Generational living is a trend that isn’t going away. In fact, the number of Americans living in a multigenerational household—that is, one with three or more generations—has nearly quadrupled over the past decade and the pandemic ushered in even more demand for the lifestyle.

With the advent of additional dwelling units, new single-family home construction in Sarasota now almost always includes a guest home, where aging parents or older grandchildren can live and stay connected. After all, many aging parents prefer to stay home than retire to a facility, and neighborhoods like The Lake Club, in Lakewood Ranch, and now Lakespur in Wellen Park are responding to that demand.

The new Lakespur neighborhood is designed to include residents of all age groups, with a nearby future school campus, outdoor recreation, proximity to Gulf of Mexico beaches and things to do for kids.

Located off South River Road, the neighborhood’s first phase offers 138 single-family homes by national builders Lennar and Pulte Homes, plus an amenity center. Additional phases will include both single- and multi-family homes. Both Pulte and Lennar homes will kick off pricing in the $400,000s and go up from there–Wellen Park has thus far included no affordable housing within its master-planned community. According to the latest real estate report, the median price for a single-family home in Sarasota County is $528,013. With the amenities and look, some prices at Lakespur may surpass that.

Featuring homesites along lakes, forested preserves and wetlands, Pulte will build one- and two-story floor plans with open-floor designs creating large main living areas and flexible spaces that adapt to families of all sizes. Groundbreaking is slated for this summer, with sales starting in late 2023.

Lennar is building six floor plans with three to five bedrooms spanning 1,677 to 3,231 square feet and expects to launch home sales early this fall. Its one- and two-story designs include bonus rooms and blended kitchens, family and dining rooms into main gathering areas.

Resident-only amenities are designed for all ages, with events and game lawns. A cabana building will include a party kitchen, restrooms and a mix of under-roof and open-air gathering spaces like a fire pit lounge and sitting areas around the pool. There will also be a secluded pavilion, a dog park, a lawn with outdoor games, an area for food trucks and a shaded playground.

Lakespur connects to Wellen Park’s growing network of parks and trails, including the future Oakheart Nature Trail, and is close to the Atlanta Braves' spring training and family-friendly events at CoolToday Park. Also nearby is Downtown Wellen with dining, shopping, entertainment and outdoor fun, like kayaking and fishing in the 80-acre Grand Lake, bicycle and e-bike rentals, a playground, a splash pad and a fountain.

Located in Venice and North Port, Wellen Park is quickly growing. North Port is the second-fastest growing city in the nation and Lakespur comes on the heels of another recently announced new Wellen Park community called Everly. Wellen Park is ranked among the country’s top-selling communities and was named a top-planned community by Ideal Living magazine last year.

Three new K-12 schools are coming soon and Lakespur is within walking distance of the high school projected to open for the 2025-2026 school year and a K-8 school opening a year later on adjacent property. The College Preparatory Academy at Wellen Park, a K-8 tuition-free charter school, is opening to kindergarten through sixth grades in August 2023 and will add seventh and eighth grades in subsequent years.

Wellen Park has a mix of single-family and multifamily residential, rental, commercial and recreational options for people of all ages, including assisted living and memory care. The community has approximately 9,500 residents, and at full buildout will have more than 50,000 residents and 22,500 homes within its three distinct districts: West Villages, Downtown Wellen and Playmore.

To learn more, call (941) 960-7805, or visit wellenpark.com.