Ocala: Former horse farm slated to be home to thousands of single-family homes

Austin L. Miller, Ocala Star-Banner
·2 min read
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Ocala City Council members voted 5-0 on Tuesday to approve a new subdivision that will be built on what used to be Winding Oaks Farm.

Here's what we know:

How many acres? 460.12, according to city documents.

Horses graze on Winding Oaks Farm on March 15.
Horses graze on Winding Oaks Farm on March 15.

How many homes will be on the property? After the vote, officials present at the meeting told a Star-Banner reporter they anticipate having close to 2,100 single-family homes. That doesn't include multi-family residential and commercial buildings. Overall, those officials said, the development will cover 770 acres.

City officials said approximately 300 acres of the farm will remain as agricultural land.

When will construction start? Officials said roads, utilities, water and sewer and other infrastructure will lay the groundwork before home construction. Once infrastructure is in place, then homes will be built for the next five to six years, officials said.

Traffic travels along SW 49th Avenue Road near the intersection of SW 66th Street on March 15. The Winding Oaks Community Development District is proposing a 460.12-acre site south of SW 66th Street, east of SW 54th Court Road and north of SW 80th Street.
Traffic travels along SW 49th Avenue Road near the intersection of SW 66th Street on March 15. The Winding Oaks Community Development District is proposing a 460.12-acre site south of SW 66th Street, east of SW 54th Court Road and north of SW 80th Street.

What's the cost of the necessary infrastructure? Documents supplied by city officials estimate the cost at $80.115 million.

Where's the property located? It's south of Southwest 66th Street, east of Southwest 54th Court Road and north of Southwest 80th Street.

When was the property annexed into the city? City officials said the farm, a little more than 1,000 acres, came into the city nearly 10 years ago.

The new site for a Marion County Public Schools elementary school in Winding Oaks Farm at 7200 SW 49th Avenue Road, Ocala.
The new site for a Marion County Public Schools elementary school in Winding Oaks Farm at 7200 SW 49th Avenue Road, Ocala.

Are there any other developments on the property? Yes. There is a Jaguar/Land Rover dealership on site, fronting State Road 200. And an elementary school will be built, as well; the ground breaking ceremony is scheduled for Thursday.

Horse farm: Ocala’s Winding Oaks Farm continues wind down

A little history of the former farm: Eugene Melnyk, a Canadian businessman and billionaire, purchased the farm in 2001. Melnyk once owned horses and the Ottawa Senators NHL hockey team. He left the horse racing business in 2014. Melnyk decided to develop some of the property. Two years ago, Melnyk died at age 62.

Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Massive development coming to Winding Oaks Farm in SW Ocala