last chance to buy an ICI Home in Bexley, an award-winning development by Newland Communities, located just east of Asturia along the State Road 54 corridor.

ICI Homes has permitted and is beginning construction on its three remaining homes in Bexley. The Costa Mesa, which is being built now, is 2,565 square feet and features 4 bedrooms, 3 baths and a 3-car garage. Another inventory home is the slightly smaller Egret VII, at 2,512 square feet, with 4 bedrooms, 3 baths and a 2-car garage. Both are very open plans with lots of windows and natural lighting.

FishHawk
In the south Hillsborough community of FishHawk, ICI Homes is building new homes in WestLake — one of the last areas being developed in this master-planned community in Lithia. 

WestLake is an enclave of 50 homes, with just 15 homesites remaining. Lots are uniquely positioned to take advantage of lake views and to protect massive oak trees and other mature trees. ICI Homes has two Acadia inventory homes — a 4-bedroom, 3-bath home open plan with quartz countertops and wood flooring. The Acadia begins in the mid $400s.

FishHawk Ranch is also home to ICI Homes’ award-winning model, the Shenandoah —a two-time grand showcase winner in the Parade of Homes sponsored by the Tampa Bay Builders Association. This unique plan is over 3,000 square feet and includes a detached garage with studio apartment. It is available on a leaseback option for $1.1 million.

FishHawk Ranch is a close-knit community that includes five preschools, three elementary schools, two middle schools and a high school all inside or within 1.5 miles of the development. Amenities include over 25 miles of paved nature trails, including the Lake House, Central Park pools and Born to Run Dog Park.

Build on Your Own Lot
With so much land available in Pasco and south Hillsborough, many families want to build a new home on land they already own. ICI Homes is one of the few semi-custom builders to offer a “Build On Your Lot” program.

“Many buyers with their own lot enjoy working with ICI Homes because they can easily customize our floor plans, and walk through our models to get a real feel for what their new home will be like,” said Turner.

Since ICI Homes was established in 1980, the company has built over 4,000 single-family homes in Florida, including the Tampa area, and has earned several prestigious awards for design and innovation. The sales center for Asturia and Bexley is at 15134 Aviles Parkway in Odessa, (813) 359-0264. In FishHawk Ranch, the sales center is at 13925 Lake FishHawk Drive in Lithia, (813) 217-5200.

Published January 23, 2019

Cardel Homes Expands at Bexley

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New models and large homesites
Choosing the right home and community are two of the biggest decisions you’ll make when buying a new home. Not only do you want you a community that gives your family plenty of ways to enjoy a wide range of activities and amenities, you’ll also want a builder whose floorplans and home features meet your family’s needs and exceeds your quality expectations. You’ll find this perfect combination with a new home built by Cardel Homes in Bexley.

This master-planned community developed by Newland Communities in

Land O’ Lakes is located north of State Road 54 at the Suncoast Parkway — a prime location that is convenient to many areas of Tampa Bay. Bexley is known for its unique amenities, excellent schools and preserved wilderness with 13 miles of planned hiking and biking trails.

Cardel Homes is one of several builders in Bexley, and has been in the community since it opened in the Fall of 2016.

“We have been one of Bexley’s most successful builders, selling all but our model home during its first phase, and recently moving to Bexley’s second phase with two new models,” said Brian Phillips, Vice President of sales and marketing at Cardel Homes.

Cardel Homes is one of Bexley’s premium builders and offers buyers some of the community’s largest homesites, many with pristine conservation views. Its homes are built on 70-foot lots, with sizes ranging from 2,507 to 3,939 square feet, and prices beginning in the $390,000s.

“Our homes offer, as standard, many exclusive features that other builders sell as upgrades,” said Phillips. “This means dollar for dollar, you get more with Cardel Homes because we put the most popular features that buyers want in the base price of our homes.”

“We give our buyers many selections to choose from, including 11 different styles of cabinets, 20 flooring options and 12 countertop choices,” said Jeffrey Lorenzo, who heads up Cardel’s sales at Bexley. “Our buyers love that they have so many choices in the base pricing, which means they typically spend less at the design center than they would with other builders.”

Customers also appreciate Cardel’s flexibility and ability to make changes.“I listen closely to what my buyers want and work closely with them all the way through the buying process,” said Lorenzo. “Because we are flexible, we are able to make changes that many national builders are not able to do.”

Another unique feature that Cardel offers is its large selection of one-story floorplans.“Families of all ages prefer living in a one-story home,” said Phillips, who adds that 90 percent of the homes Cardel sells are one-story floor plans.  “We have refined our one-story plans to meet the demands and desires of families of all sizes —couples with school-aged children, empty nesters wanting a beautiful home to entertain, and retirees looking to build their dream home to spend their retirement years.”

One of Cardel’s models at Bexley is the Henley, a new floorplan the company designed for families who love to entertain and want very open living spaces.

“The Henley offers our biggest great room and biggest bonus room,” said Phillips. “At almost 4,000 square feet, it’s a lot of house for the money, and one of the best values we offer.”

The Henley model features five bedrooms and four bathrooms with a 26 x 23 great room and 20.4 x 28 great room. Cardel’s other model home, the Savannah, is a versatile four-bedroom, three-bathroom home with 3,308 square feet. Both homes have three-car garages.

Cardel’s phase one Bexley model home is currently for sale fully-furnished at the reduced price of $749,990. “This home has over $200,000 in upgrades, and is a tremendous value for a family wanting to move now,” said Phillips.

Visit Cardel Homes at Bexley, Mondays through Saturday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m.

Every Cardel home comes with these standard features:
– Granite or quartz countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms
– Kitchen island countertop that extends 18 inches to accommodate seating
– 42-inch, level-3 maple cabinetry with crown molding and brushed nickel hardware
– Whirlpool appliance package, including a French door refrigerator
– Tankless hot water heater
– Four, 16-foot panel glass doors to a covered lanai that collapse into each other and push all the way back to the wall
– Premium windows that open easily from the inside for cleaning
– 4-inch baseboards throughout
– Closets with swing doors
– Epoxy garage floor coating

Published December 26, 2018

ICI Model Home Now For Sale in Asturia

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One of Tampa’s most preeminent builders, ICI Homes, is selling its model home in Asturia in central Pasco County.

“Our Serena model has top-of-the-line upgrades and is a tremendous value for families looking to move this year,” said Sales Manager Leah Turner.

The one-story Serena is built on a beautiful conservation lot and is loaded with elegant upgrades. At 2,217 square feet, it has four bedrooms, three baths and a two-car garage.

The Costa Mesa by ICI Homes exemplifies outdoor living with its stunning rear lanai. The company builds this open floor plan in Asturia in Odessa, and Bexley in Land O’ Lakes.

Its unique grand foyer pulls you through the house with 12-foot ceilings, and its large kitchen and great room gracefully flow onto a covered lanai that stretches along the back of the home. This exclusive model home is currently priced at $515,775.

“This home never feels crowded, whether you’re relaxing with family, playing with the kids or entertaining friends,” said Turner.

ICI Homes will soon have two, one-story inventory homes in Asturia. The Arden and Oakland plans range from 2,115 to 2,402 square feet, and have four bedrooms, three baths and two-car garages. Inventory homes, including the lot, currently begin at $392,376.

“We are ready to move quickly on all of our inventory homes, and will do everything we can to get a family settled as soon as possible,” said Ron Ferguson, division manager of the company’s West Florida Division.

Asturia Phase III
As Asturia enters its third phase, ICI Homes is excited to be introducing a new model in early 2019. The one-story Costa Mesa is under construction now.

“We’ve had tremendous success since we began building in Asturia in late 2017, and many families are looking forward to this next phase, and our pristine conservation and water lots,” said Ferguson.

ICI Homes has available 22 homesites on 55-foot lots, and another 16 sites on 65-foot lots. Homes in the third phase will begin in the low $300,000s.

“We’re very pleased to be offering families new homes in this mid-point range, which come with all the quality features, designs and construction methods that ICI Homes is known for,” said Ferguson. “Buyers are excited to get into a prestigious ICI Home at this attractive price point.”

Bexley Close-Out
This is the last chance to buy an ICI Home in Bexley, a master-planned community in Land O’ Lakes along the State Road 54 corridor, being developed by Newland Communities.

“We have three remaining homesites in Bexley, and all have been permitted and will be ready for sale in the second quarter of 2019,” said Turner.

ICI is building its most popular family homes for its Bexley inventory — the one-story Costa Mesa and Egret VII.

The Costa Mesa is 2,565 square feet, and features four bedrooms, three baths and a three-car garage. The slightly smaller Egret VII is 2,512 square feet, and features four bedrooms, three baths and a two-car garage. Both are very open plans with lots of windows and natural lighting.

Build On Your Own Lot
With so much land available in Pasco, many families want to build a new home on land they already own. ICI Homes is one of the few semi-custom builders to offer a “Build On Your Lot” program.

“Many buyers with their own lot enjoy working with ICI Homes because they can easily customize our floor plans, and walk through our models to get a real feel for what their new home will be like,” said Sales Manager Turner.

“Plus, we’re more affordable than other custom builders, who may only build four or five houses a year. There is tremendous savings working with a builder like ICI Homes, because the discounts we receive for our quantity is passed along to our ‘on your lot’ buyers,” Turner continues.

ICI Homes has built hundreds of custom “on your lot” homes, ranging from palatial estates on the St John’s River, to one-of-a-kind homes in private communities and rural areas. Since it was established in 1980, the company has built over 4,000 single-family homes in Florida and the Tampa area, and has earned several prestigious awards for design and innovation.

The ICI Homes sales center for Asturia and Bexley is at 15134 Aviles Parkway in Odessa, (813) 359-0264.

Published November 28, 2018

Active Adults Love Del Webb at Bexley

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There’s a lot of excitement about Del Webb at Bexley. The active adult community is still under construction, but it’s already been named one of the top five coming soon communities by the website 55Plus.com.

The new, gated 55-plus community in Pasco County is being built on Sunlake Boulevard and Tower Road in Land O’ Lakes within Bexley, a national award-winning master-planned community.

Del Webb at Bexley was designed with today’s 55-and-over homebuyer in mind.

“We feel the Tampa area is underserved for baby boomers looking to live in a place that is designed specifically for them,” said Sean Strickler, PulteGroup division president for the west Florida region. “At Del Webb at Bexley, they can live near their children and grandchildren, but in a low maintenance, gated community that caters to their lifestyle.”

“Del Webb is the leading builder of active adult communities and we’re excited to partner with them in Bexley,” added Pam Parisi, vice president of marketing for Newland Communities, the developer of Bexley.  “We know Del Webb at Bexley is going to be a neighborhood where residents feel like family and make lifelong friendships. It’s an excellent complement to the existing Bexley community.”

Del Webb at Bexley will offer 850 single-family homes priced starting in the low $200,000s. Floor plans will range from the efficiency of the one-story, two-bedroom Steel Creek to the spaciousness of the two-story, four-bedroom, four-bath Pinnacle Grand.

The heart of the community will be a 17,000-square-foot, multimillion-dollar clubhouse. It features a large social room; café offering snacks, beer, coffee and wine; fitness area; and resort-style community pool. Other amenities include a dog park, community garden, pickle ball and tennis courts, and recreational activities planned by a full-time lifestyle director. Prospective buyers can view a virtual tour of the clubhouse online at BexleyFlorida.com/homes/del-webb.

Residents will also be able to enjoy a lakefront club and café and purchase additional access to Bexley’s many all-ages amenities including 10 miles of multi-use Avid Trails™, parks and play areas, soccer field, dog park, two resort-style pools, bike park and a robust schedule of social events.

Del Webb is one of the largest builders within Bexley, a 1,825-acre master-planned community developed by Newland Communities approximately 20 miles northwest of downtown Tampa.

The community is the first by Del Webb to be built from the ground up in the Tampa Bay area since 1960.

Pre-sales of homes at Del Webb at Bexley have already begun and six furnished model homes are expected to open in early 2019. To learn more and sign up for the Del Webb at Bexley VIP Interest List visit BexleyFlorida.com/homes/del-webb, or call (866) 230-6089.

Published November 28, 2018

Bexley Concert Series Offers Music, Meals and Hope

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Enjoy an evening of live music and helping neighbors in need. That’s what residents in central and east Pasco have the opportunity to do when they attend Bexley’s annual Concerts for a Cause.

The Bexley community, located in Land O’ Lakes just off State Road 54 and the Suncoast Parkway, is gearing up for its third season of Concerts for a Cause, which begins on Oct. 6 and runs for four consecutive Saturday evenings through the month. Concerts are from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The series culminates with a Fall Festival on Oct. 27, complete with a pumpkin patch, face painting, food trucks, and costume contests for adults, children and pets.

In lieu of an admission fee, concert-goers are asked to bring nonperishable food items, or make cash donations to Feeding Tampa Bay. Donations stay right in the Pasco County area, meaning neighbors who attend the concerts are truly helping their neighbors in need.

Bexley’s concert series isn’t just for residents. The public is always welcome to attend. The community’s popular Twisted Sprocket Café is open until 9 p.m. on concert nights, and offers a variety of food and drink options.

Robin Graffam started attending the Bexley concert series even before she moved into the community last August. She’s been to nearly every Concert for a Cause since.

“We enjoy the music, and the kids enjoy running around and playing with each other,” said Graffam. “It’s cute to see all the kids and dogs dressed up for the Halloween costume contest. Plus, we always meet new people at the concerts.”

As a newcomer to Bexley, Graffam credits the Concert for a Cause series for helping her family develop close friendships with fellow neighbors.

“Now, the families meet up with each other for holidays and kids’ play dates,” Gaffam added.

Deirdre Bowman often brings her daughter and grandchildren to the concerts when they visit from California.

“The music is appropriate for all ages and the concerts are a very family friendly environment,” she said. “I’m so glad they offer them.”

“Concerts for a Cause has become one of the most popular events at Bexley,” noted Pam Parisi, vice president of marketing for Newland Communities, developers of Bexley. “Not only is it a great way to bring the community together, but the donations collected help so many people.”

During last year’s Concert for a Cause series, concert-goers donated more than 4,000 meals to Feeding Tampa Bay.

The lineup for this year’s Concerts for a Cause includes some of the most popular bands in the region. From Me 2 You headlines on Oct. 6. The Rhythmics belt out pop, funk and dance music on Oct. 13. The acclaimed band, Frequency, takes the stage on Oct. 20, and Raydio will get the crowd on its feet during Bexley’s Fall Festival on Oct. 27.

Concert-goers should bring blankets and lawn chairs, and get ready for a great evening of music and fun for the whole family! For more information and directions, visit BexleyFlorida.com, or call (813) 425-7555. In case of inclement weather, be sure to check the Bexley Facebook page Facebook.com/bexleyflorida for updates.

Published September 26, 2018

Bexley borrow pit gains approval

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The Pasco County Commission has approved a request for a borrow pit to provide fill dirt for use at Bexley by Newland Communities, a master-planned community, off State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes.

The development sought approval to operate the borrow to provide up to 1 million cubic yards of sand and dirt to be excavated and hauled over a period of four years.

The borrow pit will be reclaimed after the dirt hauling is completed.

The infill dirt will be used for internal uses at Bexley, but some of will need to be trucked across Tower Road, which is used by the public.

The borrow pit site is south of Tower Road, west of Sunlake Boulevard, and about half-mile east of Ballantrae Boulevard.

The borrow pit’s operating hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. It will not operate on Sundays or holidays.

The Pasco County Planning Commission recommended approval of the request, and the County Commission approved it on its consent agenda, meaning there was no discussion of the item, at its Aug. 21 meeting.

Approval also is required from the Southwest Florida Water Management District, also known as Swiftmud.

Published September 5, 2018

First Responders Call Bexley Home

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First responders are a tight-knit group. It’s that feeling of camaraderie that attracted Liam Symmonds, a firefighter and paramedic in Pasco County, to the Bexley community in Land O’ Lakes.

Liam, his wife, Keisha and their three young daughters moved to Bexley last year from Trinity. Turns out, Liam is in good company, because Bexley is home to about a dozen first responders who work throughout Tampa Bay.

Since moving to their new neighborhood, Liam learned that two of his co-workers also live in Bexley; one of them just a few doors down from the Symmonds family. Liam was so impressed with his homebuying experience at Bexley, and with all the community has to offer, that he encouraged another friend and first responder who works in Tampa to make the move to Bexley.

Liam, his wife, Keisha and their three young daughters moved to Bexley last year from Trinity.

“I’ve also met several other firefighters and police officers around the community, either at neighborhood events or at the pool,” Liam said.

For the Symmonds, Bexley is an idyllic place to raise a young family.

“Bexley has a great vibe,” he added. “We love all of the amenities, the parks and the events that are held within the community. It’s so much more than just a regular neighborhood.”

Bexley takes its inspiration from nature. With 1,825 acres of pastoral ranch lands, mature woodlands and cypress wetlands, Bexley offers miles of multi-surface Avid™ trails for biking, jogging or walking. Fit Stations are placed along the trails for exercisers who want to work out while enjoying the great outdoor scenery, or take their workout regimen to the next level. Around the community, kids spend hours on the custom-built playgrounds; sports lovers of all ages enjoy Mud, Sweat and Gears Park for soccer or football games; and Bexley’s BMX bicycle pump track lets daredevils try out new tricks. There’s even the BarkYard Park for four-legged family members, with separate spaces for big and small dogs.

As a volunteer soccer coach, Liam also appreciates living so close to Mud, Sweat & Gears park, where he can kick the ball around with his daughters, ages 11, 8 and 5. The fact that his girls can walk or ride their bikes to nearby Bexley Elementary School, located within the community, is also a convenience for Liam and his wife. Plus, Liam has a short, 3-mile commute to work.

“The first responders who live in Bexley bring a great sense of fellowship to the community,” said Pam Parisi, vice president of marketing for Newland Communities, the developer of Bexley. “As we prepared for Hurricane Irma, many of the first responders were there to lend a helping hand to their neighbors by putting up storm shutters and making sure families were ready.”

“Bexley is a place where neighbors look out for each other,” added Liam. “You just don’t find that everywhere.”

Located in Land O’Lakes in central Pasco County, north of State Road 54 and just east of the Suncoast Parkway, Bexley is in a prime location that is convenient to many areas of Tampa Bay.

The community’s 1,825 acres of pastoral ranch lands, mature woodlands and cypress wetlands have earned it numerous awards, including best master-planned community and best recreational facility from the Southeast Building Conference, and a Best in American Living Award for best single-family community from the National Association of Home Builders.

To learn more about living at Bexley, visit BexleyFlorida.com.

Published August 22, 2018

Bexley Residents Bridge Generations

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What happens when three generations live in the very same master-planned community?

How about weekly Sunday dinners, frequent family gatherings and lots of memories. That’s the life the Howard family now enjoys living in Bexley, the award-winning community in Land O’Lakes just off State Road 54 in Pasco County.

Buford Howard and his wife, Freddie, live just blocks away from two of their adult sons, Van and Ted, who also purchased homes for their families in Bexley.

Three generations of the Howard family live at Bexley. (Back row, from left), son Van, father Buford, son Ted. (Front row, from left) daughter-in-law Vicki (Van’s wife), mother Freddie (Buford’s wife), granddaughter Katherine (daughter of Van and Vicki).

The Howard family found Bexley nearly by chance. With the prospect of becoming empty-nesters, Van and his wife, Vicki, wanted to downsize to a smaller home. After an extensive search throughout Pasco County, Van drove through Bexley during the early days of construction and liked what he saw.

“On our first visit, we met such great people,” said Van. “Plus, my wife and I liked that there were several different builders and a variety of floor plan options. We also liked that the houses in Bexley don’t look like ones in every other community.”

The couple settled on a one-story, single-family home, the first one put under contract by builder CalAtlantic.

Since Van and his wife were so pleased with their experience in the community, they encouraged Van’s older brother, Ted, and their parents to consider making the move from Northeast Florida to Bexley, as well.

“We came to visit Van as his house was being built, and before we went back home, we put down a deposit on a house,” said Freddie.

The Howards now live within blocks of each other, which allows them to visit each other more frequently.

For Freddie and her husband, Buford, being close to two of their sons isn’t the only reason they love living in Bexley.

“We appreciate that Bexley is an active community,” added Freddie. “We didn’t want to be in a retirement community. Bexley has so many amenities. We go to the fitness center regularly, and I enjoy walking along the trails or just sitting on the porch outside The Bexley Club.”

“Bexley has something to offer families no matter what their stage in life,” said Pam Parisi, vice president of marketing for Newland Communities, which is developing Bexley. “Resort-style amenities, low-maintenance townhomes and planned activities, like the Bexley Market, make Bexley an excellent choice for people from all generations.”

“There’s just a great energy at Bexley,” added Van. “It’s great to see people our age, as well as families with younger children.” He even boasts that his parents have become the surrogate grandparents for several families on their street.

“Being with younger people keeps us active,” said Freddie.

To learn more about living at Bexley, visit BexleyFlorida.com.

Published July 25, 2018