Business Observer 02.04.10

+ Lakewood alliance announces new chairman
The Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance hosted its 2010 Annual Meeting and announced appointments of new members to its Board of Directors.

Marc Simms, RPM Business Advisors, replaces Michelle Morgan, Keiser University, as chairman. New members include Joey Brannon, of Axiom CPAs, PA; Darrell Turner, of Turner Tree & Landscape; Brian Volner, of American Momentum Bank; and Annette Gueli, of ProMotion Notions.

Morgan also presented the Chairman’s Award for Outstanding Service to Tommy Klauber and Bobbi Larson, 2009 co-chairs of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance Events and Fundraising Committee.
The Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance is dedicated to providing leadership, resource and business development for fostering and advocating the businesses of the Lakewood Ranch Business Community.

For more information about the Alliance, visit www.lwrba.org.

+ Manatee Habitat breaks ground on new neighborhood
Manatee County Habitat for Humanity broke ground on Hope Landing, the organization’s newest neighborhood of family homes, Jan. 30, in North Manatee.

Representatives from Manatee Habitat, the faith community, volunteers, elected officials, aspiring Habitat homeowners and corporate partners turned the first shovels. Participants also signed a special gift to the first families who will move into the Hope Landing homes.

Located near Blackburn Elementary School in Ellenton, Hope Landing will be home to 18 families when complete. The homes will be constructed with energy-efficient building techniques that will save the owners up to 50% on their utility bills.

“Manatee Habitat is excited about the opportunity to provide affordable and energy efficient homes for local families in need of safe, decent housing,” said Executive Director Ron Turner.

Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit, ecumenical, volunteer-based organization dedicated to building homes in partnership with low-income families who need safe, decent and affordable housing.

+ Ranch reports shortage of homes
With just 206 homes on the market, Lakewood Ranch is experiencing a shortage of available homes to purchase, the community reported recently.

“In February 2007, there were 850 homes on the market in Lakewood Ranch,” said LWR Communities President Milt Flinn. “With such a dramatic decrease in inventory, we are now seeing a surge of new home ‘to-be-built’ sales in Lakewood Ranch; a surge that really began in the fourth quarter of 2009. In December of 2009 alone, we closed on 21 home sites — homes to be built in 2010. In addition, Lakewood Ranch builders purchased nine sites for inventory homes and models to be built in 2010—all great signs that the real estate recovery is beginning here.”

In The Lake Club, Lakewood Ranch’s high-end community, eight homes were sold in 2009, totaling $16.5 million in sales. Miramar, a condo and townhome community, sold out of all inventory in the second week of 2010. There are 60 additional homes to be built in Miramar, and construction is expected to begin this year.