A major development in West Orange County, called Horizon West, is under construction. When completed, it will be a mixed-use project that will ultimately be home to thousands of residents and feature a central area with shops and restaurants.
Horizon West is the region's newest planned community, just like Lake Nona and Winter Park.
“It’s the second-fastest-growing area in terms of residential construction starts in the U.S., behind only The Villages,” said Ken Kupp, a partner at Boyd Development Corporation.
Kupp said that more than 50% of residential permits in Orange County are for this area. Over time, it is expected that more than 100,000 people will call this community home.
“A 950-acre, mixed-use downtown area designed to be pedestrian-friendly and event-oriented, creating a community hub for nearby residents,” said Kupp.
This central area is called Hamlin, right off Exit 429, where people can live, work, and have fun.
“You can walk to work, walk to the nearest restaurant or movie theater, spend time by the lake, and truly enjoy an outdoor lifestyle in Florida,” said Kupp.
More restaurants, retail, and entertainment are in the plans
Downtown leads to Lake Hancock, where there will be an outdoor, lakeside entertainment district where the community can gather to enjoy an evening out or attend a special event.
The downtown area is also seeing the development of offices and apartments, as well as surrounding subdivisions, with homes being built as far as the eye can see.
“Hamlin is just one small piece of a much bigger puzzle,” Kupp said.
Brian Currier just bought a house in this community. He's happy to hear about the plans for his new neighborhood.
“We’re from Massachusetts,” Currier said. “I’ve heard there’s a lot in store, so I’m looking forward to it.”
But will this community be accessible? Kupp says it depends on how you look at it.
“You can buy a condo for $250,000 at the lower end of the price range, and the price can go all the way up. If you prefer, you can get a lakefront property for $900,000 to $1.2 million. [It seems like] a lot of money, but the truth is, when you compare that to the nearest town … If you want to be on the Lake Butler canal system, those numbers are much, much higher,” Kupp said.
The developer plans to build about two dozen structures this year in the city center. He expects the entire project to take five to seven years to complete.
Meanwhile, homebuilders are working at full speed.
The region is set to get a nature park
In addition to all the residential and commercial development currently underway in the region, it is also set to be home to Horizon West Regional Park, a park offering plenty of nature, activities, and sports for families. We [Pointon Realty] have already posted about it on the projects page of our website. Check it out here.