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JAMES THORNERThe Tuscany development could become the county jail's new neighbor if the plan receives approval.
LAND O'LAKES - Another housing development marketing elegant living plans to upgrade a stretch of U.S. 41 in Land O'Lakes that's struggled to overcome a rough-and-tumble image.
Much of the highway's length has been the haunt of junk collections, tattered store fronts and the none-too-cheerful Pasco County jail.
Enter Tuscany, a new housing development west of U.S. 41 planned for 770 homes on 551 acres near Five Mile Creek.
With a name redolent of Renaissance art, Chianti and lemon blossoms, Tuscany's developer, Windsor Lakes Inc., talks about modeling itself on the Waterchase neighborhood in northwest Hillsborough County.
The similarities start with size. Waterchase is a relatively upscale neighborhood on 500 acres along Race Track Road. Its proposed 786 homes are tentatively priced from about $200,000 to more than $800,000.
Waterchase's multimillion-dollar recreation complex includes two pools and a two-story water slide with four twists. Its 6,400-square-foot clubhouse is seasoned with English, Spanish and French Colonial elements.
"We're looking for something nice, classic and elegant," Tuscany developer Ron Bastyr said. "It's a site that's got a secluded feel. We'll have a half-mile entrance before you reach the first units."
Tuscany's rezoning application stresses 12 gated residential "villages" interspersed with 193 acres of wetlands. Bastyr plans a clubhouse, swimming pool and fishing pier on one of the property's five lakes.
The building schedule is aggressive, timed to start about a year after Connerton, the monster project of up to 8,677 homes directly across U.S. 41. Tuscany wants to begin the first 400 homes in 2005 and the remaining 370 in 2006.
Tuscany is one of a string of proposed developments west of U.S. 41 near the county jail. Neighbors are to include the Cone, Asbel Creek and Scheublein projects, with a combined home count of more than 1,000.
Much of the Tuscany property now belongs to Taylor Simpson's Five Mile Ranch. The ranch, watered by Five Mile Creek, includes a proposed wildlife corridor developers intend to buffer with 36.5 acres.
Tuscany is part of a larger trend in Pasco County toward higher value neighborhoods.
Wilderness Lake Preserve farther south on U.S. 41 and Seven Oaks in Wesley Chapel are among recent projects that have sunk millions into clubhouses and other amenities to help buttress average home prices exceeding $200,000.
The strategy has been a hit as families search for something besides lower-priced starter homes in Pasco. Seven Oaks - average house price $250,000 - has recorded 355 home sales in the past 15 months.
"People walk out of our clubhouse and say, "Wow. This is a resort," Seven Oaks marketing director Teri McGinnis said.
Bastyr plans a neighborhood that is a "step up" from typical Pasco starter homes. Builders should be announced in a few weeks. His company has focused on the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. One project, Oak Hill, was named best neighborhood in the twin cities.
"This is really our first true venture into Florida," Bastyr said.