Masters of Master Planning

Stephen Netta wanted to live in a place reminiscent of his childhood hometown, where schools and shops were within walking distance of his home and where neighbors knew one another and socialized.

His search led him to FishHawk Ranch, a master-planned community in southeast Tampa" target="_blank">Hillsborough County that offers an array of housing options, from condominiums to custom showplaces. There's also a town center with retailers and restaurants, parks, A-rated schools and a host of recreational amenities.

Best of all, Netta found, FishHawk Ranch felt like home. So he, his wife and their two children moved in and put down roots. And since that time, Netta has become such a fan of the place that he sometimes stops by the Information Center to sing its praises to visitors.

"This kind of development is phenomenal," says Netta, who notes that a Publix supermarket and additional shops and offices will soon be built within the community. "What more can you do? There's a real sense of belonging."

That's what Newland Communities, developer of FishHawk Ranch MiraBay and other large-scale projects throughout the region, wants to hear. After all, the company, based in LaJolla, Calif., has spent four decades creating vibrant places that appeal to buyers looking for more than just another soulless suburb.

"We're very well aware that what we're creating will last far beyond our lifetimes," says Vaike O'Grady, Newland's regional marketing director. "So we're committed to doing it right, thinking it through and building an enduring sense of value in whatever we do."

In fact, Newland is so proud of FishHawk Ranch and MiraBay that both developments have multiple entries in the Luxury Home Tour, a partnership between Tampa Bay Homebuyer and Greenspring Media. The tour, slated for Sept. 29 through Oct. 15, will spotlight beautifully furnished and decorated custom showplaces valued at near or above seven figures.

Of course, not every home in FishHawk Ranch and MiraBay is pricey. Indeed, there are townhomes available at FishHawk Ranch priced from the $150s. But the Luxury Home Tour offers an opportunity for builders to show off their most eye-popping work.

Participating builders in FishHawk Ranch are Nohl Crest Homes, Hannah Bartoletta Homes and Homes by John C. Fowke. Participating builders in MiraBay are Nohl Crest Homes, Hannah Bartoletta Homes, Alvarez Homes, John Cannon Homes and Sabal Homes.

Newland has a lengthy track record of success in Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Maryland, Georgia, Texas and the Carolinas.

The company entered the Tampa Bay market in 2000, when it acquired FishHawk Ranch and Covington Park from Genstar Development. Two years later it paid $600 million for the property portfolio of Terrabrook, the land development subsidiary of Westbrook Partners. As part of the transaction, Newland also got 21 of Terrabrook's master-planned communities.

When planning a new project, Newland eschews the cookie-cutter approach. CEO Robert McLeod and senior local staffers gather for freewheeling "visioning" sessions during which "cornerstones" are decided upon. Those cornerstones, in turn, guide the design process.

"Those sessions are powerful," says O'Grady. "We consider the history and the lifestyle of the area. And we look at the land itself to see what's unique and indigenous. Those are things that should be treasured and enhanced."

As the group works, an artist illustrates the ideas brought forth on a giant board. The artist's depictions are eventually printed and bound, so there is a permanent reminder of how each concept was formulated.

With MiraBay, for example, the underlying cornerstones were nature, water and coastal living. That's what planners used when establishing architectural themes for the South Shore community, where most residents can access Tampa Bay by boat from their back yards.

With FishHawk Ranch, nature was also among the cornerstones, along with education, family and innovation. The emphasis on nature is evident from the beautiful oak trees and lush foliage lining the streets, and from the nearly 20 miles of trails that wind their way through the community.

On a typical weekday afternoon, preschoolers run squealing through the dancing fountains in Park Square while their moms sit beneath umbrellas sipping coffee from the adjacent caf? A gaggle of preteens swoop and dive at the community's skate park while older teens jog past the aquatic center with its waterslide and lagoon pool.

As for innovation, there's a community Intranet site that links and alerts residents to upcoming activities, such as jazz nights, and organizations, such as a babysitters' club established by a group of enterprising youngsters.

Activities are key to establishing a sense of belonging, says O'Grady. She says Newland works with homeowners' associations to establish activities catering to an array of interests, from reading to wine tasting.

"Some communities just seem a little over-the-top in terms of theming; they can be a little inauthentic," notes O'Grady. "The way we work, we try to create a sense of neighborhood even within larger communities. Our buyers can find instant sets of friends with shared interests and values."

LUXURY HOME TOUR

When: Sept. 29-Oct. 1, Oct. 6-8, Oct. 13-15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: FishHawk Ranch, MiraBay and other locations to be announced.
What: A tour of at least 15 elaborately decorated custom homes priced close to or greater than $1 million.
Tickets: $15 in advance or $20 at the event. Advance tickets go on sale Sept. 18 and may be bought online or at local CVS pharmacies.
For more information: www.luxuryhometour.net.

NEWLAND'S COMMUNITIES

• Bexley. A 6,872-acre, master-planned community in Land O' Lakes in west-central Tampa" target="_blank">Pasco County. Will eventually contain 7,000 homes, 400,000 square feet of retail space and 1.5 million square feet of office space. Not yet started. www.bexleyfl.com

• Covington Park. A 394-acre community of 1,200 single-family homes in southern Tampa" target="_blank">Hillsborough County. Amenities include a natural oak hammock, fish-filled ponds, a community park and playground, a picnic area, biking and walking trails. Swimming, tennis, basketball and sand volleyball are offered at the Oak Park community center. Near buildout. www.covingtonpark.com

• FishHawk Ranch. A 3,000-acre, master-planned community in Lithia in southeast Tampa" target="_blank">Hillsborough County. Will eventually contain 5,000 homes and nearly 300,000 square feet of retail and office space. Amenities include three clubhouses, three swimming pools, an aquatic center, a theater with stadium seating, sports fields, parks and walking trails. www.fishhawkranch.com

• MiraBay. A 750-acre coastal community in the South Shore area of Tampa" target="_blank">Hillsborough County. Will eventually contain 1,750 single-family and multi?family homes. Amenities include a 135-acre saltwater lagoon and three and a half miles of saltwater canals. The 10,000-square-foot MiraBay Club has a fitness center, a spa, banquet facilities, meeting rooms and two swimming pools. www.mirabay.com

• Waterset. Newland Communities' newest town, located in the South Shore area of Tampa" target="_blank">Hillsborough County, will feature a landscaped esplanade and water-oriented recreation. Presales begin in 2007. www.watersetfl.com