Minneola is gearing up for a busy year in 2026 — especially along the stretch near the intersection of Hancock Road and Florida’s Turnpike.
The intersection of Hancock Road and Florida’s Turnpike has established itself as one of Lake County’s most active development hubs, driven by new residential projects, healthcare facilities, and commercial developments.
This progress is already evident on-site, as developers move beyond the approval phase and proceed to active construction, with several projects on track for completion in 2026.
Much of this growth is the result of the city’s rapid population increase, which rose by 38% between 2020 and 2024, according to data previously released by the Orlando Business Journal. Between 2023 and 2024 alone, Minneola saw a 9% increase in population .
Infrastructure and connectivity drive growth
Improved regional access has also been a key factor. Expansion projects on the Florida’s Turnpike, with investments totaling more than $162.3 million, widened the highway from two to four lanes in each direction on the stretch between Clermont and the Hancock Road interchange, significantly improving the region’s connectivity.
North of the interchange, another project, valued at $233 million, is widening the Turnpike to eight lanes, with construction scheduled to continue through 2028, extending just past O’Brien Road in Groveland.
Residential expansion continues at a rapid pace
The Hills of Minneola community has played a central role in this expansion, driving the early stages of development and ensuring a steady supply of new homes.
In 2018, Brad Parker of Southern Realty Enterprises brokered a $75 million sale in which Jen Florida 30 LLC, an investment partner of Sun Terra Communities, acquired nearly the entire project site.
According to Parker, Hills of Minneola consists of several neighborhoods, including a community for residents aged 55 and older, as well as market-rate housing for the local workforce.
“They build and sell just as quickly,”Parker said. “It has been one of the most successful communities in Central Florida.”
Sun Terra's long-term plan calls for up to 2,200 single-family homes and 800 units for active adults, with several major homebuilders already under contract.
New apartment complexes are also planned for the Hills of Minneola area, in line with infrastructure investments and growing demand for housing.
One of the upcoming projects, Vista Hills, is scheduled to break ground in January 2026 and is located just behind the existing Minneola Hills Apartments.
According to Kevin Skorman, vice president of Orlando-based Skorman Development LLC, the company owns 163 acres within that corridor, which were acquired as part of a larger $29 million purchase completed in 2021.
The Vista Hills project will feature 324 units, ranging from one to three bedrooms, distributed across four residential complexes, each consisting of four apartment buildings arranged around a central courtyard.
The developer also owns a 26-acre approved parcel of land at the intersection of U.S. Highway 27 and Sullivan Road, about four miles from the Hancock Road junction. The site is zoned for up to 468 multifamily units or townhomes as part of a potential project that qualifies under the Live Local Act.
In addition, an additional six-acre lot on the same strategic corner has been approved for commercial use, positioning both properties in one of the city’s fastest-growing corridors.
The area is located next to Pointe Grande, a new apartment complex that, according to Skorman, is being built by Hillpointe, a Winter Park-based real estate development and management company, further bolstering the region's residential expansion.
Growth in Mixed-Use Projects
The largest project currently under development by Skorman Development is Hills City Center, a 96-acre mixed-use district located directly along the Turnpike.
The development, anchored by a wellness center, has been approved for more than 1,000 multifamily units and more than 500,000 square feet of medical office space.
“We’re seeing an impressive level of interest in Hills City Center from all segments of the market,” said Skorman. “From major retail chains to restaurants and unique local businesses, there are multiple prospective tenants interested in each planned area.”
The project also includes a senior living community, a hotel, three digital displays, and approximately 600,000 square feet of retail space. A supermarket is also part of the plan and is expected to be announced soon.
The first major anchor tenant confirmed for Hills City Center is AdventHealth, a $281 million investment, which held its official grand opening on December 9. An additional 60,000-square-foot medical building is currently under construction within the same complex.
According to a spokesperson for AdventHealth, the hospital has hired about 500 new employees, and the medical building is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2026.
“When the Minneola interchange opened in 2017, it was estimated that it would spur more than $1 billion in development, ”Skorman said. “That estimate will be surpassed by the AdventHealth and Hills City Center projects alone.”
A new hub for leisure and dining
In addition to its expansion in the healthcare sector, Hills City Center is also attracting destination retail developments. Among the highlights is the new Crooked Can Brewing Co. location, which will serve as the company’s headquarters and feature a food hall.
Founded in 2014, the brewery already has a location at Plant Street Market in Winter Garden and was added to the Kia Center’s list of vendors in 2024. According to previous reports by the Orlando Business Journal, Crooked Can is currently the busiest local brewery in Central Florida.
According to Alan Delahunt, managing partner of Crooked Can, construction is at an advanced stage, with the building almost completely enclosed. The brewery equipment is expected to arrive on December 20, allowing installation to begin in early January.
“The interior structure is nearly complete, and we’ve already begun work on the electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems,” said Delahunt. “We’re very excited to see this project come to life and to bring even more of our beer to Lake County.”
The opening is scheduled for the summer of 2026, likely between June and July.
Skorman described the new space as “the largest destination brewery and food hall in the state of Florida, ” occupying three acres next to a community park with a stage for live events and outdoor gathering areas.
According to Tara Tedrow, a partner and land-use attorney at the Lowndes law firm, the Hancock Road corridor is becoming the “crown jewel of development in Lake County.”
“Residential growth has led this new phase of expansion,” said Tedrow. “But with projects such as Hills City Center, Crooked Can Brewery, and AdventHealth coming online, the retail and medical office sectors have also become priority targets for development.”
Source: BizJournals.com