On the Horizon

There’s no more obvious sign that the new-home market has come back strong than all the activity in Horizon West, a huge master-planned community taking shape on 28,000 acres of old citrus groves in west Orange County.

Actually, Horizon West isn’t so much one master-planned community as it is a cluster of separate but interconnected villages served by a Town Center. Ultimately, some 60,000 will call Horizon West home — more than three times the population of Winter Park.

With all the hoopla surrounding it — including the opening of major roadways and an upcoming Tour of Homes — you’d think this was all brand new. In fact, the development was conceptualized and approved in the early ‘90s, but proceeded in fits and starts.

Activity pretty much came to a standstill when the economy — and the real estate market — collapsed in 2008.

What a difference a few years make. In late 2013, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held celebrating the completion of two roads that are expected to jump-start the Horizon West Town Center.

The ceremony was held at Hamlin, a mixed-use project at the heart of the Town Center. Hamlin, a Boyd Development project, is slated for 2 million square feet of retail, restaurant and office space as well as 2,000 multifamily and single-family homes.

Hamlin’s lakefront lifestyle center will include a boardwalk and docks so that it can be reached by boat. The boardwalk will link to a multiuse trail system and a lakefront park.

The $19 million road project, funded mostly by Boyd’s company, will not only accelerate the Town Center — it will benefit every Horizon West resident who commutes to work.

New Independence Parkway was connected from S.R. 429 east to Tiny Road and the community of Independence. In addition, Hamlin Groves Trail was completed from New Independence Parkway south to the community of Summerlake and Orange County National Golf Course.

As a result, via New Independence Parkway, Horizon West residents have another access point to S.R. 429. That means motorists will save time navigating the crowded S.R. 535/S.R. 429 interchange.

The overall Town Center totals 3,700 acres just west of the Village of Bridgewater. It’s planned for 6,400 homes, 5.7 million square feet of office space, 2.1 million square feet of retail space, 348,000 square feet of warehouse space and 1,200 hotel rooms with a conference center

Concurrently, Central Florida’s best builders are moving ahead in Horizon West’s various villages. And they’re showing off their latest designs and during the Horizon West Tour of New Homes, slated from Feb. 15 through 23.

Sponsored by the Horizon West Coalition, the New Home Tour will feature more than 40 fully decorated model homes at nearly 20 model centers throughout the Horizon West area.

Within a few hours, you’ll be able to tour homes in every style, from maintenance-free townhomes to spacious single-family homes. And there’s something for every budget as well, with prices ranging from the high $100s to $500,000 and up.

Whether you’re searching for a family friendly first home or an upscale dream home on a beautiful lake, you’ll find it on the Horizon West Tour of New Homes.

Best of all, every home will be professionally decorated, so you can check out the latest trends in furnishings and finishes as well as technological advances that make today’s new homes better built and more energy efficient than ever.

Participating communities and builders include: Alexander Ridge (Lennar Homes); Avalon Reserve (Royal Oak Homes); Berkshire Park (Pulte Homes); Carrington (Ashton Woods Homes); Covington Chase (Ryan Homes); Hickory Hammock (M/I Homes); Independence (Ashton Woods Homes, Lennar Homes and Taylor Morrison Homes); Mabel Bridge (KB Home); Oakland Park (Ashton Woods Homes); and The Overlook at Hamlin (Taylor Morrison Homes).

Other participants include: The Overlook at Johns Lake Pointe (Meritage Homes and Standard Pacific Homes); The Reserve at Carriage Point (Taylor Morrison Homes); Royal Estates (Pulte Homes); Summerlake (D.R. Horton, KB Home); Sweet Water at Summerport (Ryan Homes); The Vineyards (KB Home); Waterside on Johns Lake (Standard Pacific Homes); Windermere Terrace (Pulte Homes); and Windermere Trails (Meritage Homes).

To get started, just go to the model center in any Horizon West neighborhood and pick up a Tour of New Homes Map Guide. The publication will identify participating builders and point the way to their homes.

While you’re looking at the homes, you can also check out the array of community amenities within each neighborhood.

You’ll see why Horizon West has been touted as one of the most important real-estate developments in the region’s history and a national model for smart growth.

FAST FACTS

• What: The Horizon West Tour of New Homes
• Where: Horizon West, a 28,000-acre master-planned community located in West Orange County.
• When: Saturday, Feb. 15 through Sunday, Feb. 23.
• On Display: More than 40 fully decorated homes in every style and price, in nearly 20 model centers throughout the Horizon West area.
• For More Information: Pick up the Horizon West Tour of New Homes Map Guide at any model center within the community or at many Publix and 7-11 stores in West Orange County. You can also log onto LiveHorizonWest.com.