The West Villages, a master-planned community in Venice, Fla., has been reincorporated under a new name and brand, Wellen Park, which encompasses the West Villages and 7,000 acres of adjacent undeveloped land. West Villages is now a district within Wellen Park, alongside the new Playmore and Downtown Wellen districts.
"We initiated this branding process so that we can plan for a strategic, long-term representation for our master-planned community, which includes 7,000 acres of undeveloped land," says Rick Severance, president of Wellen Park. "By transitioning West Villages into a district, or locale, within Wellen Park, we're able to appropriately scale all that is included within the community. From a business standpoint, Wellen Park enables us to manage the brand that represents our development plan."
Wellen Park currently has 7,500 residents, and has sold an average of 1,300 homes per year, according to developer Mattamy Homes. The community is expected to have more than 60,000 residents and 22,000 homes at full buildout.
The community is designed around a focus on holistic wellness, with new health care facilities, extensive nature and fitness trails, and an 80-acre lake in Downtown Wellen, currently under construction. A $60 million mixed-use development is planned around the lake, with shops, restaurants, a kids’ playground, a paddleboard and kayak facility, and a town hall expected to open in 2022.
Additional plans for Wellen Park include an apartment complex, an assisted living facility, a new welcome center, and a new fire and rescue station. A new K-12 school is set to open through the Sarasota County Schools District, and the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota’s 100-acre Venice campus is already located in the community.
Wellen Park currently offers single-family and attached homes in nine neighborhoods by D.R. Horton, DiVosta, Lennar, Mattamy Homes, M/I Homes, Neal Communities, Sam Rodgers, and WCI. Floor plans range from 1,350 to almost 4,000 square feet, with prices ranging from the low $200s to the $600s. The Playmore district will offer an additional 2,000 home sites across six new neighborhoods, including one with a golf course.
"As future development plans for our master-planned community solidified and the demand from additional home builders grew, the need for a master or new brand became clear," Severance adds. "We're extremely proud to introduce Wellen Park. This is a neighborly and sincere community of families and friends who enjoy an active lifestyle that cultivates physical and emotional well-being."