NEWS

Future residents help launch a great hometown tradition

By Staff | on December 07, 2017

Above: Kindergarten students from Babcock Neighborhood School kicked off the holiday music performances under the Band Shell. Right: Children perched on Santa’s knee to share their wish lists. Far Right: Clydesdale horses posed for photos at Founder’s Square after delivering Santa to the first annual tree lighting event at Babcock Ranch. Below: The natural magic of a Babcock Ranch Sunset is what closed the deal for future residents Richard and Robin Kinley. Bottom: Early homebuyers met future neighbors and formed fast friendships at a VIP reception.

In a scene reminiscent of classic greeting cards by Currier & Ives, Santa Claus rode into Founder’s Square last weekend to ring in the very first holiday season at Babcock Ranch. Arriving in a carriage adorned with white fairy lights pulled by towering Clydesdales, the jolly old elf handled tree lighting duties before settling in to meet and greet all the children and their families who were on hand to create lasting holiday memories.

The first residents of the new solar-powered town located northeast of Fort Myers just off State Road 31 are scheduled to start moving into their new homes in January. But they didn’t have to wait to experience their very first holiday celebration. A reception prior to the tree lighting gave homebuyers and their families an opportunity to meet future neighbors who share their sense of adventure.

“We really like being pioneers,” said James Aveck, who will move into the Lake Timber neighborhood in mid- January. He and his wife Donna were the second buyers at Babcock Ranch. “We’ve always been quick to embrace new ways of doing things – so moving to the world’s first solar-powered town is a great fit for us.”

Richard and Robin Kinley, who were the very first to contract for a home at Babcock Ranch, echoed that sentiment.

“I am an avid reader of tech blogs so in 2006 I read about this idea of a solar city and thought it was fascinating. I remember following it for a couple of years and when I saw that construction was underway I knew we had to come take a look,” Richard explained. “I like being on the bleeding edge of technology. And being out front on technology in a town that has the charm and convenience of places we grew up – it’s such an attractive combination.”

But when it came to closing the deal, their builder Homes By Towne got an assist from mother nature.

“The night before we bought we were at the hotel, and we decided to go back on to the lot we were considering in the evening, to just sit there and watch the sunset,” Richard said. “and it was unbelievable. It was just ‘oh my, this is it.’ We knew it was where we wanted to be.