Information has a new home

As development in Lakewood Ranch reaches farther north, Schroeder-Manatee Ranch is providing support.

SMR held a ribbon cutting ceremony for its newest 2,100-square-foot information center March 29. The center, located at 11506 Rangeland Parkway, is at the southeast corner of Rangeland Parkway and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.

The Lakewood Walk shopping center, anchored by Publix, is immediately west across Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, and a pasture is immediately east.

The information center’s decorative accents, such as the use of barn siding, reflect SMR’s roots in agriculture.

“It’s new. It’s clean,” said information center employee Frank Verdel. “It’s vibrant and you can see Lakewood Ranch’s history. I think it captures the spirit of Lakewood Ranch.”

Fellow ambassador Sonya Powell said the new location puts the center closer to active development and gives the development more visibility. It’s located about a half-mile from SMR’s original information center at Summerfield Park, which is now closed.

Director of Marketing Laura Cole said SMR felt State Road 70 was a geographical barrier from the Summerfield Park information center. The new center will better support development occurring to the north of that road.

“It’s a milestone in the community’s history,” Cole said. “Rangeland is sort of a new chapter, supporting all our builders, but primarily those building north of State Road 70.”

Eight communities, Indigo, Bridgewater, Central Park, Esplanade, Harmony, Lakewood National Golf Club, Arbor Grande and Divosta, are in various stages of development north of State Road 70. Home styles and prices range from condominiums in the $160,000s to single-family homes priced $300,000 and higher.

“Most of the sales in the Ranch are occurring in the area north of State Road 70 and east of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard,” said Neal Communities owner Pat Neal, who is the developer of Indigo, Central Park and other Lakewood Ranch communities. “The center itself is gorgeous, useful, projects the unique lifestyle of Lakewood Ranch, and of course, the unique circumstances of Lakewood Ranch found in no other community in florida. It’s a whole community, not just a lifestyle residential subdivision.”

“The Rangeland office was gorgeously set up and the technology and visual aids will be extremely helpful for prospective buyers,” said Blake Lapinksy, sales manager for the 1,300-home, age-restricted Del Webb community east of Lorraine Road and south of State Road 70. “It will perfectly set the tone of luxurious life on the Ranch. This will only help to build excitement among new visitors.”