The Laker/Lutz News

National Association of Home Builders

Skills training program led to White House trip

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Patrick Pinnone was wrapping up a five-year stint in the U.S. Marines when he heard about a training program offered by Home Builders Institute (HBI) — an educational arm of American Home Builders.

It was exactly what he was looking for, as he prepared to make the transition to civilian life.

But, there was a problem.

Patrick Pinnone, of Dade City, back row, left, was invited to attend an event in Washington D.C., after completing an HBI training program. Others pictured are Gustavo Ramirez-Rodriguez, back row right; and front row, from left, Cullen Clebe; Greg Ugalde, NAHB Chairman of the Board; and Champagne Smith. (Courtesy of National Association of Home Builders)

The program wasn’t being offered at Camp Lejeune, the Marine base in Jacksonville, North Carolina, where he was stationed.

It was available at Fort Bragg, an Army base just west of Fayetteville, North Carolina, two hours away from his chain of command.

Pinnone was not dissuaded.

“I had to jump through hoops to get my chain of command to approve it,” he recalled.

But, he was persistent and gained approval — and became the first Marine to complete the HBI training.

And, the efforts he put forth during training led to an invitation for a trip to the White House.

He went to the nation’s capital to attend a follow-up ceremony to the July 2018 Pledge to America’s Workers.

That pledge was signed by President Donald Trump and many trade organizations, including the National Association of Home Builders and its workforce development arm, HBI, to show their commitment to create new jobs through apprenticeships, training programs, continuing education and so on.

Pinnone, who lives in Dade City, enjoyed the event.

“It was surreal. I never expected I would ever get a chance to go into the White House,” he said, adding he couldn’t believe he was in the same room as numerous top-ranking government officials, including the president and Vice President Mike Pence.

The president was there for the ceremony, but left quickly after it ended. Pence stayed longer, circulating around the room to shake hands and pose for photos.

Pinnone said he also was impressed by HBI’s training program.

He said students in the program learned skills required for residential construction work, including carpentry, foundations, siding, painting, roofing and drywall.

After finishing the HBI program, he picked up three jobs — including one with Lyle Bleachers Inc., which builds bleachers for gymnasiums and athletic fields throughout Florida.

David Lyle, president of Lyle Bleachers Inc., said the HBI training served Pinnone well.

“I think it definitely prepared him for working in our field, which is a construction-type industry,” Lyle said.

He applauded HBI’s efforts and said he’d like to see an increase in such programs.

“We need hands-on skilled laborers in this country,” Lyle said.

Pinnone said the value of the experience went beyond the skills he learned through the training.

His main takeaway? “The initiative you put out, will pay off in the end,” Pinnone said.

Pinnone, a member of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, is now enrolled at Saint Leo University, where he is studying accounting.

Published August 21, 2019

Bexley Trail Blazers Club Enjoys Outdoor Camaraderie

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Living in Tampa Bay means enjoying outstanding weather year-round and ample outdoor activities. For residents in Bexley by Newland, one of Pasco County’s premier master-planned communities, the Bexley lifestyle also means having a wide range of activities and amenities just minutes from your doorstep.

The Bexley Trail Blazers is a group of residents, nearby neighbors and friends who enjoy monthly walks through the community’s trails. Pictured L-R: Robert Krahn, Stephanie Krahn (and their dog Nala), Daniela Pavlik, Bryan Cooper, Denise Semeniuk, Nick Grimaudo, Jay Michlin, Jean Grimaudo, Jodie Johnson, Scott Waite, Larry Oliver and Jessica Robinson.

Nestled among 1,825 acres of pastoral ranch lands, mature woodlands and cypress wetlands, Bexley offers exceptional trails to walk, bike and run. The newly formed Bexley Trail Blazers, whose members are residents and guests, gather each month to explore one of the community trails, which vary in length between a quarter mile to nearly two miles.

The group usually meets on the second Friday of the month, not only for exercise, but also camaraderie. All are welcome to join. A schedule of Trail Blazers events is available at BexleyFlorida.com, or on the Bexley by Newland Facebook Page.

“We help members discover places within their community they might not have known about,” said Jessica Robinson, marketing manager for Bexley. “Our residents enjoy getting to know each other in a fun, casual setting. Not only have residents been exploring the trails together, they’ve been sharing them with their friends from other nearby communities and inviting them to join the group.”

Along their walks, Trail Blazers get a chance to enjoy the canopy of cypress trees, listen to the variety of bird songs and even catch a glimpse of an alligator or two.

The Allure of Amenities
Bexley’s dual-surface trails were designed by outdoor-living pioneer Avid Trails. Several of them include Fit Stations to keep workouts interesting and fresh. The community also offers open space for sports fields, a BMX bicycle pump park, and custom-made playgrounds, as well as two dog parks, one for large breeds and the other for small.  

Suncoast Trailside Bicycles is also located right within the community. The business offers sales, repairs and rentals six days a week at the lakefront Bexley Club, which is also home to the Twisted Sprocket Café. The public cafe offers a menu of breakfast items, sandwiches, salads, coffee, wine and beer.

Two additional buildings make up The Bexley Club: a cardio-focused fitness center and a screened-in game room with air hockey, foosball, and a pool table. There are also two resort-style pools, an outdoor fire pit and an event lawn for community events and gatherings.

Residents Connect
The Trail Blazers club isn’t the only way for residents to meet and connect. From October through May, Bexley hosts a monthly Saturday Morning Market, which features an array of unique vendors and goods. The next Morning Market is April 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The community’s Spring Garage Sale is being held in conjunction with the April market, and invites residents to host individual sales, all on the same day.

On the third Friday of each month, residents and guests gather for Happy Hour at the Twisted Sprocket Café from 5 to 8 p.m. with drinks, café specials and complimentary snacks.

Located in Land O’Lakes in central Pasco County, north of State Road 54 and just east of the Suncoast Parkway, Bexley provides a prime location that’s just 26 miles from downtown Tampa and convenient to many of the area’s diverse attractions.

Not only do residents rave about all there is to do at Bexley, the community has garnered numerous awards, including a Best in American Living Award for best single-family community from the National Association of Home Builders. It also was recognized as the best master-planned community and best recreational facility from the Southeast Building Conference.

Want to know more? Bexley allows families searching for a new home to test out all of the trails and amenities through its exclusive Resident for a Day program. To learn more, visit BexleyFlorida.com.

Published March 27, 2019

Bexley Residents Stay Healthy In The Sunshine

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Most weekday mornings you can find Bernie Schmitt working out in the fitness center at The Bexley Club. Spending time on the recumbent bicycle and rowing machine helps keep his body flexible and staves off the occasional arthritis pain he feels, after undergoing several back surgeries.

Schmitt and his wife moved to Florida to retire about a year and a half ago.

“We came down to stay healthy in the sunshine and see the grandkids,” said Schmitt, whose three sons live nearby.

One of the factors that drew the active couple to purchase their home in Bexley, Pasco County’s award-winning master-planned community, is how convenient it is to exercise right within the neighborhood.

Set on 1,825 acres of land, Bexley was designed so that residents could enjoy the great outdoors and Tampa Bay’s spectacular weather year-round. The heart of the community is The Bexley Club with a resort-style pool, separate heated lap pool, open-air game room, playground, and cardio-focused, state-of-the-art fitness center.

The Bexley Club is also home to the Twisted Sprocket Café, which is open to the public. It’s the perfect place to enjoy an after-workout smoothie or coffee, along with an outstanding menu of breakfast items, gourmet lunches, craft beer and wine.

Bernie and his wife also enjoy the miles of multi-surface trails developed by fitness pioneer Avid Trails™. Designed to encourage residents to get fit while getting back to nature that is easily accessible from nearly every home, Bexley’s trails are ideal for walking, biking, jogging and strollers.

Along the way, exercisers can use 10 separate Fit Stations, which add fun and variety to workouts. The popular Bootcamp Loop offers exercisers a complete circuit-training workout along the trail. When complete, Bexley will have more than 10 miles of trails meandering throughout the community.

With so many bikers in the community, it’s the perfect location for Suncoast Trailside Bicycles, which opened its second location within Bexley. The shop provides tune-ups, repairs, sales, and test rides for residents and visitors.

One of the most popular bicycles being offered are battery-powered e-bikes, which let users pedal on their own, or turn on the battery when they need some extra assistance. The staff at the bike shop also assists with BMX bike clinics at Bexley’s very own Mud, Sweat and Gears park, which features a unique BMX pump track.

“We designed Bexley to be a community that makes it easy for residents to get outside and live an active lifestyle,” said Pam Parisi, vice president of marketing for Newland Communities, the developer of Bexley. “Residents can enjoy the beautiful scenery, acres of nature preserves and the vibrant, social atmosphere that Bexley offers.”

Located in Land O’ Lakes along State Road 54 just east of the Suncoast Parkway, Bexley has earned 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 all that Bexley has to offer, visit BexleyFlorida.com.

Published December 26, 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

Living The Dream In Connerton

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Homebuyer preferences are constantly evolving, no matter the age of buyers. The days of formal living and dining rooms have changed into great rooms and family living centers. Luckily, most buyers – regardless of age – are looking for the same features in a community.

A recent study by the National Association of Home Builders revealed that although priority rankings vary slightly between generations, different age groups actually have very similar tastes in what they want in a new home community.

Among the top four most-desired amenities, three were the same for every age group — the desire to live in a suburban community, close proximity to parks and access to walking/jogging trails. The fourth most popular desire is an outdoor, resort-style pool.

The community of Connerton provides all of these amenities for its residents, plus a host of activities that allows them to meet neighbors and enjoy a healthy lifestyle. At Connerton, you will find carefully planned parks and green spaces, a paved trail system within the community and a natural, unpaved trail system in the 3,000-acre Conner Preserve.

Adding to its suburban appeal, many home sites are located on conservation, ponds and lakes. Club Connerton features a resort-style pool, special activities and vacation camps for kids, and an award-winning staff that was recently recognized by the NAHB as its Gold Award Winner for Best Lifestyle Program in the Nation.

Connerton’s suburban setting includes convenient shopping at the community’s entrance at The Arbors Village Center. This busy shopping center is anchored by Publix Super Market, and also offers banking, restaurants, hair and nail salons, a pool store, a liquor store, insurance agencies, a UPS store, pet grooming and a veterinarian clinic. Across the street is a Walgreens drugstore.

Connerton Residents Tell Their Stories
Today’s homebuyers have many choices when looking for a new home community, so we asked some of our residents why they chose Connerton.

Katie and Andrew Ebendick moved to Connerton because they found it to be a family oriented community with lots of activities for adults, as well as children.

When Stephanie and Stephen Adcock began looking for a place to raise their children, they drove from the Citrus Park area and let their children play at the Connerton Cove playground. There they met a neighbor who was out playing with his own children, and he told them how much he loved the neighborhood.

Stephanie Adcock, who is also a Realtor, had this comment. “It has been nine years since we made the decision to join the peaceful Connerton community, and we have never regretted our choice. The friends that we have made are priceless and have made raising a family of four children a beautiful experience. I am never without a helping hand, and my children and I have made many friendships that will last a lifetime.”

Danielle Ludwig and her family moved to Connerton in 2016. “The reason we chose Connerton over anything else was the pool, the events that are hosted and the amenities. We looked at other communities, and at the time, there were no other communities around like Connerton.”

The Allenbaughs fell in love with the fact Connerton had the Norman Rockwell look about it, and just the whole feel of the community. And, the Becwar family agrees, saying they felt that Connerton had that hometown, American feel that they really liked. They also thought the Clubhouse was great, and the people just absolutely fabulous!

See For Yourself
Connerton is not just another community — it’s a New Town, a lifestyle and place where hundreds of families have made their new home. With 77 percent of residents moving from within the Tampa Bay area, and another 6 percent relocating from other parts of Florida, Connerton has truly become the premiere community of central Pasco County.

So please stop by, take a tour of the Clubhouse and visit the model homes offered by M/I Homes, Lennar, Inland and Homes by WestBay. You may just decide to stay for a lifetime.

Connerton is located approximately six miles north of the intersection of State Road 54 and U.S. 41 in Land O’ Lakes. For more information, visit Connerton.com.

According to the NAHB study, top amenities buyers want are:

  1. Suburban setting
  2. Parks and green spaces
  3. Paved trail systems for walking, jogging and biking
  4. Outdoor, resort-style pools
  5. Exercise rooms and equipment
  6. Village centers with retail services and restaurants
  7. Lakes and ponds
  8. Natural, unpaved trail systems for walking and hiking

Amenities, Lifestyle Set Bexley Apart

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Choosing the right home and community are two of the biggest decisions you’ll make. Not only do you want to find a home that meets your family’s needs, you also want to be sure that the community offers plenty of ways to enjoy Tampa’s spectacular year-round weather and fosters a connection with neighbors.

Moving to Bexley by Newland Communities, one of Pasco County’s premier master-planned communities, means having a wide range of activities and amenities minutes from your doorstep.

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.

“The amenities at Bexley truly set our community apart,” said Pam Parisi, vice president of marketing for Newland Communities. “We designed Bexley so that residents can be as physically and socially active as they want. Or, they can just relax at The Bexley Club and enjoy the lakefront view.”

The Bexley Club
At the heart of the community is The Bexley Club, where residents and community members enjoy great food and scenic lakefront views at the Twisted Sprocket Café. The restaurant is open to the public for breakfast, lunch and happy hour, and offers an outstanding menu of breakfast items, gourmet lunches, desserts, smoothies, wine, craft beer and coffee drinks.     

Next door to the clubhouse, Suncoast Trailside Bicycles will open soon, offering bike sales, rentals and repairs.

Two additional buildings make up The Bexley Club: a cardio-focused fitness center and a screened-in game room with air hockey, foosball and pool table. There are also two resort-style pools, an outdoor fire pit, and an event lawn for community festivals and gatherings.

Get Fit
Bexley was designed so that residents could enjoy the great outdoors. The community is home to miles of multi-surface Avid™ trails, ideal for walking, biking, jogging and strollers. Along the way, check out the Fit Stations, which add fun and variety to workouts.

Custom Adventures
Some of the most unique community parks in Tampa Bay are located at Bexley. Kids spend hours on the custom-built Wonderland designed by Asheville Playgrounds. And, sports lovers of all ages use Mud, Sweat and Gears Park for impromptu soccer or football games. Bexley’s bicycle pump track is for daredevils who want to try out some new tricks. And, of course, four-legged residents have the BarkYard, a park to call their own with separate spaces for big and small dogs.

Best of all, Bexley allows families searching for a new home to test out all of the amenities through its exclusive Resident for a Day program. To learn more about all that Bexley has to offer, visit BexleyFlorida.com.

Published April 25, 2018

Connerton — Much More Than Just A Place To Live

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In the heart of Pasco County in Land O’ Lakes, the community of Connerton continues to grow, as hundreds of new homes are built for people of all ages, fulfilling their dreams to live in a community that offers much more than just a place to live.

Connerton provides more for its residents than other planned communities because it has been designated a “New Town” by the Florida Legislature. Being a New Town means Connerton can create opportunities for a diverse tax base and future job generation, offering residents a community where they can live, work and play!

More Amenities.
Club Connerton serves as the community’s social hub and sports recreation center. Its resort-style pool and its unique giant water bucket is a favorite of Connerton youngsters, who rush to get drenched by the fast-falling water. An outdoor grill and game area were recently added for residents’ enjoyment, and the latest in exercise equipment is found at the Fit and Flourish room. Tennis, pickleball and basketball courts are part of the amenity complex, where residents are always welcome to join in pickup games.

More Family Fun.
A full-time activities director and support staff offer a complete spectrum of activities designed to please the little ones, teenagers and adults. These include yoga, Pilates, girls’ night out, cigar night, dive-in movies, community yard sales, Winter Wonderland and the annual Independence Day Celebration that draws more than 7,000 attendees.

In January, Connerton was the proud recipient of the 2018 Gold Award for Best Lifestyle Program for a Community during the National Association of Home Builders Sales and Marketing Awards gala in Orlando. Entries were submitted from around the nation, and Connerton walked away with the top award, edging out communities from California, Texas and South Florida.

More Nature and Trails.
With Connerton’s appreciation of nature, green space and conservation areas, residents enjoy more than 7 miles of trails and oversized sidewalks to bike, walk or simply enjoy a family stroll. A scenic 2-mile trail winds its way through natural wilderness, lakes and wetlands, and includes elevated boardwalks for bird watching and viewing other Florida wildlife.

Adjacent to Connerton is Conner Preserve — almost 3,000 acres of wildlife habitat donated by Connerton and managed by the Southwest Florida Water Management District.  Biking, camping, hiking, equestrian use and model airplane flying are some of the recreational activities found in the Preserve.

More Quality Schools.
Connerton Elementary is conveniently located within its borders and offers many school-based activities, including band and chorus, a Fall Festival, Science Fair and PTA special events. Residents can also register their children at close-by Sanders Memorial Elementary, a STEAM magnet school specializing in science, technology, engineering, art and math. 

Older students attend Pine View Middle School, which has the distinct honor of being Pasco County’s first International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme Candidate School. Land O’ Lakes High School is located right down the road and is the assigned high school. An A-rated school and designated International Baccalaureate World School, Land O’ Lakes High has been named ‘One of America’s Best Public Schools’ by U.S. News & World Report. Private, charter and parochial schools are also in the area.

More Parks.
Who doesn’t love a park? Residents looking for a place to picnic, or just a quiet place to read, visit one of the many neighborhood parks – Connerton Cove, Garden Party Park, Magnolia Park or Storybrook Park, which is also home to the community dog park.

More for All.
It’s easy to see why Connerton is “The Community of More…” If you’re looking to move, a visit to Connerton is well worth your time to visit. Five quality builders offer many floors plans and homesites. Models by M/I Homes, Lennar, Homes by WestBay and Inland Homes are open seven days a week. Luxury custom homebuilder Arthur Rutenberg Homes has 90-foot homesites available in the gated area of Rose Pointe.

For additional information, call (813) 996-5800, or visit Connerton.com.

Published April 25, 2018

Everything Is Alive and Blooming In Connerton

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Spring brings new life, and everything is coming alive in the beautiful, award-winning community of Connerton in Land O’ Lakes.

Flowers are blooming, trees are budding and wildlife is nesting. New families are also nesting, with 60 new buyers choosing Connerton as their home since the beginning of the year.

Connerton was honored to be one of the 2018 Showcase Communities for the annual Parade of Homes sponsored by the Tampa Bay Builders Association, held March 3 to March 11. More than 200 visitors came to Connerton during the Parade, with many looking to find their dream home in this premiere Central Pasco community.

Love of Nature
With the advent of spring, Connerton comes alive not only with new homes, but also with Florida wildlife that is abundant in its conservation areas, wetlands and ponds that make up this eco-friendly community.

New homebuyers choose Connerton because they want to enjoy nature at their backdoor and get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Drive through Connerton and you may encounter a gopher tortoise crossing the road, sandhill cranes teaching their chicks the ways of the world, or perhaps a new fawn prancing through the woods with its mother. So be sure to be careful on Connerton’s roads, especially this time of the year.

Connerton residents are very protective of their wildlife. It is not uncommon to see cars stop to pick up a turtle and move it to a safe place, or become crossing guards for families of sandhill cranes and deer that want to cross the road.

New this year at Connerton is a Butterfly Garden Club organized by residents. The butterfly gardens, located at Rose Cottage, are being designed to help sustain the declining honeybee population, and provide a rest area for migrating monarch butterflies.

Monarchs are the only two-way migrating butterflies in North America, and Connerton is in a prime location to help the monarchs in their 3,000-mile journey from Mexico to as far north as Canada. Connerton plans to allow local schools to use its garden to study the monarchs and for other educational purposes.

Commitment to Preservation
When Connerton was developed almost 20 years ago, 3,000 acres were donated to the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD). The Conner Preserve, as it is known today, is located on the north end of Connerton, but is open to the public with access from State Road 52.

This area offers a stunning landscape of steep sand-hill ridges, expansive marshes, dense cypress sloughs and lush pine flatwoods. The preserve is a vital part of a wildlife habitat corridor envisioned by Pasco County, and is a living laboratory of natural Florida.

With approximately 15 miles of multi-use trails and 17 miles of hiking-only trails, nature lovers enjoy Connerton’s recreational and educational activities where possum, armadillo, raccoons, rabbits, squirrels, gopher tortoises, white-tailed deer and many other species make their home. The SWFWMD offers downloadable field guides on its website that identify the animals, birds, butterflies, trees and wildflowers located on the premises. Visit: swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/species/.

Fresh Ideas
Spring also brings thoughts of spring-cleaning, and that often leads to thoughts of moving to a new home. Connerton offers a variety of new homes by five of the area’s quality builders — Homes by WestBay, M/I Homes, Inland Homes, Arthur Rutenberg Homes and Lennar.

Floor plans ranging from 1,500 to over 4,000 square feet, and priced from the low $200s to over $700,000. Homes are available with 3-6 bedrooms, 2-4 car garages, and many exciting new design and energy-saving features.

Stop and visit Club Connerton, and take a tour of this beautiful community that was awarded the Gold Award for Best Lifestyle Program in the Nation by the National Association of Home Builders. Visit the model homes, take a walk or bike ride on the trails, or fly a kite and enjoy one of the beautiful parks. You will be happy that you did, and you may even decide to live here!

For more information, visit Connerton.com.

Published March 28, 2018

Bexley wins national design award

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Bexley by Newland Communities is now a triple award winner for 2017.

The master-planned community, located off State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes, won a 2017 Best in American Living Award (BALA) from the National Association of Home Builders, according to a news release from The Leytham Group.

Aerial view of the master-planned community of Bexley. (Courtesy of Bexley by Newland Communities)

Bexley was named Best Community in the category of Single Family Communities with 100 units or more.

The Best in American Living Awards recognizes outstanding achievement by builders and design professionals in the regional housing industry.

In making award decisions, BALA considers categories, such as, single-family production, custom, multifamily, affordable, remodeling, community and interiors.

Bexley will be honored at the BALA Awards ceremony at the International Builders Show in Orlando in January 2018.

Previously, Bexley earned two Grand Aurora Awards as the Best Master-Planned Community and Best Recreational Facility in the Southeast at the Southeast Building Conference earlier this year.

Bexley is a joint venture partnership between North America Sekisui House LLC, and Newland Real Estate Group LLC.

North America Sekisui House is the United States business unit and full subsidiary of Sekisui House LTD., Japan’s largest homebuilder.

Newland Communities is the development division for Newland Real Estate Group, and the master developer of Bexley.

Bexley Elementary School, at 4380 Ballantrae Blvd., which opened in August is the largest public elementary school ever built in Pasco County. School district officials recently had a dedication ceremony at the school.

Bexley by Newland Communities offers residents Avid multi-modal trails, 11 outdoor fitness stations, custom playgrounds and a BMX bicycle pump track. There is an event lawn for community gatherings, including a seasonal live music concert series to benefit Feeding Tampa Bay.

The Bexley Club is a gathering place in the community. And, residents and the public can dine at the Twisted Sprocket Café for breakfast, sandwiches and salads, beer and wine.

For information, visit BexleyFlorida.com, or call (813) 425-7555.

Published November 1, 2017

Land O’ Lakes to get Dairy Queen, apartments

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A Dairy Queen and a long-planned apartment complex at Terra Bella are under construction on State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes, between Livingston Road and Via Bella Boulevard.

The fast-food restaurant is expected to open in two to three months, possibly by the Fourth of July weekend, according to Keith Bennett, owner of Retail Site Development.

Dairy Queen is expected to open by July 4 on a parcel next to the Terra Bella subdivision off State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Dairy Queen is expected to open by July 4 on a parcel next to the Terra Bella subdivision off State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

The Dairy Queen location is one of several outparcels adjacent to Terra Bella that are available for commercial development. These smaller commercial projects are benefiting from proximity to shopping malls such as The Grove in Wesley Chapel, The Shops at Wiregrass and the soon-to-open Tampa Premium Outlets, Bennett said.

“Between those three projects…you’re getting outward growth,” he said. “It’s natural for commercial development like this, with interested companies like Dairy Queen.”

The fast-food restaurant will seat about 75 people and have a drive-through window. Bennett owns additional commercial parcels adjacent to the Dairy Queen site.

Once that project is complete, he said, “We’ll look to see what we choose to do with the balance.”

Southeast Commercial also is marketing commercial outparcels fronting State Road 54 at Terra Bella.

Behind the Dairy Queen site, along Venezia Avenue, construction also is under way on Alta Terra Bella, an apartment complex of 311 garden apartments in 14 three-story buildings.

The North Carolina-based Wood Partners is building the complex as the final residential phase of Terra Bella, a community of more than 250 single-family homes.

A groundbreaking was held late in 2014. Construction is expected to finish by May 2016, but leasing could begin as early as September of this year, according to a press release from Wood Partners.

The project is projected to generate $24.5 million in local income, $2.5 million in taxes and other revenues for local governments, and nearly 380 jobs. The data provided by Wood Partners in its press release is based on a formula used by the National Association of Home Builders.

Published May 13,2015