The exterior of a model at Verona, Sun City Center.
The community now called Sun City Center was purchased by developer Del E. Webb Jr. in early 1961, and building has continued there since the gravel road through its center connecting U.S. 41 and U.S.301 was so narrow that if two cars were going in the same direction, one would have to drive into the grass to pass the other.
One after another area has been built by various companies, from Del Webb’s first homes and community center to the Renaissance area, which was the most recent development — until now.
After 54 years of building and many, many changes of developers, the Minto Group, which has developments all over Canada and Florida, is building the first gated community that is part of the Sun City Center Community Association.
Kings Point, even though the county considers it a part of Sun City Center, is a separate entity when it comes to ownership and management, and is gated on the south side of S.R. 674 and on 36th St. S.E.
Kings Pointers have their own clubhouses and groups, although many clubs within both Kings Point and Sun City Center interact and allow membership to come from both communities.
The interior of a model home at the new Verona community.
Minto’s new community, however, called Verona, will be part of the Sun City Center Community Association and will pay dues of $278 per year, per person, said association president David Floyd.
“There will be no CDD fees for residents of Verona to pay because Minto used its own funds to develop in Sun City Center,” Floyd said.
CDD funds are Community Development District monies collected by the county when new homes are built.
“This is the very last chance to purchase a new home in Sun City Center,” said Sy Wolf, head of new home sales locally for Minto. “Most every home will have either a view of one of our three lakes or a golf course view.”
The single-family homes in Verona will cost between $200,000 and $400,000, and paired villas will cost between $160,000 and $190,000.
Like other areas of Sun City Center, buyers will come from both out-of-state and within the community, Wolf said.
Ground was broken in January, with building beginning in February, and now there are four decorated models. Since it will be part of the Renaissance area, homeowners will be assessed an annual fee to use the Renaissance clubhouse and facilities.
According to Wolf, the main entrance will be off South Pebble Beach Boulevard, and a second entrance will be off Chipper Drive.
“We have a target build-out completion date of 18 to 24 months,” Wolf said.
The idea for a gated community came from focus groups held by Minto, Wolf said. The iron gates won’t be manned but will have codes that you enter manually to open and go in, but will open automatically as cars approach them to leave.
Now in its 60th year of operation, the Minto Group is a family-owned homebuilder, construction firm, and property management company. Since 1955 it has built more than 80,000 new homes; manages more than 17,000 residential rentals and apartments; and, according to its website, carries a commercial portfolio of more than 2.5-million square feet of office, retail and industrial space.
Floyd said he does not expect the residents of the new subdivision to burden Sun City Center’s facilities because they will be using their own facilities, although they will be permitted to use any of the existing ones as well, if they so choose. The CA, once Verona is completed, will have about 11,000 members, Floyd said.
The community will be completed and no more new homes will be built. To find out more about Verona, call 888-439-0046.