First waterfront homes sold in Oakland Park

WINTER GARDEN — Eight years after Oakland Park’s first homes were built, the community is starting to see construction on the relatively few lots that abut Lake Apopka. Land has been cleared for the first lakefront house, to be built by J&J Building, and a model home is currently under construction by Vintage Estate Homes.

Crescent Communities is the developer.

There are 12 lakefront lots in Oakland Park, two of which have been sold. The combined purchase price for the property and house ranges from the $800,000s to $1 million.

The J&J home plan has 3,772 square feet of living space with four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and a three-car garage. The Spanish Colonial-style home includes a barrel-tile roof and will have front and side courtyards and a covered porch in the back overlooking Lake Apopka.

According to developers, the initial typical interested buyer seems to be an “empty-nester” downsizing from a large family home. The builder of one of the lakefront lots believes there will likely be interest from younger families as the community matures.

The first two homes are in the 3,200- and 4,000-square foot range.

J&J is a family-owned and operated full-service building, design and development company with more than 35 years of general contracting, design and business experience. Vintage Estate, also a family-oriented business, specializes in new communities and affordable luxury homes.

Castle & Cooke launched the 258-acre Oakland Park in the spring of 2007 and was building the first of its 64 homes in Phase 1/A by December. The community — which, when completed, will have 750 residential units — is also unique in that it lies in two municipalities: Winter Garden and Oakland.

Crescent Communities took over as developers in 2012.

Overall, 150 homes have been completed in Oakland Park. Work has begun on Phase IV, which will have 158 lots. Homebuilders are J&J, Vintage Estate, David Weekley Homes and Ashton Woods Homes. Eighteen home plans are available.

The five primary styles are Colonial Revival, Victorian, Craftsman, Spanish Colonial and Florida Vernacular, all of which were popular in Florida during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Garages are behind the homes, serviced by rear alleys or driveways, and the homes feature large front porches.

Oakland Park requires all of the homes within the community to be built to Florida Green Building Coalition green certification standards, ensuring the community is earth-friendly, affordable to operate and pleasant in which to live.

Oakland Park incorporates sustainability into all levels of the development. Not only is the overall community certified underneath the FGBC, but also, all homes built within Oakland Park must be certified underneath FGBC.

“The roads, the building areas, even the utility placements, were designed in such a way as to preserve as many significant trees as possible,” Oakland Park officials said. “In addition to tree preservation, an arborist was commissioned to oversee the relocation of a large number of mature trees, creating instant foundations to the many public park areas within Oakland Park.”

Pathways, pedestrian walks and trails link the different neighborhoods throughout Oakland Park. The idea behind planning for naturalistic, open spaces nestled among homes is to draw residents outside and encourage social interaction.

Grassy areas and open spaces are woven through the community. Meadowmarsh Park and Pool is adjacent to Lake Brim and includes the pool and open play fields and a playground.

The West Orange Trail goes through the heart of Oakland Park and furthers the connectivity of the community, providing a natural link between Oakland and Winter Garden.

For more information about Oakland Park, call (855) 437-1489. The information center is at 15241 E. Oakland Ave., Winter Garden.

Contact Amy Quesinberry Rhode at [email protected].

ABOUT CRESCENT COMMUNITIES

Founded in 1963, Crescent Communities LLC’s original mandate as a land-management company continues to inform its commitment to the stewardship of natural resources. The company’s multi-product platform includes residential, multi-family, mixed-use, commercial and land assets.