The new gated community Vistera of Venice will bring 582 homes to south Sarasota County. Zoned for up to 1,500 residences, the project is spearheaded by Neal Land & Neighborhoods. Associated Neal Land Ventures, the land acquisition and development firm, purchased the roughly 300-acre site for $18 million (or $60,000 an acre) in 2018.

The property was previously owned by the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, which earmarked the land for affordable housing, but that plan was cut short by the Great Recession. The land is located just east of Interstate 75 and between Laurel and Border roads, in north Venice.

Vistera of Venice includes villas from the high $400,000s and larger homes from the $500,000s, but “we expect the average will be from the $500,000s to the $700,00s,” says John Neal, president of Neal Land & Neighborhoods.

Floor plans range from two to five bedrooms and two to three bathrooms, and span 1,595 to 3,748 square feet, with two- to three-car garages. Paired villas are two to three bedrooms, with two bathrooms and two-car garages that range from 1,638 to 1,848 square feet. With phase one done, and another on the way, completion for the new master-planned community is estimated for the end of 2024.

Amenities will include a game room and lounge, a pool, a hammock park, free community bikes and an event lawn. Over half of the community will consist of lakes, wetlands and open green areas. Builders include David Weekley Homes, M/I Homes and Neal Communities.

With all the new homes and developments coming to the area, and more inventory on the market, is there still a strong demand for housing? “There will always be a need for well-planned developments and we have 1,000 people moving to Florida a day, with many concentrated in the Manatee-Sarasota area," Neal says.

"We've been building since the '60s and historically attracted folks from outside the community, but because we're a name brand in the area we sell a lot to people who already live here," he adds. "Some folks are moving from another Neal community because they're downsizing, upsizing or just want a new kitchen."

Venice typically skews older, but one thing attracting younger families is the public schools. “Venice High has a top football team and is waterfront," Neal says. "If you hit a home run it lands in saltwater.” Neal also points to industry jobs with local nearby headquarters for Tervis, PGT Innovations and the new Sarasota Memorial Hospital.

And the region is growing. A nearby, 70,000-square-foot shopping center on 10.4 acres, including 6.6 acres of wetlands, is expected to house a 47,000-square-foot Publix and a 5,000-square-foot restaurant. There’s also a new 5-acre city park slated for next door that will include a dog park and pickleball courts.

Thus far, the project is attracting mostly those ages 65 and older (54 percent), followed by those ages 55 to 64 (26 percent). Originating buyers are coming from Venice, Bradenton, Fort Myers, Jupiter, West Palm and St. Petersburg. Out-of-state shoppers hail mostly from New York state, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

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