The red-hot Southwest Florida regional housing market is about to get even busier with the addition of a major new employer to the area. Online retail giant Amazon recently confirmed that it will develop a massive distribution and fulfillment center in Ruskin, one of the southernmost communities of the Tampa Bay area. The Manatee County communities that are closer to Ruskin are Parrish, Ellenton and Palmetto, and these are some of the most promising real estate markets in the region.
Sarasota - Manatee News
Harbour Isle Project in Manatee County Set to Expand
The latest land acquisition by Minto is on Perico Island, which is the isle located across the Grassy Point Bayou from Anna Maria Island. Perico Island is a barrier island that beachgoers must cross as they make their way from Bradenton to the Florida Gulf beaches on Manatee Avenue. Minto has acquired 14.3 acres on this island to complete its grand vision for Harbour Isle: Nearly 700 residences on two islands, a beach club, and a coastal commercial district for residents and visitors to enjoy.
University Town Center Mall Project Makes Significant Progress
In less than 12 months, Lakewood Ranch and University Park residents will enjoy a new upscale shopping center that will host shops such as the Apple Store, Armani, Brooks Brothers, Gucci, Williams-Sonoma, and more. These are just a sampling of what The Mall at University Town Center has in store for residents of Manatee and Sarasota County.
Tarpon Pointe: A Major Development Planned in Bradenton Florida
The land currently occupied by the Manatee Landings Marina and the Tarpon Pointe Grill and Tiki Bar could be transformed into a major resort and commercial zone in the near future. The Tarpon Pointe area is located at the eastern end of Bradenton’s brand-new Riverwalk. The proposed Tarpon Pointe project will add a 160-room hotel, a new marina with more than 200 boat slips, two restaurants with large seating capacities, retail spaces and a parking garage.
Mixed Feelings on Long Bar Pointe Project in Manatee County
A major residential and commercial project near Bradenton has drawn the interest of the community, but is facing various obstacles. The project in question is Long Bar Pointe, an ambitious development that has been on the drawing board since the late 20th century. Should Long Bar Pointe become a reality, Manatee County would have a new boardwalk, luxury residential neighborhoods, resort facilities, fancy hotels, a boat basin, and a commercial district.
In Sarasota & Bradenton, the Craft Beer Scene is Brewing Up
Florida is not commonly known as a microbrew state, although it should. This is, after all, the Sunshine State, and the year-round warm climate is ideal for the enjoyment of craft beers. Thankfully for beer lovers in Southwest Florida, a few enterprising brewers have come to realize the sheer potential of the region.
Confidence Returns to Sarasota boat builder, Chris Craft
Now that conditions are improving and economic confidence is returning to the region, Chris Craft is returning to its luxury roots with models like the Carina 20. This is good news for the industry as a whole since other boat builders are likely to resume production and start hiring. Southwest Florida and the Gulf of Mexico is a paradise for fishing and boating enthusiasts, and thus home shoppers interested in properties with marina and dock access will likely turn their attention to real estate in Manatee and Sarasota counties.
New Manatee Technical Institute in Bradenton Florida
Bradenton is doing its part to answer the STEM (science, technology and mathematics) challenge with the new Manatee Technical Institute (MTI), a gorgeous, state-of-the-art new public education campus specially designed to teach students technical skills they can put to work right away, including information technology, computer networking, surgical technology, digital video production, and more.
Bradenton Joins Florida’s Brewing Craft Beer Scene
Great news for beer lovers in Southwest Florida: Bradenton is getting its own microbrewery right in the Village of the Arts and just around the corner from the revamped McKechie Field baseball complex. City Council members are expected to issue a final vote of approval right before Valentine’s Day. If everything goes as planned, the brewery will be open to the public on the same day the Minor League Bradenton Marauders begin their season.
New Rowing Facility at Ballard Park in Bradenton Florida?
The City of Bradenton may soon have another riverfront park or a new rowing facility complete with a historic clubhouse. According to a recent article on the Bradenton Herald, home builder John Neal of Lakewood Ranch donated seven large residential parcels of land in Ballard Park to the city.
The Concession Golf Club Will Host the 2015 NCAA Championship
One of the many perks about living in the many golf communities in Southwest Florida is that there is always a chance that a major championship or tournament will pick your neighborhood to host an event. Such is the case with the Concession Golf Club and Residences in Bradenton, near Lakewood Ranch. According to World Golf, a website that is part of the Golf Channel cable TV network, the 2015 NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships will be hosted at the Concession.
Longboat Key Publix Competes with Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s
To the delight of Longboat Key residents and visitors, Florida supermarket chain Publix has reopened its store in Sarasota’s premier barrier island. The Publix GreenWise Market is a groundbreaking concept in fresh and organic shopping, and it is aimed squarely at shoppers who enjoy the experience of getting their groceries from venues like Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods.
High Demand & Low Housing Inventory in Sarasota & Manatee FL
Existing home sales for Charlotte, Manatee and Sarasota Counties in September 2012 have nearly returned to the levels experienced seven years ago at the height of the great American housing bonanza of the early 21st century. At the moment housing inventory is low which is causing housing prices to increase. One of the reasons supply in Southwest Florida is low now has to do with the shadow inventory.
The Real Estate & Economic Impact from Bradenton’s Riverwalk
Southwest Florida is already one of the most attractive housing markets in the Sunshine State, and the magnificent Bradenton Riverwalk is one example of the competitive spirit that is developing among local housing markets. The Bradenton Riverwalk could not have been inaugurated at a better time as residential real estate in Southwest Florida is heating up.
Bradenton Riverwalk Opens by the Manatee River
After more than a decade of planning and millions of dollars invested, the Bradenton Riverwalk project had its opening ceremony on Thursday, October 18th. The Bradenton Riverwalk runs along the Manatee River for a mile and a half; it starts under the Green Bridge on the west side and ends at the Manatee Memorial Hospital on the east.
Pittsburgh Pirates Pitch In – Field Renovations in Bradenton
Bradenton’s McKechnie Field renovations begin in the Fall of 2012 & will be completed before the Pittsburgh Pirates arrive for Spring Training of 2013. The Pittsburgh Pirates will be picking up the additional tab of roughly $2.5 million in upgrades.
University Town Center Near Sarasota to Break Ground Soon
Southwest Florida is one of the regions leading the nation in economic recovery, and the planned University Town Center is another sign of this positive trend. Located near the border separating Manatee and Sarasota Counties, this mega-mall project is similar to other planned developments in Florida that cropped up at the end of the 20th century and abruptly stopped around 2005.
Rosedale Expansion in Bradenton Florida & Real Estate
When developers and Manatee County commissioners sat down to agree on a plan to expand the Rosedale Golf and Country Club property in Bradenton, they briefly considered the idea of adding nine more holes for players to enjoy. One quick look at market demand in the area made them change their opinion: they needed more home sites.
