State Road 54, east of U.S. 41, tends to hog the spotlight on new development.
After all, it is home to premium commercial shopping meccas, including Tampa Premium Outlets and the now-rising star of Cypress Creek Town Center.
Brightworks Crossing, an apartment and retail project, is going up at Wesley Chapel Boulevard and State Road 54. And, other area development includes Florida Hospital Center Ice, luxury car dealerships, a thriving Shops at Wiregrass, and commercial and residential expansions at Wiregrass Ranch.
But, west of U.S. 41, with its large parcels of open land, the game of catch-up is on.
Apartments, single-family homes, offices, hotels and shops are under construction, awaiting permits, or have just cleared the rezoning hurdle.
The mixed-use, master-planned community of Asturia is among many new developments that are reshaping Pasco County’s future. The changes are particularly noticeable in Land O’ Lakes, on the north side of the state road from U.S. 41 to Starkey Ranch.
Construction sites and new development pop up – boom, boom, boom.
The progression of development is taking a natural course of following where land is available, said Lars Kier, president of the Central Pasco Association of REALTORS.
“It’s moving away from Wesley Chapel and Tampa,” he said. “It’s just a natural growth that way.”
Also, the western side of Pasco County is largely developed, he added.
Central Pasco and East Pasco are more rural.
“Real estate is establishing itself where it’s easier to develop,” Kier said. “With all the growth in Pasco, I would definitely think all of it is going to be pretty well-developed.”
Occasionally, the county’s rural past meets up with its urban future.
Down the entrance drive into Asturia, a small herd of cows munches grass on an open field. Behind them, construction workers raise the roofs on new homes.
But, Asturia isn’t all that’s happening.
From U.S. 41, west, there are the Shoppes at Ballantrae Village; Mystic Pointe apartments; Bexley by Newland Communities; Florida Hospital Central Pasco ER; Asturia Corporate Center; South Branch Ranch; and, Publix at Gunn Highway and Starkey Ranch.
A drive into Bexley reveals the Spring Hills Suites Marriott hotel under construction, and the Lakeside Walk apartments, which are preleasing.
Other locations on State Road 54 are filled with clusters of housing frames or smoothed over plots of ground, waiting for a construction start. Or, motorists can spot a sign planted in the dirt, “The Preserve New Homes” coming.
On the south side, for sale signs offer up large swaths of vacant land, waiting on the next development wave. Some parcels are newly rezoned, and need site plans and permitting before more development sprouts.
Some small commercial projects are visible, as well.
The DCI Professional Center at State Road 54 and Ogden Loop has a sign heralding a fall 2017 opening for the 18,000-square- foot office complex, across from Asturia.
So far, all that is finished there is a paved parking lot.
Stanley Steemer is nearing completion on State Road 54, just west of U.S. 41.
Sienna Village II is planned as an expansion of the existing Sienna Village, a small office complex off State Road 54, also just west of U.S. 41.
The expansion, at State Road 54 and Sofia Drive, will have 150,000 square feet of offices, and 30,000 for commercial.
Highlights of new development on State Road 54, from U.S. 41 to Starkey Ranch, include:
- Shoppes at Ballantrae Village
The shopping center outside the master-planned community of Ballantrae includes DQ Grill & Chill, Domino’s Pizza, Dunkin’ Donuts, T-Mobile, Hungry Greek, a dental office and a spa.
Circle K convenience store is adjacent to the shops, at the entrance into Ballantrae.
- Mystic Pointe apartments
The upscale, gated apartment complex will have 252 apartments, and a Key West vibe when construction is complete. Preleasing on one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments is underway.
The complex is between Bexley by Newland Communities to the west and Ballantrae to the east, off State Road 54.
- Bexley by Newland Communities
The master-planned community is under construction on more than 1,800 acres, off State Road 54, east of Suncoast Parkway. Newland Communities announced in March that more than 250 new homes have been sold.
On the entry drive into Bexley, Spring Hill Suites Marriott is being built. Lakeside Walk apartments are under construction, but are preleasing.
Bexley’s clubhouse is home to the Twisted Sprocket Café, which is open to the public for breakfast, lunch and happy hour.
- Florida Hospital Central Pasco ER
The emergency room facility is open outside Bexley, providing medical care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- South Branch Ranch
Sembler and Altman Development Corp., had March pre-application meetings scheduled with Pasco County planners for property rezoned in 2017 at the northwest corner of Suncoast Parkway and State Road 54.
Altman is proposing 16 buildings, including a clubhouse. There would be more than 350 apartments with one-, two-, and three-bedrooms.
Sembler is proposing a project with a grocery store, fitness center and shops. Outparcels facing State Road 54 could be future sites for restaurants, offices, shops and a gas station.
Both are part of South Branch Ranch, according to county records.
- Land Investment Partners offices/apartments
The Atlanta-based investment company plans to build two, three-story premier office buildings of 75,000 square feet each, at the southeast corner of Suncoast Parkway and State Road 54.
The company also plans 300 apartments, with access off Northpointe Parkway in Northpointe Village.
The locations are part of the Suncoast Crossings development property, and adjacent to the newly opened manufacturing plant by Mettler Toledo.
- Asturia Corporate Center
The Pasco County Commission approved a plan in 2017 to build up to 200,000 square feet of premier office space on the north side of State Road 54, west of Asturian Parkway. The business park will be part of the mixed-use, master-planned community of Asturia.
Harrod Properties Inc., is developing the project, which will be built in phases and without pre-signed tenants.
- Publix at Starkey Ranch
A 45,000-square-foot Publix grocery store is expected to open in fall 2018 at State Road 54 and Gunn Highway. An additional 30,000 square feet will be available for more retail.
Published April 11, 2108
