Coffee With Beat March 2026

I am extremely proud to share that Avalon Park Orlando has now broken ground on its final 10 acres — out of the original 9,400 acres. It certainly took more than one day, yet it still feels like “just recently” that we built the entrance bridge and the beginning of Avalon Park Boulevard, financed with a bank loan and guaranteed by all of Jill’s (my wife of 30 years) and my personal assets.

From 100 cows to more than 60,000 residents within a three-mile radius of Downtown Avalon Park, it has been a wonderful — and continuing — journey.

APG and our partners are now developing the last 10 acres of commercial and mixed-use land, as originally approved in our 1996 Avalon Park Orlando Master Plan for Downtown Avalon Park. First, Stanley Martin Homes will build 90 three-story townhomes (the construction you see now at the “Flagpole Lot”), which will be available for purchase in the second half of 2026.

In addition, we have designed a project that includes approximately 160 independent living units (senior housing), eight live/work units, and a Health and Wellness Center. These “final” Avalon Park Orlando undertakings — valued at more than $100 million — will be built with longtime partners and/or through joint ventures with APG.

Avalon Park Orlando remains one of the few Developments of Regional Impact (DRIs) still valid in Central Florida. We will complete these four additional projects within the timeframe of our vested approvals, likely bringing the total value of structures and infrastructure built in Avalon Park Orlando to more than $3 billion.

Like Rome, which was not built in one day but within the timeframe established by governing authorities — and within my lifetime — Avalon Park has been built exactly as envisioned. If you look back at our 1996 plans filed with local and state agencies, “nothing” has changed. We have built the Town of Avalon Park just as we presented it to approximately 30 homeowners at our first HOA meeting at Founders Hall in 1999. (And yes, Founders Hall will officially become a historic building in just three years.)

I truly hope Orange County will finally fulfill its commitment, together with the Morgan Development Company, to build the planned 20-acre (or larger) park for all residents of Avalon Park and Southeast Orlando, located across the street from Avalon Park.

Today, Avalon Park Orlando is a significant contributor to Orange County, generating annual property tax revenues in the double-digit millions. This fall, new leadership will be elected at many levels within the County. We will do our best to ensure that some of the many millions contributed over the past quarter century are reinvested into our area.

With APG owning most of Downtown Avalon Park, even after the “town is built,” there is never a dull moment. I am certain that in the near future we will begin redeveloping portions of Avalon Park Orlando. Stay tuned.

Our Avalon Park “sister towns” are also making strong progress, and we are very proud of their accomplishments:

Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, north of Tampa, now has more than 2,500 residential units built, a fully leased mixed-use building, schools, and parks. We are preparing to launch a grocery store and hotel while finalizing plans for a town park and other developments. When fully built out in approximately 10 years, it will truly resemble a “sister town” to Avalon Park Orlando — and many visitors already tell me just that.

Avalon Park Tavares is in the final stages of completing more than 1,000 residential units, along with a highly rated A school and additional amenities. While smaller than Orlando or Wesley Chapel, it carries the unmistakable Avalon Park charm — especially with its beautiful views of rolling hills and natural lakes.

Last but not least, we are patiently awaiting the start of construction for Avalon Park Daytona, our fourth future sister town. It has cleared major hurdles over the past several months, and we are confident it will be a great addition to Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach.

Sometimes I think, if I could simply sit on 3,000 acres somewhere for the next decade, it would be right there. I am certain it would be a great land investment. But then I remind myself that for the region as a whole, it is better to build a town — a place where people can live, learn, work, and play.

And that has always been the vision.