By Gary Nager & Joel Provenzano
It appears that evidently there’s by no means a scarcity of stories popping out of Wiregrass Ranch nowadays, so we at all times attempt to verify in with developer JD Porter and his growth proper hand man, Scott Sheridan, the chief working officer of Locust Department, LLC, to get the newest information.
In spite of everything, the 5,000-acre Wiregrass Ranch already has The Outlets at Wiregrass mall, AdventHealth Wesley Chapel Hospital, the Porter Campus of Pasco Hernando State Faculty, greater than 3,000 single-family properties (and townhomes) and 1,400 rental condo models.
Wiregrass Ranch is also dwelling to the Wiregrass Ranch Sports activities Campus, The Seaside Home assisted dwelling neighborhood, Florida Most cancers Specialists (FCS), Moffitt Most cancers Middle and North Tampa Behavioral Well being, and coming quickly are the Florida Medical Clinic Orlando Well being Wiregrass Ranch Hospital, two Orlando Well being-owned medical workplace buildings totalling 150,000 sq. ft., a PAM Well being Rehabilitation Hospital and two extra medical workplace buildings that Wiregrass Ranch will develop in partnership with Flagship Healthcare Properties, and what Porter says will at some point be Wesley Chapel’s true downtown — The Legacy at Wiregrass Ranch.
One of many massive issues individuals preserve asking me (and on-line) is in regards to the new Publix deliberate for the east facet of Wiregrass Ranch Blvd., simply north and east of Walmart (see map above left) on a 9.5-acre web site appraised at $3.97 million.
Of that 48,848-sq.-ft. Publix (with a 2,100-sq.-ft. liquor retailer), which is being inbuilt entrance of the most recent condo neighborhood — Arcadia at Wiregrass Ranch — the principle factor most individuals wish to know is whether or not or not the opening of that new Publix will trigger the prevailing retailer within the Hollybrook Plaza (lower than a half-mile away) to shut. Neither Sheridan nor Porter would tackle that query immediately, however Sheridan says, “Remaining allowing [of the new Publix] is underneath means now, and I anticipate them to interrupt floor by early subsequent yr. We’ve no direct data of [Publix’s] intent to shut the outdated retailer after they construct the brand new one.” The positioning plan for the brand new Publix reveals its primary entrance lining up immediately reverse the northern entrance to Walmart.
Though most individuals seem to agree that it appears slightly loopy to have two Publixes situated so shut to one another, we now have heard some on-line chatter that claims the Hollybrook Publix will certainly shut, whereas others say that it positively received’t shut. With out affirmation both means from Publix or the Wiregrass Ranch group, it appears ludicrous to me to take a position both means.
However, talking of Publix, Porter did point out the potential for one other hyperlink within the Lakeland-based grocery store chain coming to the world close to the brand new FCS constructing on S.R. 56, however Sheridan cautioned that though he had seen a submit on Fb {that a} preapplication assembly had been scheduled, “there was nothing from us immediately on this.”
Additionally essential to notice is that if one other Publix is coming to S.R. 56 in Wiregrass Ranch, that potential location is not the Publix deliberate for the entrance of the Two Rivers growth 5 miles or so additional to the east on 56.
Within the meantime, the Arcadia at Wiregrass Ranch residences haven’t but gone vertical, however the 15-acre parcel (valued at $7.04 million) has been cleared to construct the 320-unit luxurious rental neighborhood and its resort-style pool, EV charging stations and extra, which would be the seventh Arcadia venture (and the third in Florida) for Tampa-based Third Lake Growth.
As for the deliberate medical workplaces close to the Orlando Well being hospital, Sheridan says that the first 46,000-sq.-ft. Wiregrass Ranch Medical Pavilion (rendering above), in partnership with Flagship Healthcare Properties, is on the brink of break floor earlier than the top of this yr.
“The second part will transfer ahead as soon as the preliminary constructing is accomplished and totally leased,” Sheridan says.
As for the 2 Florida Medical Clinic/ Orlando Well being medical workplace buildings (MOBs), Sheridan says, “The hospital is anticipated to open by April of 2026. We anticipate the MOBs can be underneath building quickly however can’t say for positive. They’re simply now finishing the entire web site work for each of these.”
Sheridan additionally stated that Wiregrass Ranch is, “coordinating with Mast Capital on their requirement to construct the Bypass Loop street inside Wiregrass Ranch from S.R. 54 to Wiregrass Ranch Blvd.” as a part of Mast’s redevelopment of Saddlebrook Resort (see pg. 44). “However we aren’t engaged or conscious of their developments throughout the resort.”
New Eating places? Though the rumor mill has stated that The Tilted Kilt, a Winghouse/ Hooters-style sports activities pub could possibly be the still-unnamed restaurant deliberate for subsequent to Cooper’s Hawk, Porter informed me that though they’ve had discussions with The Tilted Kilt, it positively will not be the restaurant constructed subsequent to Cooper’s Hawk.
In the meantime, Sheridan says, “We’re engaged on a number of upscale eating places alongside the S.R. 56 hall together with subsequent to Cooper’s Hawk, which, we’re informed, is constantly the #1 or #2 restaurant in that chain.”
However in fact, maybe essentially the most anticipated growth in Wiregrass Ranch is The Legacy, which Porter retains saying would be the solely “true” downtown growth in Wesley Chapel, and which can tie collectively every little thing already constructed and nonetheless deliberate for the Porter household’s sprawling cattle ranch. So, is there any Legacy information?
“We’re exploring that now with potential companions however haven’t dedicated any timing but,” Sheridan says.
To be continued.
