Mattamy builds plans for Lakewood Ranch

LAKEWOOD RANCH — A deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning is yielding great rewards for Lakewood Ranch developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch.

Nearly a year after company executives traveled to Canada with the Lightning to meet with representatives of Canadian homebuilders, Canada’s largest homebuilder, Mattamy Homes, will break into the Southwest Florida market by constructing homes in Lakewood Ranch.

Mattamy recently closed on 235 acres, just south of the Central Park community, for $17.2 million. There, it plans to build 675 townhomes and detached single-family homes.

“We believe Lakewood Ranch is one of the premier master-planned communities in the United States,” said Steve Parker, president of Mattamy Homes U.S. Group. “It is currently in the top 10 selling communities within the United States, and we would like to become a business partner with them moving forward.”

The company plans to break ground on infrastructure for the project mid-summer, with model homes opening for sale in spring 2015.

Amenities within the community will include a clubhouse and pool, as well as two large parks with a “tot lot,” dog park and walking trails.

Ed Suchora, president of Mattamy’s new Tampa division, said Mattamy’s entry into the Sarasota real estate market shows the company’s commitment to building a major presence in Florida, as well as Mattamy’s confidence in the future of housing locally.

Parker added: “We believe we can be one of the top five builders in both of these markets (Tampa and Sarasota/Bradenton) within the next five years.”

Parker said he has had a business relationship with SMR President Rex Jensen for many years, but the deal for this 235-acre project emerged last summer.

Jimmy Stewart, vice president of sales for LWR Communities, a subsidiary of SMR, said the entry of Mattamy will help SMR reach more Canadian homebuyers. Currently, Canadians account for only 2% of homebuyers in Lakewood Ranch, he said.

“We are looking to increase our presence in Canada,” Stewart said.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].