The Laker/Lutz News

Sean Strickler

Groundbreaking held for veteran’s free home

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Retired U.S. Army Sgt. Javier Torres and his family have been selected to receive a new mortgage-free home from PulteGroup, through the company’s Built to Honor program, in partnership with the nonprofit Operation Finally Home.

Ground recently was broken for the family’s new home being built in Land O’ Lakes.

Torres was severely injured while deployed in Afghanistan in 2004, according to a news release.

This group flings some dirt at the groundbreaking of a new free home for a U.S. Army veteran in Land O’ Lakes. From left: PulteGroup West Florida Division President Sean Strickler; Retired U.S. Army Sgt. Javier Torres, and daughters 11-year-old Kaylie Torres and 3-year-old Aria Torres; wife Stephanie Torres, 1-year-old Avery Torres; and, Molly Halliday, senior vice president of Marketing and Project Management for Operation Finally Home. (Courtesy of BoardroomPR)

His platoon was ambushed, and his HUMVEE was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. He was shot three times during the firefight and his fellow soldiers protected him before he was eventually medevacked. He was awarded several honors for his service, including the Purple Heart.

The Torres family currently lives in an apartment in Land O’Lakes.

“We just want to have a place to call our own, where our family can grow without having to move constantly,” Torres said, in the release.

The family’s new single-story home is being built in the Arden Preserve community. The residence, which will exceed 2,100 square feet, will have four bedrooms and three bathrooms.

PulteGroup team members, along with the Torres family, officially broke ground on the home on March 24, and the team expects to welcome the Torres family home this summer.

“It is a privilege for Pulte employees, along with our trade partners and suppliers, to be able to give back to our nation’s veterans in a meaningful way,” Sean Strickler, president of PulteGroup’s West Florida division, said in a news release.

The Torres family worked closely with Operation Finally Home, which partners with builders like PulteGroup to provide homes and home modifications to America’s military heroes and first responders.

“We are extremely grateful to PulteGroup and their Built to Honor program for supporting our veterans, first responders and their families with mortgage-free homes,” said Rusty Carroll, executive director of Operation Finally Home, in the release.

PulteGroup’s Built to Honor program was launched in 2013 to recognize and thank returning military personnel who have been injured during their term of service by providing mortgage-free homes to veterans and their families.

Built to Honor works in partnership with nonprofit organizations to identify veteran candidates. This will be the West Florida division’s fourth home dedicated in the Tampa Bay area.

Published April 14, 2021

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

Two Centex Communities Ideal For First-Time Homebuyers

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Talavera now open in Spring Hill; Wesbridge coming to Wesley Chapel

Affordable housing can be challenging to find in a hot real estate market like Pasco County — especially new construction. But, that is changing with two new communities being developed by Centex Homes.

Earlier this month, Centex held the grand opening of its model in Talavera, a new-home community in Spring Hill that’s located on U.S. 41, just north of State Road 52.

While Talavera’s address is Spring Hill, the community is located in Pasco County and children are zoned to top-rated schools in Land O’ Lakes.

Coming soon to Wesley Chapel is Wesbridge, another Centex development with first-time homebuyers in mind.  Located on Wells Road, directly across from the Wesley Chapel public school complex, construction will begin in July, with models opening in early 2019.

“People looking to buy at Talavera and Wesbridge are typically first-time homebuyers, with many right out of college and moving from an apartment” said Sean Strickler, West Florida Division president for Centex Homes.

“Buyers like the openness of our floor plans, and appreciate Centex’s design that puts most of a home’s square footage in rooms where families congregate,” he adds.

Every Centex floor plan features a great room that opens to the kitchen, and a flex room that can be used as a dining room, library, playroom or office. Centex buyers can also personalize their homes with individual choices in flooring, countertops and colors, and even have a selection of pre-planned structural changes to enhance their home.

“Our homes truly offer more flexibility than many lower priced homes offered by the competition,” said Strickler

Large Lots at Talavera
Centex recently began selling homes in Talavera, a community of 760 homes that has been underway for two years. Centex has 100, 65-foot and 75-foot lots available in this community.

“The homesites in Talavera are very large — you definitely get more property with your home,” said Strickler. “People moving to Talavera want a nice home, and are a little bit more willing to sacrifice commute time to ensure for a larger home that meets their budget.”

Centex offers nine floor plans in Talavera, ranging from 1,675 to 4,248 square feet. Homes are one and two story, with prices ranging from $210,990 to $326,990.

With a floor plan that is truly consumer-inspired, the Palm is Centex’s new, fully furnished model in Talavera. Four quick move-in homes will be available beginning in May.

Amenities are in place at Talavera, and include a resort-style pool, cabanas, children’s playground, basketball court and dog park.

Wesbridge Has Premium Location
Wesbridge’s 104 acres of former timberland and pasture is located in the heart of Wesley Chapel — one of Tampa Bay’s most in-demand communities.

It is located east of I-75 and north of State Road 54, between Boyette Road and Curley Road, and is less than a mile from Epperson — a master-planned community with a Crystal Lagoon that is attracting a lot of attention.

“Wesbridge’s location is perhaps its most desirable feature,” said Strickler  “This will be one of the most affordable new-home communities in the area.”

Another draw is the community’s top schools and close-by recreational facilities. Wesley Chapel Elementary, Weightman Middle and Wesley Chapel High schools are literally across the street on Wells Road. And, the 140-acre Wesley Chapel District Park is just a half mile away with its many baseball, soccer and football fields, tennis and basketball courts, fitness trail and picnic areas.

Wesbridge’s location also offers easy access to shopping and dining at The Shops at Wiregrass, Tampa Premium Outlets and the Bruce B. Downs corridor.

Like Talavera, Wesbridge also touts family oriented amenities, including a resort-style pool and splash zone, community clubhouse, children’s playground and dog park.

Many of Talavera’s two-story floor plans will be available at Wesbridge, where homes will be built on 40-foot, 50-foot and 60-foot lots. Home prices will begin in the mid $200s.

More information about Wesbridge, including home designs, pricing, pre-sales and site, can be found by signing up for the community’s VIP registration at Centex.com/Wesbridge.

About Centex
Centex is a division of Pulte Homes, the third largest homebuilder in the U.S. Pulte understood the demographic boom coming for first-time homebuyers, and in 2008 bought Centex Homes, which was a national brand targeted to this first-time buyer. Today in the Tampa Bay area, nearly half of Pulte’s business comes from its Centex brand.

“In an era where many potential homebuyers are feeling priced out of the market, Centex is proud to be in Pasco with affordable homes that are within 20 to 35 miles of Tampa,” said Strickland.  “Our two Pasco communities offer first-time homebuyers family focused, suburban living close to the area’s major traffic arteries.”

Strickler also adds that Centex Homes are built using the same quality materials and workmanship found in its more expensive Pulte and Del Webb home brands.

“Our Centex buyers get the same quality construction materials and processes, just at lower cost per square foot,” he said.

Talavera
Land O’ Lakes schools
Fast access to U.S. 41 and Suncoast Parkway
760 home sites
Large lots
Prices begin at $210,990
9 floor plans; 1 and 2-story homes
1,675 to 4,248 square feet
Model Home – Palm
Resort-style pool and cabanas

Wesbridge
Wesley Chapel schools
Fast access to I-75
350 home sites
Models open in early 2019
Prices begin in the mid $200s
1,500 to 4,000 square feet
Resort-style pool and splash zone

Published April 25, 2018

Pulte to build 350 homes in Wesley Chapel

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Pulte Group’s West Florida Division plans to build 350 single-family residences on the south side of Wells Road, east of Boyette Road, according to a news release from BoardroomPR.

The development will be a Centex-brand community, known as Wesbridge.

Pulte recently purchased about 104 acres for the project.

Sean Strickler, Pulte’s division president in west Florida
(Courtesy of Boardroom PR)

Wesbridge will be targeted to first-time homebuyers, with sales prices starting in the low $200,000s. There will be three different home designs on 40-foot, 50-foot and 60-foot wide lots. Several homes will back up to open space, preserved land and water, according to the release.

Floor plans will range from 1,500 square feet to more than 4,000 square feet. Homebuyers can choose designs with three to five bedrooms, two to four bathrooms and two to three car garages.

Wesbridge also will feature a resort-style swimming pool, splash playground, tot lot and dog park.

“This is an assemblage of four different pieces of property in a prime location,” Sean Strickler said, in a written statement. Strickler is Pulte’s division president in west Florida.

The location has easy access to Interstate 75, Interstate 275 and State Road 54, The Shops at Wiregrass, Tampa Premium Outlets, and the newly opened Wesley Chapel District Park.

It will be located across from Wesley Chapel Elementary School, Weightman Middle School and Wesley Chapel High School.

Wesbridge is Pulte’s third community in Wesley Chapel.

The first, Country Walk, sold out in February 2017, according to the press release. The second is in Epperson, the community that features the Crystal Lagoon.

Pulte is in its second phase of home sales for Epperson.

Wesbridge sales are expected to begin in early 2019, with homes move-in ready by summer 2019.

For information, visit Pulte.com.

Published March 14, 2018

Del Webb moves into Bexley

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Pulte Group broke ground on an 850-home, age-restricted Del Webb Bexley community in Land O’ Lakes on Jan. 31.

The age 55 and older community is the first “active-adult” project built by Pulte in the Tampa Bay area since 1960, according to a press release from Pulte Group.

“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, in a written statement.

Strickler is division president for the west Florida region for Pulte Group.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey, left, Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Wells Jr., Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano, Hunter Booth, Toxey Hall, Aaron Baker, Kelli Bailey and Sean Strickler, division president for west Florida region for Pulte Group broke ground on the 850-home, age-restricted Del Webb Bexley community in Land O’ Lakes. (Courtesy of Boardroom PR)

Strickler attended the ground breaking along with executives from Pulte Group and Newland, Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Wells Jr., and commissioners Kathryn Starkey and Jack Mariano.

The homes are under construction at Sunlake Boulevard and Tower Road on about 490 acres within the master-planned Bexley by Newland Communities, off State Road 54. The gated community will be built in four phases, with the first homes expected to be move-in ready by spring 2019.

In a telephone interview, Strickler reported a construction start on model homes in October, with completion in January or February, 2019.

Already, about 2000 people have expressed an interest in moving there, he said. Some homes could be sold before the model homes are finished, he added.

“Del Webb always has a high degree of interest,” Strickler said. “But, this has exceeded our expectations because we haven’t done much advertising, except on the website.”

Del Webb’s last active-adult community was built in the Ruskin area in the early 1960s. Plans were underway for a Wesley Chapel community before the housing bust in 2009. “Obviously the market got in the way,” Strickler said.

But, it’s a different market today, and the Tampa Bay area is a magnet for baby boomers, he added.

Pulte also is one of the builders at the master-planned community of Epperson, which features the Crystal Lagoon. There are no current plans to build a Del Webb community there. But, Pulte has about 250 lots available, and has sold 11 homes. “We anticipate them going quickly,” Strickler said.

The Del Webb Bexley community will offer six single-family home designs, of two- to four-bedrooms and two- to four-bath rooms. There will be two- to three-car garages.

Home prices will start in the low $200,000 range.

Residents will have a 17,000 square-foot, multimillion dollar clubhouse that features a large social room; a café with snacks, beer, coffee and wine; a fitness area; a resort-style swimming pool; and, recreational activities overseen by a full-time lifestyle director.

Del Webb residents also can enjoy a lakefront club and café as part of the larger Bexley community. And for an additional fee, they can purchase access to Bexley’s “all-ages” amenities, which include 10 miles of multi-use Avid Trails, parks and playgrounds, a soccer field, dog park, two resort-style pools, a bike park and many social events.

For information, call (866) 230-6089, or visit DelWebb.com/bexley.

Published February 14, 2018