FRONT PORCH

Neal Communities, Southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, recently broke ground on a new community, named Windward. The 450-acre gated community will have 900 homes at its completion.

The architectural inspiration for the community includes a collection of today’s most popular designs, including British West Indies, Coastal, Island and Farmhouse styles.

Windward will include a 7.8-acre amenity center with a 9,600-square-foot clubhouse including gathering spaces, a fitness center, pools, dog parks, a playground, a sports field and multiple athletic courts including pickleball, tennis and volleyball courts. The community will also have a full-time lifestyle coordinator to plan and host events for residents throughout the year.

Windward will offer 16 unique floorplans, seven of which will be on display as model homes. Plans are in development to construct a Discovery Center sales office.

Floorplans will include paired villas and single-family homes. Paired villas range from 1,434 square feet to 1,524 square feet. Single-family homes start at 1,531 square feet and can be as large as 2,907 square feet.

“We’re excited to break ground on this project so early in the year,” shares Mike Storey, President at Neal Communities. “Windward will offer a wide range of floorplan options to Lakewood Ranch starting this summer.”

Windward is ideally located in Sarasota County along the southern gateway of Lakewood Ranch. Windward is just three-and-a-half miles east of I-75 at the corner of Lorraine and Fruitville Roads and is adjacent to Lakewood Ranch’s Waterside Communities. The community is close to A-rated schools in the area, as well as several private school options.

Windward is currently scheduled to open in the Summer of 2020.