Diocese of Venice buys Ranch land for future

BUYER: Trinity Enterprise Holdings Inc. (officers: Frank Dewane, Stephen McNamara, Volodymyr Smeryk and Peter McPartland), Venice
SELLER: Schroeder-Manatee Ranch Inc.
PROPERTY: northeast corner of Lorraine Road and The Masters Avenue, Lakewood Ranch
PRICE: $3.47 million

PLANS, DESCRIPTION:
The Diocese of Venice purchased 63 acres of vacant in Lakewood Ranch for $3.47 million.

The price equated to $55,044 per acre.

The Catholic diocese says it will use the land for a future parish to meet the future pastoral needs of the growing Catholic community in the Lakewood Ranch area.

It says the selection of the site was done in consultation with neighboring Catholic pastors, the Presbyteral Council and the Diocesan Finance Council.

Ben Nguyen, director of communications for the diocese, says the diocese will determine the phasing of development based on how the community grows.

— additional reporting by Pam Eubanks, correspondent