NOCATEE, Fla. – The PARC Group is adding two new Nocatee neighborhoods, expanding to meet the ongoing demand for new homes in the nation's third best-selling master-planned community.
Addison Park will be Nocatee's newest Town Center neighborhood, located just a short walk from the community's shops, restaurants and popular Splash Water Park. Priced from the low $200,000s, Addison Park will feature two- to five-bedroom single-family homes by David Weekley and Providence Homes ranging from 1,600 to 2,900 square feet.
Ramona Bina, who moved to Nocatee from Atlanta six months ago, said she loves the water park. She said it didn't take much to sell her to relocate there.
"This Realtor said, 'What about Nocatee?' And I said, 'Nocatee? What is Nocatee?'" Bina said. "She said, 'Oh, you will love it.' We spent four days in a hotel, and in four days we bought a house here."
PARC Group President Rick Ray said Nocatee's Town Center neighborhoods fill a void in the local housing market, appealing to people who desire a more "urban lifestyle" setting where new homes are located within walking distance of dining, shopping and services. Nationwide, the popularity for such neighborhoods is growing: In 2011, for the first time in nearly a century, the rate of urban growth outpaced suburban growth.
"The demand for Nocatee Town Center homes has been strong -- there's really nothing else like it in this area," Ray said. "Residents love the convenience of being able to walk to everything. Our first Town Center neighborhoods of Enclave and Lakeside are nearly sold out."
Nocatee opened in 2007, during the housing bust. Since then, neighborhoods are filling up.
Overall, Nocatee home sales are up 21 percent this year, with 505 homes sold in the first six months of 2014.
Featuring large lots -- nearly all of which will have lake or preserve views -- Cypress Trails will appeal to future homeowners seeking a more suburban feel, Ray said. The neighborhood's single-family homes by builders Lennar and Mattamy will range from 1,750 to 3,350 square feet, with prices starting in the low $200,000s. Cypress Trails will be located in the Duval County part of Nocatee.
Model homes for both Addison Park and Cypress Trails are expected to open later this year; because of the strong demand, however, Ray said that builders will begin taking lot reservations for the new neighborhoods in August and September.
Also under construction: Cypress Park, a new amenity center featuring a shallow-entry family swimming pool, dog park, residents' clubhouse, playground and athletic fields. Cypress Park will be located adjacent to the new Cypress Trails neighborhood, and will be available for use by all Nocatee residents. It is expected to open in the spring.
Cypress Park is the latest offering to be added to Nocatee's list of amenities. The PARC Group recently completed an expansion of the Splash Water Park, opening new kids' and family pools over the Fourth of July holiday. A number of additional amenities, including a junior Olympic swimming pool and new athletic courts, are slated to open next month.
Ray noted that when planning first began for Nocatee, the PARC Group pledged to continue to add new amenities as the community expanded. In the last few years, Nocatee has more than doubled in size, with 2,700 families now calling the community of 15 neighborhoods home.
As a planned community, schools are a concern. Valley Ridge academy is in the heart of Nocatee and will open next month. It's one of two new schools in St. Johns County. It's not at capacity yet. There are 938 students enrolled, and it can hold 1,100, but that doesn't include an eighth grade class, which it will have next year.
According to the Duval County School Board, only 10 students from Nocatee are enrolled in Duval County schools.
For more information on Nocatee's new neighborhoods, visit www.nocatee.com.