The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Lutz since 1964 and Pasco since 1981.
Proud to be independently owned.

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Wiregrass Ranch

Families Will Soon Begin Moving Into Persimmon Park In Wesley Chapel

By

Afrika and Dawvel Brooks researched just about every homebuilder in Tampa Bay before deciding ICI Homes was the best one for their family.

“We wanted the ability to move walls and customize our new home, and ICI Homes was the only builder to welcome structural changes, and to do so at an affordable cost,” said Afrika.

The Brooks family discovered ICI Homes in the Asturia community in Odessa, and learned that the builder had just opened a new community in Wesley Chapel called Persimmon Park.

“While we loved ICI Homes’ floor plans in Odessa, Wesley Chapel was a better location for my family,” said Afrika. “It is the middle of so many things — shopping, restaurants and entertainment, and also close to hospitals and health care services. Especially for our two teenage daughters, building our new home in Wesley Chapel was a huge draw.”

The Brooks family is one of the first homebuyers in the new Persimmon Park community in Wesley Chapel. Shown here are Afrika and Dawvel Brooks, and their 14-year-old daughter, Amaya. (Courtesy of Mercedes Brooks)

The Brooks family is one of the first to buy in Persimmon Park, which is located off Bruce B. Downs within the master-planned development of Wiregrass Ranch. The community is directly behind The Shops at Wiregrass and AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, and across the street from a new $200 million hospital and health care complex being built by BayCare Health Systems.

“My husband and I both work in the health care field, so being so close to two hospitals is very attractive,” said Afrika, who recently retired from the U.S. Air Force. (Dawvel is still active duty and based at MacDill Air Force Base.)

The family choose the two-story Primrose floor plan, which, at over 2,400 square feet, is the largest home ICI Homes builds in Persimmon Park. All homes in the community have two-car garages in the rear, which are accessed by private alleyways and provide ample parking.

Afrika loves that the master suite in her new home is downstairs, as is a second bedroom and adjacent bath that is ideal for an office. Her girls’ bedrooms are upstairs with a shared bath, along with a large game room.

“Because ICI Homes can make structural changes very affordably, we decided to add a studio/bonus room above our garage to give our family the additional space we desired,” said Afrika. “I’ve been told that our bonus room idea has worked out so well, that other buyers are adding it to their homes.”

The Brooks’ home is in the drywall stage of construction, and the family expects to move into their new home in November.

“The entire homebuilding experience with ICI Homes has been excellent,” said Afrika. “From our salesperson, Carmen Worrels, to the architects who added our bonus room, to our project manager and customer service team. Everyone has been so helpful, nice and responsive.”

“In addition to Persimmon Park’s desirable location, buyers are excited that the community’s amenities will be completed in late November,” adds Greg Jones, Tampa Division Manager for ICI Homes.

Amenities include a unique, T-shaped luxury pool with cabanas and grilling area. Coming soon are dog parks for small and large breeds, and trails that wind through the community and connect to the Wiregrass Ranch trail system.

In Persimmon Park’s first phase, ICI Homes is building 40 homes; at build out, 97 homes. Prices begin in the high $200s, and buyers can choose from two, one-story and four, two-story homes, with more plans coming soon. There are four inventory homes available for families needing to move quickly.

“Our cottage-style floor plans feel open and airy with lots of windows, and exemplify Florida’s casual lifestyle,” says Jones. “Our homes are designed for people wanting to simplify their life, who want less square footage to clean and maintain, yet want all the upscale finishes and details offered by ICI Homes.”

Jones adds that many builder upgrades are standard features for ICI Homes, including 6-foot windows, 8-foot doors and energy-efficient construction that boasts a 50-SEER rating. Persimmon Park offers low CDD fees at less than $2,000 a year, and its affordable HOA fee includes internet and cable television for just $90/month.

Families with school-age children are drawn to Persimmon Park because the community is zoned to the area’s highest-rated schools —Wiregrass Elementary, Dr. John Long Middle and Wiregrass Ranch High.

ICI Homes is currently offering an exceptionally low interest rate of just 2.75% on 30-year mortgages, when using the builder’s preferred lenders. A lower interest rate increases a buyer’s spending power and allows them to more quickly build equity in their home.

Persimmon Park is the first Wesley Chapel community for ICI Homes, which is celebrating 40 years of business. Based in Daytona Beach, the company is family owned and managed, and is proud of its very personalized, no-pressure approach to sales.

Published August 26, 2020

Pasco keeps growing, despite COVID-19

By

Business in Pasco County is coming back to life as residents, weary of a pandemic-enforced lockdown, venture back to the world of shopping and dining.

There are hopeful signs for commercial rebirth.

Continued residential growth in Bexley by Newland Communities generates foot traffic for nearby shops, restaurants, grocery stores and other small businesses. (B.C. Manion)

Neon “open” signs are visible in storefronts.

Banners planted at the roadside’s edge wave at passing motorists.

Parking lots at malls and shopping centers are filling up again.

But, it’s not just the established businesses that are reviving Pasco’s economy. Business owners and developers continue to invest in new retail especially along one of the county’s busiest east/west corridors – State Road 54 and State Road 56.

On State Road 54, west of U.S. 41, The Preserve Marketplace and two retail centers at Starkey Ranch are adding shops, restaurants, health care services, and offices.

At Bexley Ranch, in Land O’ Lakes, land is being cleared and leveled on Lot A for the Bexley South Office Park, off Bexley Village Drive, near Springhill Suites.

A Crunch Fitness is scheduled to open Aug. 25, off State Road 54 in Trinity.

This sign signals future plans for a car wash, just south of the new Aldi that opened at Cypress Creek Town Center. (B.C. Manion)

Meanwhile, on the State Road 54/56 corridor east of U.S. 41, there are new developments, too.

Near the juncture of State Road 56 and Interstate 75, a banner announces that Tidal Wave Auto Spa is coming to an outparcel at Tampa Premium Outlets.

In the same general area, Main Event, a 50,000-square-foot entertainment venue, celebrated its grand opening less than two weeks ago.

And, another Crunch Fitness is planning to open in October in the old Winn-Dixie location, off Collier Parkway and State Road 54, in Land O’ Lakes.

The Collier Parkway location is a great choice for a fitness gym because it’s along a high traffic corridor, said Geoff Dyer, president of Crunch Fitness. “It’s in the heart of the (Land O’ Lakes) neighborhood,” he said.

Crunch Fitness is planning to open a gym in October in the former Winn-Dixie grocery store, at State Road 54 and Collier Parkway. An employee manned a display outside the site to take membership applications. Another Crunch Fitness is opening Aug. 25, off State Road 54, in Trinity. (Kathy Steele)

During the COVID-19 shutdown, work continued on the Trinity and Land O’ Lakes locations, Dyer said, adding, “for all intents and purposes, we haven’t seen any slow-down in our developments.”

He noted that Crunch Fitness gyms shut down for about two months at the start of the pandemic, but now the gyms are open and adhering to safety guidelines of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Membership has returned to about 95% of what it was pre-shutdown,” Dyer said.

While activity, in general, appears to be picking up and new construction continues to kick up dirt — a cloud hovers over business decisions due to the uncertain nature of COVID-19.

Ralph Santell and his family moved to Starkey Ranch and began plans to open Santelli Pizza & Pasta nearly three years ago. They saw the growth happening in Pasco.

His storefront is at Starkey Ranch Town Square, a plaza located at State Road 54 and Gunn Highway. A few tenants in the center, including J. Joseph Salon, are open.

Santelli Pizza & Pasta will open around September at Starkey Ranch Town Square, at State Road 54 and Gunn Highway. (Kathy Steele)

Santell plans to open by September, possibly with outdoor dining and takeout. He said he’ll decide closer to opening whether he’ll initially offer indoor dining.

“That (COVID-19) has been an extra challenge that influences things on a daily basis,” Santell said. “It’s been hard to navigate the whole COVID-19 situation. We take it one day at a time.”

Santell also owns a restaurant in the Westchase subdivision in Hillsborough County. That restaurant closed, then reopened, but is now closed again — except for takeout.

Another Starkey Ranch retail center at State Road 54 and Heart Pine Avenue – Starkey Ranch Business Park – also has a roster of tenants slated to open, including The Wicked Pour, Tropical Smoothie Café and Hungry Greek.

The pandemic slowed opening plans, but construction on the retail park is nearly finished.

“All of these are coming along,” said Matt Call, project director for Starkey Ranch. “With COVID-19, things take a bit longer.”

Additional outparcels at both retail centers are available for development — though it could take longer to get projects going, Call added.

Typically, residential construction is a key to spurring on new retail, Call said.

He said Starkey Ranch and Bexley by Newland are the top residential sellers in the Tampa Bay area. Together, they add about 800 residential units annually to Pasco, he said.

Work is underway on the Bainbridge Sunlake, an upscale apartment development, being built at Mentmore Boulevard and State Road 54, next to The Shoppes at Sunlake Centre. (B.C. Manion)

Pasco also is on an apartment building spree with about nine complexes planned or under construction.

Near the Tampa Premium Outlets and Cypress Creek Town Center, Brightwork Crossing apartment complex is attracting new renters to the commercial epicenter of the Wesley Chapel area.

Two Altis apartment complexes, one by Wiregrass Ranch on State Road 56 and a second on South Branch Boulevard at Starkey Ranch, are adding to Pasco tenant population.

Bainbridge Sunlake is an upscale apartment complex being built at State Road 54, and Mentmore Boulevard, next to The Shoppes at Sunlake Centre.

A new standalone Starbucks is coming soon to the Sunlake shopping center, as well.

Retail developments, including The Preserve Marketplace, are adding new tenants, including the recently opened anchor store – Greenwise. Majik Touch Cleaners is open, too.

Other tenants with plans to open include Chipotle, Heartland Dental and CVS Pharmacy.

“It’s going to be a cool little plaza when it’s done,” Call said. “I think Pasco is going to continue to grow. There’s no doubt in my mind.”

What’s happening along State Road 54
Here are some of the office, retail or residential developments that have opened or are in progress along State Road 54.

Construction on a dental office is nearing completion at Starkey Ranch Town Square, at State Road 54 and Gunn Highway. (Kathy Steele)

The Preserve Marketplace (State Road 54 and the Suncoast Parkway)

  • Greenwise Market, owned by Publix, is a specialty grocery store offering an array of organic and natural food products.
  • TouchPoint Medical manufactures medical dispensing equipment, including high-tech carts.
  • Organic Nails offers nail art and design services.
  • Heartland Dental provides administrative support and career development services among a network of dental partnerships
  • CVS Pharmacy is a national chain of drugstores.
  • Majik Touch Cleaners provides laundry and dry-cleaning services in Pasco and the Tampa Bay area.
  • Sport Clips provides haircuts for men and boys.
  • Panera Bread is a national chain that serves sandwiches, salads and pastries.
  • Chipotle Mexican Grill is a national chain restaurant serving made-to-order burritos, tacos, wraps and salads.
The Wicked Pour and Hungry Greek will open soon at Starkey Ranch Business Park, at State Road 54 and Heart Pine Avenue. (Kathy Steele)

Starkey Ranch Business Park (State Road 54 and Heart Pine Avenue)

  • The Wicked Pour is a craft beer, wine and taproom with board games, giant Jenga and cornhole.
  • Hungry Greek is a casual restaurant chain offering fast Greek food.
  • Urgent Vet offers after-hours care for pet illnesses and emergencies.
  • Abela Story, a women’s boutique, offers trendy styles for all tastes, and accessories.
  • Encore Nail Salon provides nail art and design, and other services.
  • Chase Bank is a full-service bank.
  • YogaSix is a hot yoga-style studio.
E sushi and Grill, a Japanese restaurant, is expected to open soon at Starkey Ranch Town Square, at State Road 54 and Gunn Highway. (Kathy Steele)

Starkey Ranch Town Square (State Road 54 and Gunn Highway)

  • Santelli Pizza & Pasta is a family-owned Italian restaurant with pizzas and pasta dishes.
  • E sushi & Grill is a Japanese restaurant.
  • J. Joseph Salon is a luxury hair salon.
  • Great Clips is a discount, walk-in hair salon.
  • Quality Plus Cleaners provides laundry and dry-cleaning services.
  • The UPS Store offers mailing, printing and mailbox services.
  • A dental office, which has not yet been identified, is on the outparcel across from Santelli Pizza.

Published July 29, 2020

Top Parade of Homes Awards For ICI Homes

By

It’s always exciting for a builder to be recognized in a community’s Parade of Homes competition, but this year ICI Homes outdid itself by winning two of the most prestigious awards in Tampa Bay.

In early March, a total of 79 homes were entered in the Parade of Homes from a variety of builders and developers, in the competition organized by the Tampa Bay Builders Association. And, once again, ICI Homes — a relatively new builder in the Tampa market — was chosen to receive two of its top honors.

The top award went to its Costa Mesa model in Asturia, a master-planned community in Odessa where ICI Homes has been building for the past three years. The Costa Mesa was honored with the Grand Award in the $600k-$649k price range — one of the most competitive categories in the Parade of Homes.

This 2,565-square-foot model home is absolutely stunning. A huge kitchen and extra-large island sets apart this spacious, one-story home that features four bedrooms, three baths and a three-car garage. One of its most unique features is a closet-size, walk-in pantry that is hidden behind beautiful kitchen cabinetry.

The builder’s second big win is for its Lantana model, which won a Silver Award in the $350k-$399k price range. This 1,800-square-foot home is one of six new floor plans that ICI Homes is introducing in Persimmon Park, a brand new community in Wesley Chapel within the master-planned development of Wiregrass Ranch.

The Lantana model at Persimmon Park in Wesley Chapel won a Silver Award at the recent Tampa Bay Parade of Homes.

Located off Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and directly behind The Shops at Wiregrass and AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass Ranch is a 5,000-acre, walkable community with trails that lead to parks, schools, entertainment, recreation and top-notch medical facilities.

“Persimmon Park gives our residents immediate access to all that Wiregrass Ranch and Wesley Chapel have to offer,” said Rosemary Messina, vice president of marketing and sales. “And, adding to the community’s appeal are amenities that families want, but without going overboard — a unique T-shaped pool and cabana, outdoor grilling, interconnecting trails, and dog parks for small and large breeds.”

The winning Lantana floor plan has a spacious kitchen/great room, with a large dining room and open flex room connecting to the kitchen. The master bedroom is at the rear of the home to give easy access to the garage, covered lanai and main living area. The one-story model is the craftsman elevation and, at 1,793 square feet, also offers two bedrooms and a bath at the front of the home.

All of ICI Homes in Persimmon Park have open floor plans with front porches, and garages and alleys at the back of the home. The first phase has 40 homes, with prices beginning in the high $200s.

Light and bright with lots of windows is how Messina describes the cottage-style floor plans at Persimmon Park. “Our plans feel open and airy, and exemplify Florida’s casual lifestyle,” she says. “These homes are designed for people wanting to simplify their life, who want less square footage to clean and maintain, yet want all the upscale finishes and details offered by ICI Homes.”

Inventory Homes In Asturia
In Asturia, ICI Homes has four inventory homes that are ready now or will be available soon. Two homes are of the award-winning Costa Mesa floor plan and one is a two-story Palisade. A one-story Arden will soon be completed.

“All of our floor plans are perfect for entertaining,” said Messina. “Our gathering rooms, gourmet kitchens and dining rooms blend together as one expansive space, highlighted by lots of windows that capture tons of natural light.”

ICI Homes has over 25 homesites remaining in Asturia, with many backing up to conservation and water. Prices begin in the high $300s. This 550-home community includes a unique trail system that winds through wetlands, parks and neighborhoods, and an award-winning Amenity Center that is known for its zero-entry pool, contemporary community center and state-of-the-art fitness center.

Bexley Showpiece
This is the last chance to buy an ICI Home in the first phase of Bexley, a master-planned community in Land O’ Lakes with thousands of acres of preserved wetlands, miles of recreational trails and a great location off State Road 54 and the Suncoast Parkway.

The builder’s Egret VII inventory home is one of the most beautiful and functional move-in ready homes available in Bexley. This one-story, four-bedroom, three-bath home has 2,813 square feet of living space, and features luxury finishes, an extended lanai, deluxe kitchen, huge gathering room and, at the home’s grand entrance, a large dining room and flex room. Separate from its side-entry two-car garage is a tandem garage ideal for a compact car, golf cart or storage.

This beautiful home sits on a 70-foot corner homesite in one of Bexley’s most prestigious neighborhoods, located close to the clubhouse and pools.

Published June 24, 2020

ICI Homes Opens New Wesley Chapel Models With 2.75% Financing

By

Sometimes the most difficult of times, such as the challenges presented by COVID-19, also create unexpected opportunities.

This is true for buyers of ICI Homes in Pasco and Hillsborough counties. This premium builder has 12 inventory homes available now or in the next few months, including four cottage-style homes in its first Wesley Chapel neighborhood, Persimmon Park.

The two-story Primrose model is light and bright with lots of windows and exemplifies Florida’s casual lifestyle.

Not only does ICI Homes have a larger than usual inventory of unique one- and two-story homes, it is also selling homes in the high $200s for the first time in Tampa Bay.

“We are known as a premier, semi-custom builder, and typically build homes from the $400s to over $1 million. So to come into Wesley Chapel with moderately priced floor plans is very exciting for us, and more importantly for our customers who want our quality and craftsmanship in a smaller, more affordable home,” said Paula Spitler, Tampa sales manager for ICI Homes.

Almost as important as the quality and pricing of its homes, ICI Homes also is offering an exceptionally low interest rate of just 2.75% on 30-year mortgages, when using the builder’s preferred lenders.

“We call this our buy-down program, because a lower interest allows our buyers to increase their spending power, and more quickly build equity in their homes,” said Spitler.

“There are only a limited number of these special loans being allocated across our 20-plus communities in Florida, so please don’t wait. It’s first-come, first-served, and once these loans are gone, they’re gone,” said Spitler.

Many families are drawn to Persimmon Park because of its desirable Wesley Chapel location, and also because its students are zoned to the area’s highest rated schools — Wiregrass Elementary, Dr. John Long Middle and Wiregrass Ranch High.

“One of Persimmon Park’s biggest draws is the schools our students are zoned to attend,” said Spitler. “We have families moving from nearby subdivisions, such as Seven Oaks, that were recently rezoned to other schools. Many families want to keep their children enrolled in the schools they have traditionally attended or have been assigned to attend.”

Persimmon Park is located within the master-planned development of Wiregrass Ranch —located off Bruce B. Downs and Chancey Road, directly behind The Shops at Wiregrass and AdventHealth Wesley Chapel. Wiregrass Ranch is a 5,000-acre, walkable community with trails that lead to parks, schools, entertainment, recreation and top-notch medical facilities.

Persimmon Park is Wiregrass Ranch’s newest new home community, with ICI Homes committed to building 97 homes in this unique subdivision.

“Persimmon Park gives our residents immediate access to all that Wiregrass Ranch and Wesley Chapel have to offer,” said Spitler. “Plus, our amenities are everything a family wants without going overboard — a unique T-shaped pool and cabana, outdoor grilling, interconnecting trails, and dog parks for small and large breeds.”

ICI Homes is introducing its first neo-traditional homes in Persimmon Park, featuring open floor plans with front porches, and garages at the back of the home. The first phase has 40 homes on 40-foot home sites, and ICI is premiering five new floor plans with prices beginning at $292,900.

“Light and bright with lots of windows,” is how Spitler describes these floor plans, having a cottage look and feel that are open, airy, and exemplifies Florida’s casual lifestyle.

“These homes have been designed for people wanting to simplify their life, who want less square footage to clean and maintain, yet want all the upscale finishes and details offered by ICI Homes,” said Spitler.

Two beautifully furnished model homes are available for tour at Persimmon Park. The one-story Lantana model is the craftsman elevation and, at 1,793 square feet, features three bedrooms and two baths, with an open kitchen and unique breezeway for outdoor living.

The two-story Primrose model is the coastal elevation and, at 2,434 square feet, offers the master bedroom downstairs, and a game room and three additional bedrooms upstairs.

“Families love the rear-load design because it gives the home a very nice front elevation with no garage blocking the home’s curb appeal,” said Spitler. “Plus, rear garages make for easier access to the kitchen when it’s time to unload groceries, and also creates more backyard privacy with covered breezeways and summer kitchens.”

Model homes are 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.

Families also can tour the homes virtually, via video, at icihomes.com.

“Our 3D virtual tours allow you to view and walk through our homes at your own pace, right from your couch,” said Spitler. “You can move from point to point for a complete 360° view to get a sense of the home’s space, finishes, floor plan and measurements. It’s truly the next best thing to being there.”

Published April 29, 2020

ICI Homes Opens New Wesley Chapel Model in Persimmon Park

By

ICI Homes, Florida’s premier family owned builder, has been so pleased with its success in Asturia in Odessa, and Bexley in Land O’ Lakes, that it has expanded its Pasco footprint with a new community in Wesley Chapel called Persimmon Park.

Located in the area’s most prestigious neighborhood — the master-planned community of Wiregrass Ranch —  Persimmon Park is Wesley Chapel’s newest new home community. ICI Homes is building 97 homes in this unique subdivision located off Bruce B. Downs and Chancey Road, directly behind The Shops at Wiregrass and AdventHealth Wesley Chapel.

The Lantana is the beautifully furnished model home at Persimmon Park, with three bedrooms, two baths, an open kitchen and unique breezeway for outdoor living.

“This is our first project in Wesley Chapel, and we are very excited to have been invited by the Porter family to build our homes in this vibrant community,” said Paula Spitler, Tampa sales manager for ICI Homes.

The Porter family is the owner and developer of Wiregrass Ranch, and homesteaded and lived on this land for generations. It was the Porters’ vision that brought together the unique land use plan that creates a live, work, play and learn environment with single and multi-family homes, a regional county park, large and small business centers, shopping malls and restaurants, schools and colleges, regional employers and medical facilities.

“The Porters interviewed multiple builders, and we’re very honored that they saw the value ICI Homes is bringing to Wiregrass Ranch,” says Spitler.

The result of such foresight are neighborhoods like Persimmon Park that are tucked inside Wiregrass Ranch and designed as walkable communities with trails that lead to parks, schools, entertainment, recreation and top-notch medical facilities.

“Persimmon Park gives our residents immediate access to all that Wiregrass Ranch and Wesley Chapel have to offer,” said Spitler. “Plus, the communities’ amenities are everything that a family wants without going overboard — a unique T-shaped pool and cabana, outdoor grilling, interconnecting trails, and dog parks for small and large breeds.”

ICI Homes is introducing its first neo-traditional homes in Persimmon Park, featuring open floor plans with front porches, and garages at the back of the home. The first phase has 40 homes on 40-foot homesites, and ICI is premiering five new floor plans with prices beginning at $292,900.

“Light and bright with lots of windows,” Spitler describes these floor plans as having a cottage look and feel that are open, airy, and exemplify Florida casual living inside and out.

“These homes have been designed for people wanting to simplify their life, who want less square footage to clean and maintain, yet want all the upscale finishes and details offered by ICI Homes,” says Spitler.

The beautifully furnished model home at Persimmon Park is the Latana. At 1,793 square feet, this one-story home features three bedrooms and two baths, with an open kitchen and unique breezeway for outdoor living. It’s a great home for first-time buyers, as well as empty-nesters wanting to downsize. The builder’s second one-story floor plan is the Jasmine, which is slightly smaller at 1,552 square feet, and also has three bedrooms, two baths and a two-car garage.

ICI Homes also is introducing three, two-story floor plans, ranging from 2,020 to 2,434 square feet. The largest home is the Primrose, which offers the master bedroom downstairs, and a game room and three additional bedrooms upstairs. The Magnolia and Orchid also are four bedroom, three bath homes, and designed specifically for Persimmon Park.

Great public schools are another reason families are choosing Persimmon Park. Students are assigned to highly rated Wiregrass Elementary, Dr. John Long Middle and Wiregrass Ranch High. “These are some of the best public schools in all of Pasco County,” said Spitler.

From the huge success it had in Bexley and Asturia, ICI Homes is continuing to build its legacy in Pasco County with its new community of Persimmon Park.

Since it was established in 1980, ICI Homes has built over 4,000 single-family homes in Florida and the Tampa area, and has earned several prestigious awards for design and innovation.

Persimmon Park
VIP Appointments
Pre-Opening Pricing
Feb. 28 – March 5
To schedule, call (813) 359-9818.

VIP buyers can purchase a home before open house pricing is set.

February 26, 2020

ICI Homes Has Beautiful Inventory Homes Ready Now In Asturia and Bexley

By

ICI Homes, one of Florida’s most innovative builders, has beautiful inventory homes available now at Pasco’s most desired planned communities of Asturia and Bexley.

In Asturia, this award winning builder has a Costa Mesa quick move-in home — the same floor plan as its newest model home in the community. This spacious, one-story plan backs up to a beautiful conservation view of woodlands and prairie.

“People are absolutely in love with the Costa Mesa’s huge kitchen and its extra-large island, which is a standard feature in this home,” said Ron Ferguson, division manager for ICI Homes. The home has four bedrooms, three baths and a three-car garage.

Costa Mesa’s huge kitchen has an extra-large island, which is a standard feature in this home.

For families wanting a two-story home with the master suite downstairs, a Santa Maria floor plan is also ready now on a deep conservation lot in one of Asturia’s most desired neighborhoods. At 2,912 square feet, this home offers four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and a three-car garage.

Off the entry is a flex room that can be used as a study, office or den. The gourmet kitchen has a large island and a large dining area. The gathering room is located just past the dining room, which opens into the covered lanai to bring outdoor living inside the home.

And unlike most two-story homes, the master suite is on the first floor, offering seclusion from three upstairs bedrooms. Also upstairs is a game room, which could become a fifth bedroom.

ICI Homes’ third inventory home in Asturia is its original model, the Serena. This spacious one-story home has four bedrooms, three baths, and sits on a gorgeous conservation lot. For families wanting a turn-key home, this home can even include the model’s professionally selected furnishings.

“All of our floor plans are perfect for entertaining,” said Ferguson. “Our gathering rooms, gourmet kitchen and dining room are one expansive space, highlighted by lots of windows that capture tons of natural light.”

ICI Homes has over 30 homesites remaining in Asturia, with many backing up to conservation and water. Prices begin in the high $300s.

Asturia is an award-winning, master-planned community in Odessa, located one mile west of the Suncoast Parkway on State Road 54. Amenities in this 550-home community include a unique trails system that winds through wetlands, parks and neighborhoods, and an award-winning Amenity Center that includes a zero-entry pool, contemporary community center and state-of-the-art fitness center.

Final Homes In Bexley
This is the last chance to buy an ICI home in Bexley, a master-planned community in Land O’ Lakes with thousands of acres of preserved wetlands, miles of recreational trails and unique amenities, including a bike shop and café.

One of the most beautiful and functional move-in ready homes in Bexley is ICI Homes’ Costa Mesa inventory home. This four-bedroom, three-bath home includes luxury finishes, an expansive lanai, mud room with built-in bench off the garage, huge walk-in pantry, and tandem garage ideal for a compact car, golf cart or storage.

The Costa Mesa’s open floor plan flows with 2,565 square feet of living area designed perfectly for the active lifestyle Bexley extols. It sits on a 70-foot corner homesite in one of Bexley’s most prestigious neighborhoods, located close to the clubhouse and pools.

The sales center for Asturia and Bexley is at 2112 Secret Cove in Odessa, (727) 432-3069. Models are open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m., on Sunday.

Coming Soon – Wesley Chapel
The next ICI Home community in Pasco County is Persimmon Park in Wesley Chapel, located in the prestigious Wiregrass Ranch area. This new, 5,000-acre community opens in March and is located behind The Shops at Wiregrass off Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

“This is our first project in Wesley Chapel, and we are very excited to be in this vibrant community” said Ferguson. “We will be introducing our first neo-traditional homes in Persimmon Park, with all-new floor plans that feature front porches, and garages at the back of the home.”

Persimmon Park is being designed as a walkable community, with a downtown park and trails that lead to shopping and dining at The Shops of Wiregrass, to AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, and to neighborhood schools. ICI Homes prices will begin in the mid $200s, with larger homes selling in the $400s.

Since ICI Homes was established in 1980, the company has built over 4,000 single-family homes in Florida, including the Tampa Bay area, and has earned several prestigious awards for design and innovation.

Published January 29, 2020

Pasco economy looks to grow and diversify

By

From workforce assistance to recruiting new companies to building new office space, the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., has many projects “in the pipeline.”

Bill Cronin, president/CEO of the economic development agency, discussed those plans and more as the featured guest speaker at The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce’s November breakfast meeting at Seven Springs Golf and Country Club in New Port Richey.

The Pasco EDC’s mission is “to stimulate balanced and diversified economic growth.”

It uses private investments and tax dollars to foster economic development in Pasco County, helping businesses start and grow.

This rendering shows the future campus for TouchPoint Medical Inc., which is under construction near Suncoast Parkway, on State Road 54. (File)

To do that, Cronin said the agency is working to attract a wide range of industries to the county, such as life sciences and medical technology; business and professional services; high technology; logistics; aerospace, aviation and defense; and, advance manufacturing, among others.

A Michigan native, Cronin stressed the county doesn’t want to wind up like his home state that depends too much on the automobile industry, or another state such as South Carolina, which is too reliant on the tobacco, cotton and textiles industries.

“We don’t want to be that community that has to diversify down the road. We want to do it now and prepare so we’ve got jobs for everybody,” Cronin said.

Part of that diversification, Cronin said, is simply just bringing in more businesses and manufacturing companies, in general, to balance the county’s rapid residential growth over the past three decades or so.

The speaker noted that Pasco County is “pretty upside down in residential, as it relates to job creation.”

He also pointed out that it costs the county “a lot more money” to provide residential services — roads, schools, public safety and so forth — compared to meeting public service needs generated by businesses.

Said Cronin: “It behooves us to go after some of this business to lessen that imbalance on property tax and the burden on our taxpayers.”

Cronin also explained how the Pasco EDC is differentiating itself from other economic development groups across the United States, or what he describes as “16,000 competitors out there trying to get those businesses.”

This rendering from Welbilt shows how the expanded facility will look on completion in late 2019.

One strategic move is going after international companies wanting to expand their footprint in the United States, through its SMARTLandings incubator program.

Many of these international ventures may start with only one or two employees, Cronin said, but capturing that loyalty early on could end up paying dividends in the long run — when a company is ready to expand, perhaps, bring in a distribution or manufacturing center.

He noted, it’s an initiative other economic development groups aren’t doing, because “they’re only interested in these big projects that have 100 jobs, 50 jobs and things like that.”

Cronin also mentioned incorporating “North Tampa Bay, Florida” to the agency’s branding and tagline has gone some way in marketing the area to international businesses and corporations.

The economic development leader acknowledged getting some pushback on the branding.

“Yeah, we’re Pasco, but when we travel overseas, and we’re competing and we’re going out into the world, we first have to be included in the conversation, and then we can differentiate. You’ve gotta be in it first, and then you can differentiate after you’re in it, but if you’re not in it, you can’t differentiate,” he said.

Recruiting a company requires much more than offering incentives, Cronin said. It also involves offering workforce assistance programs and job training grants, he said.

He drew attention to an AmSkills (American Manufacturing Skills Initiative) apprenticeship program at New Port Richey’s Marchman Technical College that he said really resonates with German-based companies, which use a similar apprenticeship model for workforce training.

It helps create a comfort level for companies, Cronin said.

In this case, he said, it shows German companies “they’re really thinking like we’re thinking.”

“Sometimes that’s their biggest fear — what’s the employee look like? Is Joe going to look like Hans? What can they expect? When they see this (apprenticeship program), they know we’re trying to do our best to make sure it looks similar to their operation.”

The Pasco EDC also has partnered with CareerSource on a new website, ‘Workforce Connect,’ a one-stop resource that helps match employers and career seekers.

The website maps available training programs and services countywide, and helps align Pasco’s talent supply with industry demand.

Pasco County’s recent addition of several new companies has given the county more credibility in the eyes of other companies looking to make capital investments in an area, Cronin said.

“Now that (companies) see some activity happening, they’re more receptive to it. The market’s starting to respond,” Cronin said.

Moreover, the county’s proximity to Tampa International Airport and luxury housing developments, including Starkey Ranch and Wiregrass Ranch, have become “a really big selling point” to CEOs looking to add or relocate a company’s headquarters, Cronin said.

For decades, Pasco County has had a reputation of being a bedroom community, where people lived, but commuted daily to work in other counties.

Now, Cronin said, “we have CEO-level housing that CEOs can actually live up here, and their staff lives up here, so why get in that rat race and drive every day to Tampa?

“Instead,” Cronin said, “why don’t you move your operation to Pasco.”

Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.’s recent wins:

  • Mettler-Toledo relocates to Lutz and builds $30 million, 267,000-square-foot facility, creating nearly 700 jobs
  • TouchPoint Medical Inc., is building $24 million, 142,000-square-foot global headquarters in Odessa, creating 228 jobs
  • Phillips & Jordan Inc., is building $15 million, 47,432-square-foot regional headquarters near San Antonio, creating 40 jobs
  • Welbilt Inc., is adding 110 jobs and 42,000-square-foot building expansion to its New Port Richey headquarters
  • Bay Tech Industries is investing $1.5 million in new equipment and 12,170-square-foot building expansion in Odessa
  • Brew Bus Brewing Inc., is expanding microbrewery operation to Pasco, purchasing 34,000-square-foot facility in Wesley Chapel, creating 46 jobs

Published November 27, 2019

New sports complex expected to attract national events

By

With concrete footers poured and steel beams heading vertical, the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex is a step closer to its much-anticipated opening.

The $44 million sports complex is targeted for a mid-July 2020 soft opening — more than two years after a celebrated groundbreaking ceremony that marked the beginning of construction at 3211 Lajuana Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

Once completed, the 98,000-square-foot indoor space will feature a multipurpose sports layout that accommodates up to eight basketball courts or 16 volleyball courts, plus a separate competitive cheer and dance studio, fitness and athletic training center, and other amenities.

Concrete footers and steel beams represent construction progress on the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex. The 98,000-square-foot facility is anticipated to be a regional and national draw for youth and amateur sports. (Courtesy of RADD Sports)

Besides primarily basketball, volleyball and cheer offerings, the Pasco County-owned facility also will be able to accommodate martial arts, wrestling, gymnastics, curling, badminton, soccer, lacrosse and pickleball.  Secondary uses of the complex will include conventions, banquets, exhibits, concerts and so on.

Originally, the facility was expected to open later this year.

But, the project experienced some delays.

“That goes with a major development project like this,” said Richard Blalock, president and CEO of RADD Sports, the private sports management company tasked with operating and managing the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex.

Those delays included inclement weather, permitting issues and redesigns of the facility to make it hurricane-resistant, Blalock said.

“When you’ve got as many moving parts that’s involved in this project, it’s just a matter of getting all the contracts lined up, and the contractor online and bids opened,” he said.

The facility is being promoted as a regional and national attraction.

The indoor gym on weekdays will operate as a community-based sports center where local youth, adults and seniors will be able to practice and play.

Weekends, meanwhile, will be set aside to play host to national travel tournaments, competitions and other events to generate hotel stays and tax revenues for the county.

The facility’s first weekend tournaments aren’t expected to be booked until around October 2020, Blalock said.

The target is scheduling roughly 25 to 30 weekend events during the first full year and then grow it from there, Blalock said.

He mentioned RADD Sports already has received numerous inquiries from youth and amateur sports organizations asking about the facility’s availability.

“We’ve got ‘em lined up now, wanting to sign,” Blalock said.

The complex also will host a series of weeklong sports camps each July or August, which Blalock said otherwise is a slow period in the travel sports marketplace.

Those camps would allow for local school sports teams to get advanced instruction and match up against teams from all over the country, Blalock said.

“They’re not going to have to travel very much and we’re bringing all the competition in, so it’ll be a good marriage,” he said.

Not unlike nearby AdventHealth Center Ice in Wesley Chapel, the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex figures each year to draw hundreds, if not thousands, of youth and amateur travel sports teams and their families.

The $44 million Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex is scheduled to open in mid-July next year.

Officials are excited about the prospects for Pasco County tourism.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore, who chairs the county’s tourist development council, suggests the facility will be “a huge boon for the local economy.”

Said Moore, “People travel from all over the nation to go these tournaments and these facilities. They all have to stay in hotels, they’re all eating in restaurants, they’re all buying the gas.”

Moore said projections show the facility will generate annual revenues of roughly $4 million to $4.5 million each of first five years or so in operation, not including additional hotel and retail tax revenues generated.

The commissioner emphasized that it’s key for those traveling visitors to stay overnight locally instead of heading to Hillsborough County. It’s something he’s assured will happen, pointing out the county already has 38 hotels “with more coming.”

Moore explained: “Previously, when there’s a lot of tournaments that came into the county, a lot of the families were staying in Hillsborough County, so a lot of the local businesses didn’t see that revenue. Well now, we can handle those families, we can handle these tournaments.”

To take it another step further, Moore said the county’s tourism department is developing a marketing campaign to encourage the myriad sports travel teams and visitors to explore the county’s other offerings, outside the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex. The county’s tourism arm officially rebranded itself as “Florida’s Sports Coast” earlier this year.

Said Moore, “We want them to take the day and maybe go rent a boat and go kayaking or go fishing with one of our guides, or hit some of the islands. That’s another benefit for the families coming — great activities outside of the sports or watching their kids play.”

Outdoor offerings on tap, too
The Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex will be more than just an indoor space.

The complex eventually will include seven outdoor sports fields, an amphitheater with an event lawn, walking trails, pavilions and a playground. There also will be an adjacent 128-room Marriott Residence Inn built with private funds by Mainsail Development Group.

Many of those features are expected to be finished in Phase II of the project, about a year or so later, officials say.

The entire complex is being built on 80 acres of land donated years ago by the Porter family, developers of Wiregrass Ranch.

Several proposals for some type of sports facility on the land fell apart over the years, including one for a baseball complex in 2015.

But, with the mix of indoor and outdoor components, the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex provides “the biggest bang for our taxpayers’ buck,” Moore said.

“It’ll be a really big thing for the area,” the commissioner said. “When you think about the area, there’s really nothing like this around here at all. And, if you see how well similar facilities do, this is going to be strong.”

He added: “It’s nice to obviously see the progress that’s being made. It won’t be long. It’ll be done before we know it. It’ll sneak right up on us.”

Meanwhile, the complex adds to a growing list of premier sports offerings in the East Pasco area — with construction underway on a multi-million tennis center in Zephyrhills and preliminary plans for a multi-million outdoor aquatics center in Land O’ Lakes. Even Cypress Creek Middle High, in Wesley Chapel, with its a state-of-the-art rubberized running track and field space has been highly regarded for hosting events.

Blalock underscored what all that could mean for the county’s quest to position itself as a sports tourism destination: “For the most part, we’ll be able to run any type of Olympic event in a short radius, and it’s crazy. There’s nowhere I’m aware of in the southeast, or anywhere in the country really, that can really do that.”

He also posited this: “If everyone in the community pulls together and we work together, and all the facilities work together, it could really, truly become an amateur sports destination that equals nowhere else.”

Published September 25, 2019

Under Construction 09/04/2019

By

A new Hampton Inn & Suites will soon be open to guests visiting Pasco County. (Brian Fernandes)

Hampton Inn & Suites
Hampton Inn & Suites currently is constructing a new hotel in Odessa. Located at 11780 State Road 54, the resort will hold 99 rooms on four floors. Amenities include an outdoor pool and a breakfast bar. Construction for the 59,352-square-foot structure began November of last year. It is expected to open in October.

 

 

 

Wesley Chapel will have a new senior care home with the Blue Heron Health & Rehabilitation Community. This four-story facility will offer skilled nursing, assisted living and memory care services.

Blue Heron Health & Rehabilitation Community
The opening of a new senior care home is approaching in the Wesley Chapel region. The Blue Heron Health & Rehabilitation Community will be located at 5885 Eagleston Blvd., off of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard. The four-story building will accommodate residents with skilled nursing, assisted living and memory care. It will also have a downstairs dining room, therapy and game rooms, as well as a salon. Construction for the project began in June and is expected to be completed by late 2020.

 

 

 

Construction is underway for the Kiddie Academy at Wiregrass Ranch. The Wesley Chapel school will accommodate infants to children 12 years of age.

Kiddie Academy at Wiregrass Ranch
Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care will be opening a new branch in Wesley Chapel. Kiddie Academy at Wiregrass Ranch will be located at 2900 Hueland Pond Blvd., and will serve infants up to children age 12. At approximately 10,000 square feet, the school will have a kitchen, teacher’s lounge and offices, in addition to multiple classrooms. It also will have a playground. The facility is scheduled to open for the 2020-2021 school year.

 

 

 

Moffitt outpatient center at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel
Construction has begun on a new outpatient clinic by Moffitt Cancer Center in partnership with AdventHealth. The 98,000-square-foot medical office will be on the campus of AdventHealth Wesley Chapel hospital. The three-story building will include 20 exam rooms, and will provide medical and radiation oncology services. The facility also will accommodate patients who are in post-treatment for cancer and in remission. The outpatient center is expected to open the fall of 2020.

Curious about something new that’s popping up in your community? Please send us the location — along with the address, if possible — and we’ll see what we can find out. Send your email to .

Published September 04, 2019

‘Wow’ Kitchen Makes New Model Top Seller For ICI Homes

By

In late June, ICI Homes opened its new Costa Mesa model in Asturia, and already it has become the community’s best-selling floor plan for this premium builder.

“The reception to our new model has been overwhelming,” said Ron Ferguson, division manager for ICI Homes. “People absolutely love the huge kitchen and its extra-large island, which is a standard feature in this home. Plus, the model’s closet-size, walk-in pantry, that is cleverly hidden behind cabinetry, is a stand-out feature that everyone wants.”

The Costa Mesa’s closet-size, walk-in pantry is hidden behind this beautiful kitchen cabinetry.

The Costa Mesa model overlooks a tranquil lake not far from the entrance to Asturia, an award-winning, master-planned community in Odessa, located one mile west of the Suncoast Parkway on State Road 54.

Located in the community’s recently opened Phase III, this one-story home showcases 2,565 square feet of living area, with four bedrooms, three baths and a three-car garage. It is designed for all kinds of families — young professionals just starting out, those with young and school-aged children, and empty-nesters.

“The Costa Mesa’s open floor plan is perfect for entertaining,” said Ferguson. “Its gathering room, gourmet kitchen and dining room are one expansive space highlighted by lots of windows that capture tons of natural light.”

Costa Mesa’s ‘hidden’ walk-in pantry.

ICI Homes has a second model, the Serena, in Asturia’s second phase. This beautiful home has recently become available for sale, and can even include the model’s professionally decorated, high-end furnishings for families wanting a turn-key home that is ready now.

The builder has 38 homesites available in Asturia’s Phase III, and a few remaining in Phase II, with many lots backing up to conservation and water. Prices begin in the high $300s, which include the home, lot and design center options.

ICI Homes has over a dozen distinctive floor plans to choose from, all which are easily customized. For families not wanting to build, the builder has several quick inventory homes available now or within the next few months.

Amenities in this 550-home community include a unique trails system that winds through wetlands, parks and neighborhoods, and an award-winning Amenity Center that includes a zero-entry pool, contemporary community center and state-of-the-art fitness center.

Coming Soon – Wesley Chapel
The next ICI Home community in Tampa Bay will be in Wesley Chapel in the prestigious Wiregrass Ranch area. This new community will be called Persimmon Park, and is located behind The Shops at Wiregrass, and south of the Estancia entrance off of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and Chauncy Road.

“This is our first project in Wesley Chapel, and we are very excited to be in this vibrant community” said Ferguson. “We will be introducing our first neo-traditional homes in Persimmon Park, with all-new floor plans that feature front porches, and garages at the back of the home.”

Construction on the community’s infrastructure is underway, and model homes and sales are expected to open in the spring of 2020. ICI Homes prices are expected to begin in the mid $200s, with larger homes selling in the $400s.

Persimmon Park is being designed as a walkable community with a downtown park and trails that lead to shopping and dining at The Shops of Wiregrass, to AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, and to neighborhood schools.

Final Homes In Bexley
If you’re looking for a new home in Land O’ Lakes, this is the last chance to buy an ICI Home in Bexley, an award-winning community next to the Suncoast Parkway with thousands of acres of preserved wetlands, miles of recreational trails and unique amenities, including a bike shop and café.

ICI Homes is building its final three homes in Bexley, all on large 70-foot lots. A Costa Mesa quick move-in home will be ready in September, and the slightly smaller Egret VII will soon be under construction. Both homes have very open floor plans with lots of windows and natural lighting.

Since ICI Homes was established in 1980, the company has built over 4,000 single-family homes in Florida, including the Tampa Bay area, and has earned several prestigious awards for design and innovation.

The sales center for Asturia and Bexley is at 2112 Secret Cove in Odessa, (813) 359-0264. Models are open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Published August 28, 2019