Homebuilder's project crushes projections

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Neal Communities, one of the most prolific homebuilders on the Gulf Coast, is celebrating a significant achievement: Only 30 home sites remain in Central Park, a neighborhood in east Manatee County the firm introduced in the heart of the recession.

Company officials say Central Park, which celebrates its five-year anniversary this month, will now sell out of home sites two years ahead of original projections, according to a release. That could happen by the end of the year, company officials add. Central Park, with about 800 home sites in total, is in Lakewood Ranch, near State Road 70 and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.

Lakewood Ranch-based Neal Communities has sold more than 560 homes so far in 2015, up at least 25% over this time in 2014. The company projects it will sell 1,000 homes in total in 2015.