It seems as if there are nonstop national news stories about the importance of reduced carbon emissions and alternate clean energy sources, especially from solar power. Six years ago, the developer Kitson & Partners took this to heart and broke ground on what is becoming a fully functioning solar powered 18,000-acre master planned town community called Babcock Ranch, located about 25 miles northeast of Fort Myers in southwest Florida. This solar energy feat is accomplished thanks to an 870-acre solar farm that is situated north of the town hub.
In 2018, the town had its official grand opening, which is the same year a neighborhood school opened and residents first began buying up homes in the development. Around this time is when the first retail tenants appeared, such as the co-working space, The Hatchery, opening a 6,000-s.f. unit in an upstairs portion of a building. The lower level houses one-of-a-kind local tenants such as a general store, a farm-to-table restaurant/brewery, a coffee/creamery shop and a fishing/kayak rental store.
Fast forward to the present day, and Babcock Ranch now has an 83,487-s.f. retail development, called Crescent B Commons, which is almost fully leased. The retail center’s first tenant was a 48,387-s.f. Publix Super Markets, which features a drive-thru pharmacy, that opened last September. Most recently, leases have been signed for Heartland Dental, Great Clips and Pet Supermarket. Additional tenants include Kumon, The Postal Place and local restaurants Pi Local and M’xuma Tacos Mexican Grill.
Katz & Associates is currently scouting tenants for another retail development in Babcock Ranch, called The Shoppes at Yellow Pine, which will incorporate 130,000 s.f. of space. Service retailers will be sought after, so that residents will not need to leave their community for their day-to-day necessities. In addition, dine-in restaurants are expected to take up the freestanding lakefront spaces available and drive-thru QSRs will take up the outparcels. Additional tenants targeted will include spas, pet services, coffeehouses, educational-oriented brands, daycare providers, urgent care centers and wellness-themed services. Babcock Ranch residents have indicated they would also like to see sporting goods, apparel, drugstore, electronics, home improvement, interior furnishings and health and beauty tenants.
Babcock Ranch will ultimately have 19,500 residential units, along with six million s.f. of commercial space. The development resembles an oasis-like idyllic environment in which cars are not necessary for daily errands, as the area has great walkability. There are bike paths, multiple lakes, a town center park and trails that lead to a nearby 300-acre wildlife preserve. The community has been attracting health-conscious millennials with families, as well as empty nesters and retired senior citizens. If this town continues on its successful trajectory, expect to see more developers building similar solar-powered live-work-play utopias.
