Several Florida developers have opened “beachfront” communities with a wealth of amenities along man-made lagoons.
ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – Neil and Barb Schacht's home in the Beachwalk neighborhood has water views, even though the ocean is 27 miles away.
The nearby 14-acre pool holds 37 million gallons of water and is one of the amenities master-planned communities rely on to bring the beach to the suburbs.
A home near a lagoon or pool may cost less than a beachfront home, and some people prefer a home near a man-made body of water to a real beach. “We're selling the idea of being able to vacation at home,” said Uli Mann, chief executive officer of Lagoon Development Company.
Neil Schacht says the three-bedroom, 2,600-square-foot home cost $911,000. Since then, we've expanded our patio, added an outdoor shower, and made several other upgrades. He says the lagoon helps entertain his grandchildren, and membership in the Beach Walk Club provides entertainment for his grandchildren, including kayaking, paddleboarding and social activities.
In June 2023, Tampa-based Metro Development Group opened a 15-acre lagoon in Mirada, a district it opened in Pasco County in 2020, with a capacity of 35 million gallons, the largest in the United States.
According to the company, Mirada's sales in 2023 increased by 89% compared to 2022, and the number of visitors to the welcome center and model homes of housing manufacturers increased by 40% compared to 2022. Mirada's sales in July increased by 121% compared to March. The lagoon is not yet open and from July 2022 he has increased by 153%.
According to Metro, 47% of Mirada homebuyers rank the lagoon as the most important amenity or attribute in their purchase decision.
In 2021, Dawn Curran Tubb and Brian Wildman purchased a four-bedroom, 3,500-square-foot home in Epperson, a lagoon community at Wesley Chapel that Metro opened in 2017, for $1 million. . Karan Tabu said: I wish I could get the house I wanted for the money and retire early,” adding, “Houses on the coast were either old or completely out of my price range.”
Source: Wall Street Journal (01/23/24) Rohwedder, Cecily
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