Buyers & road work being lined up for 126-acre Apopka master-planned community

UPDATED: April 12, 2017 3:50 PM — A Tampa-based developer behind the 126-acre, master-planned Avian Pointe community in Apopka has prospective buyers for several of the segments, and could start construction this summer on a new interconnector road.

Initially proposed in 2014, the project was described at the time as Apopka's most significant residential development since the recession, per the Orlando Sentinel. More than 750 housing units would add an estimated 1,500 new residents to the city.

The massive land assemblage features frontage to the east along S.R. 429/414, just south of U.S. 441 and a mile south of the new Wekiva Parkway extension. CalAtlantic Homes' gated community Clear Lake Landings lies directly east.

Master developer Mercury Advisors has owned most of the property since the mid-2000s, and has ties to a Dutch pension fund.

The site is entitled for 58 single-family homes, 216 townhomes and 484 apartments, with another 19.65 acres reserved for recreational and commercial mixed uses, which allow for a school, hotel, office or senior living facility.

A new access road, the Grand Avian Parkway, will be developed in phases to provide connectivity through the property from W. Orange Avenue (north) to Lust Road (south).

A final development plan for the connector road will go before Apopka's Development Review Committee on Wednesday.

D.R. Horton has approximately 50 acres under contract for the single-family and townhome segments of Avian Pointe, said Paul Bouldin, senior associate with Marcus & Millichap, who together with Casey Babb is marketing the property for Mercury Advisors.

An initial 39 acres were reserved for the 484 apartments, for which an LOI is expected soon from a multifamily developer, Bouldin added.

But that site will be reduced to 33 acres, freeing up 6 acres to increase the commercial site to 25 acres, which is being negotiated for sale and development by Orange County Public Schools. An OCPS spokeswoman confirmed the interest, but noted other sites in the area are being considered.

"All of this is evolving as we speak. The reason for DRC now is we're moving some lines to accommodate a larger school site, per a request of the interested party," Bouldin continued. "The PUD is being amended, construction documents are in the works, and we hope to be under construction this summer on both the road and (mass grading) for the residential."

Centralized community amenities should include a resort-style pool, playgrounds, dog park, public bike paths and sports fields.

Single-family homes in "The Lakes at Avian Pointe" are expected to have lot sizes of 8,000-11,330 square feet, and homes with 1,700 square feet of net living area.

"I think that the whole northwestern corridor is going to change dramatically as infrastructure for roads improves and the new (Florida) Hospital Apopka gets built, and as some of the greenspace continues to fill in," Bouldin said.

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