Homebuilder breaks ground on 900-home community

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Homebuilder Neal Communities has broken ground on Windward, a new community in Lakewood Ranch.

The 450-acre gated community will have 900 homes at its completion, according to a press release. 

Windward will also have a 7.8-acre amenity center with a 9,600-square-foot clubhouse, including gathering spaces, a fitness center, pools, dog parks, a playground, a sports field and multiple athletic courts including pickleball, tennis and volleyball courts.

Windward will offer 16 floor plans. Floor plans will include paired villas and single-family homes. Paired villas will range from 1,434 to 1,524 square feet. Single-family homes will range from 1,531 to 2,907 square feet. Seven floor plans will be on display as model homes.

“We’re excited to break ground on this project so early in the year,” says Neal Communities President and CEO Mike Storey in a statement. “Windward will offer a wide range of floor plan options to Lakewood Ranch starting this summer.” 

Windward is in Sarasota County, 3.5 miles east of Interstate 75 at the corner of Lorraine Road and Fruitville Road, adjacent to Lakewood Ranch’s Waterside communities. Windward is expected to open in the summer. 

Neal Communities is based in Lakewood Ranch. During the company’s 50-year history, it has built over 15,000 new homes in more than 90 communities from Tampa to Naples. Additional Neal Communities brands include Neal Signature Homes, Neal Land Ventures, Charlene Neal PureStyle, Waterscapes Pools & Spas, Neal Communities Funding and Allegiant Title Professionals. It had $410 million in sales in 2019.