BUSINESS OBSERVER

+ WCI Communities introduces two new neighborhoods
WCI Communities introduced two new neighborhoods featuring Grand Villa and Classic Series floor plans along the Manatee River in Tidewater Preserve, the 373-acre gated master-planned community in Bradenton.

According to a release, the seven floor plans offer two, three and four bedrooms, two-car garages and kitchens. The homes are meant to appeal to primary, retirement and second-home buyers.

The Grand Villa neighborhood with 18 available home sites offers four floor plans ranging from 1,756 to 2,286 square feet of living space, with prices starting at $226,990. Each plan has a foyer, sliding glass doors connecting to screened lanais, and kitchens with walk-in pantries and island breakfast bars.

The Classic Series neighborhood, with 62 available home sites, offers three single-family home floor plans ranging from 2,434 to 2,718 square feet of living area and prices starting from $301,990. Each home overlooks Tidewater Preserve’s surrounding water and offer options that allow buyers to convert dens or libraries into bedrooms and lanai storage areas into cabana baths. Homes are available in two exterior elevations.

+ The Founders Golf and Social Club sees record membership
Total memberships at The Founders Golf and Social Club have reached a record 225 members, representing a 15 percent increase in the number of members in the past year.

In a release, club General Manager Hugh O’Donnell said the increase in membership is due to the club’s active social calendar.

As the club’s golf and social club continues to expand, a more extensive list of activities — such as the recently added in-season reciprocal partnership with Sarasota Yacht Club — will be developed.

Social memberships range from $2,500 to $7,500; golf memberships from $4,375 to $17,500; and young professional memberships begin at $1,000 for ages 44 and under. As of Jan. 1, equity golf memberships will increase to $20,000. For a limited time, new members receive half-price dues for the first year.

+ RE/MAX Platinum Realty opens in Lakewood Ranch
RE/MAX Platinum Realty opened its fifth office in the San Marco Plaza at 8215 Natures Way, Suite 109, in Lakewood Ranch. A release states the new office is expected to grow to 20 agents within the year, and features a showing room, touch screen listing gallery and social media showcase room.

Broker/owner Bryan Guentner is a Certified Luxury Specialist (CLS), Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) and a Guild Member of the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing. Realtor/owner Cheri Guentner is a Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI) and Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR).

RE/MAX Platinum Realty specializes in luxury and waterfront properties, marketing homes to 87 countries in 32 languages. The company also maintains offices in downtown Sarasota, St. Armands, Osprey and Venice.

+ Manatee Glens Hospital unveils redesign
Manatee Glens Hospital and Addiction Center, the specialty hospital and outpatient practice treating mental-health problems and addictions, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony Dec. 13. It marked the official unveiling of the patient-centered redesign.

The Manatee Chamber of Commerce conducted the ribbon cutting.           

“This has the potential to be a benchmark in mental health caregiving. We want every aspect of a patient’s stay with us to be healing and nurturing,” said Manatee Glens President/CEO Mary Ruiz. “The most recent studies show that the physical space can impact a patient’s experience. So we created something that looks new and contemporary and is soothing. Yet we did not change the original design and architecture.”

Manatee Glens Hospital and Addiction Center is located in central Bradenton at 2020 26th Ave. E., 34208.

+ John Neal Homes constructing newest model
John Neal Homes is currently constructing its newest model in the Highfield section of The Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club. A release states the model will come in at just under 5,000 square feet, making it the largest new home model in Lakewood Ranch. “We saved the best for last,” said Neal, president of the Lakewood Ranch based John Neal Homes. “This model will be amazing in every way, from the gorgeous golf course home site to the grand open floor plan and the meticulous design features inside. It has it all.”

The Barbados II model is 4,998 square feet and will include four bedrooms and four-and a-half bathrooms, plus a den.

The Italian villa-style home will be completely turnkey and available for leaseback.

The model is expected to be completed by February 2013, in time for the Home Builder’s Association Parade of Homes.