Where to Buy - Palencia
Nestled along the scenic west bank of the Intracoastal Waterway between Jacksonville and St. Augustine and encompassing 2,325 acres of century-old hammocks and woodlands, Palencia combines breathtaking beauty and a timeless sense of place.
At Palencia, which sits across from the 12,000-acre Guana River State Park, you can live where the land’s captivating natural beauty has remained unspoiled and unchanged since it was first explored by Juan Ponce de Leon nearly 500 years ago.
Among its many honors, the St. Johns County master-planned community has received the prestigious “Best in American Living” award from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) because of its smart-growth concept.
Palenica, now home to more than 1,100 families, combines an array of home styles, world-class amenities and stunning nature preserves. You may choose from single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and unique live/work units. Many estate homes offer magnificent golf and marsh views.
The picture-postcard Palencia Club features a par-72 private golf course designed by Arthur Hills. The spectacular layout winds through a landscape of ancient trees and open marsh with Intracoastal views from some holes.
The world-class course encompasses more than 100 acres and features five sets of tees, playing 7,073 yards from the back tees. Palencia’s golf practice facility consists of a 400-yard, double-sided range, a putting green, two chipping greens, five greenside bunkers and one fairway bunker.
The bustling Village Center, located about a mile from the main entrance, is the vibrant heart of the community. The 40-acre, Mediterranean-style complex is anchored by an exquisitely detailed, 33,000-square-foot clubhouse.
The clubhouse features dining, shopping and banquet facil-ities, including members’ dining room, informal bar and grill overlooking the golf course and a public cafe with outdoor seating that spills onto the Village Green.
The Village Center also boasts specialty retail shops, professional offices and maintenance-free condominiums.
Other community amenities include a state-of-the-art Swim and Fitness Center with an Olympic pool; a Tennis Club with 10 lighted Har-Tru courts; a 10-acre Athletic Park with baseball, soccer, basket-ball and playground facilities; and a tree-lined Village Green for social gatherings. When you visit, ask about Palencia’s swim team.
In addition to all this, the mile-long Tolomato River Boardwalk traverses a 30-acre public park system and connects to Intra-coastal island preserves. Nature trails, green spaces, playgrounds and pocket parks may be found throughout the community.
There’s also a new, state-of-the-art school on site. Palencia Elementary School was constructed using rigid green building standards and has applied for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. The school is also one of the state’s most technologically advanced, using digital textbooks that student access using iPad tablets.
Palencia was planned to include a wide array of housing styles, including single-family estate homes, townhomes, condominiums and live/work units. Homes are offered by the region’s most respected builders at prices ranging from the $200s to seven figures.
The community, developed by Hines, is just minutes from historic downtown St. Augustine and an easy drive to Jacksonville and the Beaches.
IN BRIEF
• Number of homes at buildout: 2,300
• Home styles: Single-family, condominiums, villas
• Price range: From the high $200s-$3 million
• Builders: Arthur Rutenberg Homes, CornerStone Custom Homes, Cottage Home Company, Dostie Homes, Fox Signature Homes, Glenn Layton Homes, Gordon’s Castle, J.L. Linder Group, MasterCraft Builder Group
• Amenities: Golf course, tennis courts, swimming pools, fitness center, clubhouse, nature trails, preservation areas, athletic facilities, Village center, elementary school
(904) 810-0500