NEWS

NEWS

September 12, 2016

First residences underway at Babcock Ranch

By: Vicki Parsons - IT

Submitted by Caffrey & Associates

Sept. 10, 2016

babcock ranch

BABCOCK RANCH — Master developer Kitson & Partners announced that Sarasota-based Homes by Towne has started construction of the first residences at Babcock Ranch, a new 18,000-acre eco-centric, solar powered town being developed by Kitson east of Fort Myers off State Road 31 in Charlotte County.

Homes by Towne is building four furnished model homes in Lake Timber, the first neighborhood to be built at Babcock Ranch. Fox Premier Builders, Stock Development, and Florida Lifestyle Homes of Fort Myers are scheduled to begin construction of 12 additional Lake Timber models between now and mid-October. Completed furnished models are expected to be open for viewing in early 2017. Each home at Babcock Ranch is being built to Florida Green Building Coalition Certification standards.

Situated on the banks of its namesake, the Lake Timber neighborhood epitomizes the Town and Country lifestyle Kitson has fashioned at Babcock Ranch. Lake Timber’s choice of custom lakefront, porch home, cottage, town home, and condominium residences with diverse price points will line streetscapes dotted with parks. Lakefront green spaces and pathways, trail head facilities, a dog park, a lakeside fishing dock, an observation deck, and Babcock Ranch’s first town garden will provide opportunities for connecting with nature. Lake Timber’s Lake House neighborhood center includes a lakefront pool, barbecue area and playground.

At the same time, Lake Timber will be close to Babcock’s Downtown District. Phase I of the Downtown District is under construction and expected to be completed by the end of February 2017. Phase I will include completion of Founder’s Square, a lakefront green space, and the town’s first dining, retail, and lifelong learning venues. The Table and Tap Restaurant will offer indoor and outdoor lakefront dining. Curry Creek Outfitters will provide hiking gear and apparel, while Slater’s Goods & Provisions will feature a coffee shop, grab and go items, and an ice cream shop. Woodlea Hall will be Babcock Ranch’s first civic building and home to Kitson & Partners’ development offices and information center. The Babcock Neighborhood School will open in the fall of 2017 and a comprehensive Wellness Center is scheduled for completion in spring 2018.

Homes by Towne’s Harvest Collection at Lake Timber includes eight open concept floor plans for residences ranging from 1,956 to 2,660 square feet on home sites measuring 50 or 60 feet by 130 feet. Floor plans are base priced starting in the $300s. The Harvest Collection homes designed by KM Development Corp. will showcase Babcock’s timeless architectural styles. Craftsman, Farmhouse, Coastal Gulf Vernacular, Spanish and Colonial/West Indies styles, each sourced in the pre-World War II Southwest Florida styles, will include deep front porches close to the sidewalks and streets. Rooms at the front of each of the Harvest Collection floor plans, whether a den or a bedroom, will have doors opening to the front porch, allowing residents to readily enjoy the outdoors at both the front and the rear of the home.

The four Homes by Towne models reflect the livability and flexibility that have been incorporated in each of the Harvest Collection floor plans.  The interiors for each of the models have been designed by John Fleming, owner of the Model Home Group of Sarasota. The Coastal style Brandywine model features a 1,956-square-foot floor plan with two bedrooms, a den or third bedroom that opens to the front porch, two baths, a great room with a vaulted ceiling that creates a sense of volume, a kitchen and dining area, and a two-car garage. The model will include a pool and pool deck and an outdoor kitchen, all of which are optional in Brandywine residences. The light, bright interior will include a coastal themed color palette, bolder fabrics, and finishes that include beamed ceiling details.

The two-story, Craftsman style Jade model’s 2,441-square-foot two-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath great room floor plan with a den and an upstairs bonus room. The den can serve as a third bedroom on the first floor. The upstairs can be configured as a bonus room with either a half or full bath, or as a bonus room plus third or fourth bedroom with either a half or full bath. The model will feature the full bonus room and a half-bath. A outdoor living area and summer kitchen will also be included in the model. The model’s tall ceilings will contribute to its open feeling.

The West Indies style Sungold model offers 2,545 square feet with a great room and dining area, kitchen island and a breakfast area that offers three places to dine. The plan includes three bedrooms, a den, two baths, a three-car garage, and a large deck with a pool and spa. The model will include an optional pool bath. Dark-toned wood flooring, soft white backgrounds, a metal roof accent, Bahama shutters, and the home’s front porch all contribute to its relaxed West Indies vibe.

In keeping with its Farmhouse architectural style, the 2,660-square-foot Sterling model will feature a red metal roof accent. The three-bedroom, three-bath great room floor plan includes a den and a study that continues Homes by Towne’s penchant for providing flexibility and allow the home to offer three, four or five bedrooms. A vaulted ceiling in the great room contributes to the plan’s open feeling. The model will include a outdoor living area and a summer kitchen. Based on the town’s gardens, the Harvest Collection models were named after types of tomatoes. The Sterling model’s interior design concept reflects the garden theme and is focused on getting back to nature and enjoying life while entertaining outdoors.

Fox Premier Builders will also be starting models from its Cottage Collection in Lake Timber. Construction of three models designed by Allison Ramsey and Associates is scheduled to start this month. The three, one- and two-story models, based priced in the $300s range from 1,555 to 2,483 square feet and will feature interior designs by Kimberly Gettenberg, principal designer at Four Corners Design. A fourth model, the Cabin designed by Timberbilt, is in development. In keeping with its commitment to green building, Fox will be using a structural insulated panel (SIPs) high performance construction system developed by Englewood, Florida-based New Panel Homes. The SIPs system is extremely durable, energy efficient, and cost effective.

Stock Development and Florida Lifestyle Homes of Fort Myers are building the custom residences included in Lake Timber’s Longleaf Collection. The Longleaf Collection includes lakefront homes on sites measuring 70 by 130 feet and 80 by 130 feet. Stock is building five furnished models base-priced in the $500s that will range from 2,676 to 3,264 square feet and feature interiors by Clive Daniel Home, Soco Interiors, Norris Furniture and Interiors, H.E. Designs and Builders Design. Norris is also designing the interiors for Florida Lifestyle’s 2,784-square-foot Taylor and 2,806-square-foot Bermont models.  A third model is in development.

To learn more about the town developed by Kitson & Partners at Babcock Ranch, visit babcockranch.com.