Townhome project nears construction phase

Lakewood Ranch’s Jeff Hirschberger has the signs and shovels ready for Hidden Creek.

Within a month, he hopes to be under construction and marketing his new 46-home luxury town house project at the southwest corner of 77th Terrace East and Town Center Parkway in Bradenton, just to the west of Lakewood Ranch.

“It’s going to be a gated community with amenities, zero maintenance,” Hirschberger said of Hidden Creek. “We’re going to build a beautiful little community here.”

Hirschberger, who has been in the development business for more than 40 years, envisions 2,156- to 2,800-square-foot, three-bedroom units priced from the high $300,000s to more than $500,000. The homes will have high-end finishes, such as granite countertops. The living area will be on the first level with bedrooms above, and the designs accommodate either a chair lift or elevator for buyers who wish, at some time, to avoid using stairs.

Monthly fees, which include maintenance, insurance, water, sewer and amenities, would be about $450.

“It’s good business to build a quality product,” Hirschberger said. “I have what I call my five-year rule. If I can’t drive by it in five years and it still looks good and makes me feel good, then I won’t build it.”

Hirschberger’s project is located east of the Professional Center at Lakewood Ranch — home to businesses such as Little Town Smiles PLLC dentistry, Arsenault Dermatology, Sarasota Pain Relief Centers and 21st Century Oncology, among others. 

The four-unit office park sits within property owned by Medallion Home. 

Manatee County commissioners in February granted approval for Medallion to build offices, multifamily residential units or a combination of office with an assisted-living facility.

The addition of Hirschberger’s project to the immediate area should provide a needed boost.

“It’s nice to see some development or some progress taking place,” said Kevin Rubin, an investor who owns one of the four office buildings with a business partner and is the president of the office park’s condominium association. “It’s good for everybody. It’s cross pollination of our business.”

The Professional Center at Lakewood Ranch, Medallion’s future project, and those who live in Hirschberger’s development will share the entrance off 77th Terrace East.

Hirschberger will be marketing his project’s proximity to services provided in the office park and nearby — the Market Street Publix location and Main Street at Lakewood Ranch, among other community amenities and features.

“Whatever services are available are certainly positive for everybody,” Hirschberger said.

Hirschberger’s focus, though, will be the development of his own project. 

Since plans for the project were approved March 2, he’s focusing on his next move — purchasing the property from Colonial Realty Limited Partnership in early April and beginning  construction shortly thereafter.

Hirschberger said he expects to have homes available for sale in late fall.