The Tavistock Development Company is building a 14-square mile development in Orlando.
The New York Times reports that Lake Nona will have 11,000 homes and more than 25,000 residents, along with hospitals, office buildings, schools and colleges, sports facilities, and retail centers. More than 10 million square feet of construction has been completed, costing more than $3 billion.
Two of Lake Nona’s top goals, the developer says, were to entice institutions and commercial entities to build on the site and to encourage their employees to live there, sparing them from commutes and providing daily conveniences within easy reach. Tavistock — using enticements like grants and free plots of land, and aided by state and local government incentives — set about persuading major medical and research institutions to move to the site as part of a life-sciences cluster.
Lake Nona encourages wellness and green lifestyles. Homes come with electric vehicle chargers. Residents get to enjoy free yoga and tai chi classes. Eventually, the development will have 44 miles of trails.
