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 There was a time when
Lake County was synonymous with citrus groves, which flourished on
the hills and shores of this region's fertile soil. Today,
however, as an extended bedroom community to Greater Orlando, the
south side of the county has become dotted with homes, and more
recently apartments.
Homebuilding has
become the area's number one industry, with massive retirement
communities such as King's Ridge, Summit Green's and the Villages in
Lake Lake. Between 2003 and 2006, housing starts averaged over 4,700
homes per year. This trend is expected to continue as the county's
population is projected to surpass 300,000 over the next few years.
A bi-product of the
stampede of new residents moving here has been the creation of
employment opportunities in support services, such as healthcare.
All three of the county's hospitals have gone through recent
expansions, as well as adjacent medical support facilities and
biomedical industries.
Lake County's
proximity to major transportation arteries such as the Florida
Turnpike, Interstate 75 and State Roads 27 and 441 make it an ideal
distribution center for such companies as Dominos, Sprint, Goodyear
and Circuit City, all of which have established facilities at one of
the many industrial parks in the county. In addition, both
county and city governments have a "business-friendly" attitude,
offering expedited permitting, tax abatement programs and job
incentive plans. County officials are pro-active in recruiting
businesses to relocate here. Programs such as the Impact Fee
Deferral Program and the Job Growth Investment Trust Fund help new
companies defer the financial burdens of relocation.
The City of Eustis is
currently developing 13 acres in the Central Business District where
firms will have easy access to Lake Technical Center, local existing
merchants and government offices and recreational facilities. Recent
expansions and improvements include the installation of a new sewer
system along Highway 441/27, the construction of a new well and
water plant and a new downtown governmental center. The
90-acre Eustis Commerce Park contains a 93,000 square foot facility
with 15,000 square feet of freezer space, complete utilities, the
option to lease or buy lots and on-site management in a park-like
setting.
Leesburg offers
companies a wide array of services, from impact fee financing and
tax abatement to an expedited permitting process and fully-digital
telephone service. The Leesburg Municipal Airport has been
designated by the Florida Department of Transportation as a Gold
Seal Airport for meeting stringent safety and service criteria. Two
of the airport's 4 runways are capable of handling commercial
flights and plans are in the works to build a new traffic control
tower.
Transportation is an
important issue for residents and county officials, which is why
voters recently approved a one-cent sales tax to widen portions of
State Road 441 and among other projects build a new two-lane road
from U.S. Highway 27 to Citrus Tower Boulevard. Sports has become
big business in Lake County. The National Sports Training
Center in Clermont is home for the U.S. Triathlon Association.
Its presence should entice even more tri-athletes to Lake County,
which already plays host to 10 major competitions annually.
If you have any questions
about Lake County Real Estate, please do not hesitate
to contact us.
Phil & Judy Kelley, Realtors
Coldwell Banker Camelot Realty
1898 N. Donnelly Street
Mount Dora, FL 32757
Toll Free: 800 260-2829
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