The history of why things are the way they are is so important to understand, especially when it comes to where you live. Many residential neighborhoods have uninspired beginnings, but not Horizon West.
Horizon West is a new urban development concept that’s come to life in Central Florida. Most importantly, it’s created an exciting blueprint to lead the way in city planning and development for others that hasn’t happened before.
So what exactly is Horizon West and why should we care? To help you understand its evolving history, here’s more about how this groundbreaking master planned community came to be.
How Was Horizon West Formed?
Citrus farming has been central to Florida’s history since the first orange trees appeared in the New World. However, citrus groves in southwest Orange County experienced a series of devastating freezes in the 1980s.
With the groves gone, landowners came together to discuss the mounting pressures to develop the land. Rather than allow the area to turn into typical urban sprawl, they collaborated with land use experts to come up with another strategy.
The result was the master plan for Horizon West. Overall, a concept inspired officials that included a series of 5 villages, each with their own high-density activity centers. Meanwhile, all the villages shared one central town center.
Construction began in 1994 with the support of the community. As a result, residential neighborhoods developed that promoted walking, convenience and community. Furthermore, these communities preserved open space and highlighted environmental features. Here are some other perks that Horizon West residents enjoy.
Benefits For Horizon West Residents
Living in a thoughtfully planned residential neighborhood greatly affects a person’s quality of life. That’s why the master developers have considered everything when it comes to Horizon West’s layout. Some of the planning highlights include:
Schools and parks within ½ mile walking distance
A total of 5 villages
Each village has 2-4 neighborhoods
Village size based on school capacity
Village center as a focal point
Quality architectural design standards
With everything carefully considered, residents have a convenient mix of amenities within walking distance. In addition, it helps to cut down on car traffic for healthier, greener living.
The population size is also based on school capacity, which prioritizes education as one of the main focal points. But that’s not all. There are exciting plans and big changes coming to the area of Horizon West. Here’s what we know so far.
For Horizon West, the construction of Hamlin Town Center functions as the 6th village. It also doubles as the town center that ties every village together. As of now, the Lake Hancock waterfront is under construction and will incorporate trails and parks that integrate with existing neighborhoods.
All in all, there will be 400,000 square feet of retail, restaurant, office space and entertainment. Check out the list of open businesses and businesses confirmed to come soon for the latest news of what’s coming to Horizon West.
In total, Horizon West was thoughtfully planned to foster a sense of community that’s often lost in urban development. With nearby lakes and neighborhoods full of charm, Horizon West is the epitome of desirable living in Central Florida.
With its humble beginnings in rural citrus production, Horizon West has transformed an innovative plan for city development into an exciting blueprint for others to follow.
What do you guys think? Tell us your favorite part of your city’s planning and development in the comments below!
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