“We are not just developers — we are building a brand new town,” said Stephanie Lerret, senior vice president of marketing for Avalon Park Group. “We’re so much more than just another planned community – we’re bringing together everything a family needs to enjoy life today and in the future.”
Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, located on State Road 54 about 3 miles east of Interstate 75, began building its first homes in 2012. Today, 1,000 homes have been completed or are underway, and residents enjoy unique amenities, neighborhood schools, and easy access to Tampa, Lakeland and Orlando.
Homes in the residential community range in price from the mid $200s to over $400s.
“Our builders offer homes for everyone, from teachers to physicians to empty-nesters wanting the convenience of the no-fuss, townhome lifestyle,” said Lerret.
Downtown Avalon Park
Avalon Park Wesley Chapel will offer places to shop and work in its downtown hub that will be connected to its residential neighborhoods by tree-lined streets, walkways and bike paths.
“We are building a traditional downtown, with stores located inside of our community on the boulevard road leading to our residences, parks and schools,” said Lerret. “We are creating a town that spreads out from the town center connecting to individual neighborhoods — very much like the footprints of small towns found across America.”
The first phase of downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel will include 130,000 square feet of mixed-use commercial space and apartments built above the storefronts.
“We’re building beautiful, multi-story buildings with commercial space designed for businesses our residents want close to home — restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops, bars and entertainment, hair and nail salons, as well as activities like dance, gymnastic and karate studios,” said Lerret.
Eventually, Avalon Park’s downtown will have more than 560,000 square feet of retail, and 120,000 square feet of office space. At build out, this 1,650-acre master-planned community will have about 4,400 single and multi-family homes, and be home to 10,000 residents.
D.R. Horton Is Now Pre-Selling in Westgate
D.R. Horton is now pre-selling homes in Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, in its all-new community — Westgate at Avalon Park.
There are 14 single-family floor plans to choose from that include from 3 to 5 bedrooms, 2 to 3 bathrooms, and range from 1,504 to 3,561 square feet. New townhomes are expected to come soon.
Initial sales will be conducted through D.R. Horton’s online sales team, and then move to the company’s sales staff working inside its model homes. Their model home will be open and staffed seven days a week.
D.R Horton home features include open-concept floor plans, granite kitchen countertops, a stainless-steel appliance package, and are equipped with Home is Connected, D.R. Horton’s Smart Home system.
Westgate Village encompasses 285 acres in the back of Avalon, about a mile from its entrance on State Road 54, which offers residents a quiet, suburban setting. It will embrace its own set of amenities, including a resort-style pool; open-air clubhouse with an outdoor kitchen, playground, open sports field, and picnic area with pavilions.
For more information, visit DRHorton.com, or call 866-475-3347.
A Celebration Planned to Remember
Avalon Park Wesley Chapel would like the public to know about a special event being hosted at the Pasco Fine Arts Council, located at its center at 4145 Fairford Drive, Port Richey, FL 34632, on Feb. 12 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The event will be a celebration of life for Jo Baughman, longtime director of the Pasco Fine Arts Council, who passed away in September 2020.
It will feature 50 or so of her paintings, a live auction, music, wine, etc., and all of the profits will go to the center.
“We all miss Jo so much, and we wanted to do something special for her,” says Annie Harris, a friend of Baughman. “She put all her heart and soul into the council.”
Avalon Park Wesley Chapel began its partnership with the arts council back in 2019.
It was just a year earlier that Avalon Park’s executive team met with Baughman to offer their Welcome Center as a new gallery on the east side of the county. The developer also committed to building a permanent arts center in its downtown in coming years.
“This partnership is bringing great opportunities to expand the arts to not only our community, but the entire east side of the county,” says Lerret.
The loss of Baughman — who was 75 when she died on Sept. 18 after a short battle with lung cancer — was especially emotional for Lerret, who worked closely with Baughman to set up the location of the East Pasco Fine Arts Council at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel.
“Jo’s desire to share that passion with others was an inspiration. We are blessed to have known Jo and to absorb her knowledge of the finer things,” said Lerret.
For more information about the Pasco Fine Arts Council, visit PascoArts.org.
Movie Under the Stars
