Roxanne Coriell, Adam Wilinsky, Antonyia McCray & Bonnie Walters All Still Vying For Top Honors
(L.-r.) 2024 Hillsborough County Teacher of the Year Dr. Clayton Nylund of Blake High, Hillsborough Superintendent of Schools Van Ayres, 2025 Teacher of the Year finalist Roxanne (Roxi) Coriell, School Board chair Jessica Vaughn & Hunter’s Green Elementary principal Nicole Libby. (Photo provided by Hillsborough Public Schools)
Four representatives of New Tampa’s public schools have been announced as finalists for the 2025 Excellence in Education (EIE) Awards.
From more than 13,000 teachers in Hillsborough County, one of five finalists will be named Teacher of the Year at the event, which is hosted by the Hillsborough Education Foundation, in partnership with Hillsborough County Public Schools, on Thursday, January 23, at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Tampa.
(Above, l.-r.) Dr. Clayton Nylund, Jessica Vaughn, 2025 Teacher of the Year finalist Adam Wilinsky, Pride Elementary principal Paulette English, and Van Ayres.
Similarly, one of five finalists will be named the Ida S. Baker Diversity Educator of the Year, and one of four finalists will be awarded Instructional Support Employee of the Year honors.
New Tampa is represented in all three of the categories, including two of the Teacher of the Year finalists.
Roxanne (Roxi) Coriell, a kindergarten teacher at Hunter’s Green Elementary, and Adam Wilinsky, a fifth grade math and science teacher at Pride Elementary, are both finalists for Teacher of the Year.
In addition, Antonyia McCray, the success coach at Freedom High, is a finalist for Ida S. Baker Diversity Educator of the Year.
And Bonnie Walters, Secretary 4 at Tampa Palms Elementary, is a finalist for Instructional Support Employee of the Year.
TPE secretary 4 Bonnie Walters.
On December 2, the finalists were visited by the “Surprise Patrol,” made up of representatives from the Hillsborough Education Foundation, Hillsborough County Public Schools and the EIE event sponsors.
Roxi Coriell was visibly shocked as the Surprise Patrol entered her classroom that Monday morning, the first day back after this year’s Thanksgiving break.“I’m so honored to be the Hunter’s Green Teacher of the Year,” she later said, “and then, every step of the way, has been another complete surprise.”
HGE principal Nicole Libby says Coriell is an innovator who genuinely deserves the nomination.
“Mrs. Coriell is an exceptional educator who truly embodies the qualities of a dedicated and impactful teacher,” Libby says. “Her ability to create an engaging, nurturing, and inclusive learning environment sets her apart and makes her incredibly deserving of this recognition.”
Meanwhile, at Tampa Palms Elementary, principal Angela Gluth says secretary Bonnie Walters, who has worked at the school for 27 years, is the heartbeat of their campus.
(l.-r.) School Board member Lynn Gray, Antonyia McCray, Freedom principal Kevin Stephenson & School Board Vice Chair Karen Perez
“If she were to win at the District level, it would mean everything to us,” Gluth says. “It would be an opportunity for everyone to know what we already know about how special and amazing she is. She doesn’t necessarily want the recognition, but I can’t think of a more deserving person.”
Congratulations to all four of the finalists, as well as to all of the teachers and school staff members who were chosen to represent their respective schools as nominees for this year’s EIE awards. That complete list appears below.
New Tampa’s 2025 Hillsborough Education Foundation EIE Awards Nominees
Chiles Elementary
Teacher of the Year: Felicia Sell, 2nd Grade Teacher
Ida S. Baker Diversity Educator of the Year: Marie Exantus, Varying Exceptionalities (VE) Teacher Instructional Support Employee of the Year: Cristhian Valladares Murillo, Night Crew Leader Custodian
Clark Elementary
Teacher: Brittany Long, 5th Grade Teacher
Ida S. Baker: Donna Clark, ESOL Resource Teacher
Support Employee: Alena Plumb, Secretary 1
Heritage Elementary
Teacher: Heather Leitzke, Access Points Teacher
Ida S. Baker: Lauren Sturlaugson, Media Specialist
Support Employee: Aracely Garcia, Head Custodian
Hunter’s Green Elementary
Teacher: *Roxanne Coriell, Kindergarten Teacher
Ida S. Baker: Michelle Lilius, ESOL
Resource Teacher
Support Employee: Ivan Vazquez Rico, Custodian
Pride Elementary
Teacher: *Adam Wilinsky, 5th Grade Teacher
Ida S. Baker: Christine Goff, School Counselor
Support Employee: Alexandria DeJoseph,
Principal’s Secretary
Tampa Palms Elementary
Teacher: Elizabeth DaSilva, 3rd Grade Teacher
Ida S. Baker: Lindsay Vizzi, Speech Lang. Pathologist
Commercial lender Vanessa Ng (photos) knows that busy entrepreneurs who want to grow their businesses don’t have time to call a bank, apply for a loan, wait to hear back and then call a different bank if they’re turned down by, or just not sure they like, the first option.
That’s why she works for CommLoan, a company that allows her to help business owners apply for a loan through a streamlined process that provides many options to meets their needs quickly.
“CommLoan is really efficient and can provide a quote to the borrower within minutes,” Vanessa explains. “We have a database of 750 lenders we work with through a proprietary system called CUPID, and, in some cases, it will give us back 300 options.”
CUPID, which stands for Commercial Underwriting Pricing Index Data, is an innovative platform developed by CommLoan, a company that was founded in 2014 in Scottsdale, AZ, by long-time mortgage banker Mitch Ginsberg. CommLoan lends nationwide, except in Nevada and North and South Dakota.
Vanessa joined CommLoan about a year ago, adding commercial lending to her 12-year career as a residential lender.
She currently works with business owners all over the country and says she is hoping to increase awareness of CommLoan locally in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel areas.
Vanessa is originally from South Tampa and graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Finance in 2012. She went straight into the mortgage business out of college and first moved to New Tampa for five years, and then, to Wesley Chapel, where she now lives in Estancia at Wiregrass Ranch.
“There is a lot of expansion and growing businesses in Wesley Chapel, Dade City and Zephyrhills,” she says, “and I’m trying to help out those entrepreneurs.”
She says she often provides loans for new commercial properties, such as gas stations or car washes, multifamily properties and single-tenant-use buildings, such as medical offices.
Vanessa also helps business owners who have equity in their current properties refinance their existing loans to get cash out, or help those who have a maturing loan and want to refinance.
Vanessa says her loans are for a minimum of $300,000 and can go up to as much as $100 million. She notes that some of these loans are as low as zero percent down.
“CommLoan provides tailored solutions,” Vanessa explains. “So, whether a buyer is looking for no prepayment penalty, a non-recourse loan, or some other specific criteria, I’m able to filter the search for that. Within seconds, I can get the best rates and the best programs for my buyer.”
CommLoan’s hundreds of lenders include everything from large national, commercial and regional banks to midsize banks, credit unions and debt funds.
Easing Frustrations
Vanessa explains that, sometimes, clients come to her feeling frustrated and overwhelmed.
“If someone goes to a bank for a loan, but then gets turned down, it can leave them scrambling if they’re already under contract to buy a property,” Vanessa explains. “Once I understand the scenario, I can send it to a dozen lenders at the same time and, sometimes, I’ll get offers the same day. It’s very different from waiting a week to just get turned down by one bank. These are busy entrepreneurs who don’t have time to waste hours or days trying to get a loan.”
She says her job is to remove the frustration from the process. “I do all of the legwork so you can keep running your business.”
Steven Sockwell and his wife, Lindy, have several investment properties near Rockville, IL. A few months ago, they were working with a Realtor® to purchase a new rental property and the Realtor recommended Vanessa and CommLoan as a lender. Even though Vanessa was far away in Florida, Steven decided to reach out to her.
“Ever since then, she’s been great to work with,” Steven says. “We’ve had several things she’s helped us with, including two transactions from start to finish. She’s very helpful and the transactions have been smooth.”
He adds that Vanessa has, “a wealth of knowledge” and credits her experience with helping them get the properties they wanted.
“She’s a very hard worker,” Steven adds. “Anything I have questions about, she’s able to answer them.”
He says he’s in the process of buying another rental property and that he will continue to work with Vanessa and CommLoan because it’s been such an easy process.
“One thing I’ve noticed about CommLoan is that everything is very streamlined,” he says. “The information in documentation is very straightforward and to the point. It’s so different than going to a local bank here where everything is so convoluted and you have to read, re-read, and re-read again to understand it. Instead, everything is very orderly and tells you want to do next, step-by-step. And, anything we don’t understand, we ask and Vanessa answers quickly.”
Steven says Vanessa also helped him look at his current portfolio of properties and figured out how to use the equity in those properties to, “seize the moment” to buy other properties.
“I didn’t know how to go about doing that and she walked us through it,” Steven says.
He also says working with Vanessa has been so easy, even if he wasn’t in the process of purchasing a property and needing a loan, he would still feel comfortable reaching out to ask her questions.
“She would answer,” he says. “I’m sure of it. She’s a great person to work with.”
For more information, contact Vanessa Ng via email at vng@commloan.com, call or text her at (561) 310-4720 or visit VanessaNg.CommLoan.com.
At New Tampa Performing Arts Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.). Daniella Mass, “The Liri Pop Princess,” is a composer and young coloratura soprano from Colombia who was featured on “America’s Got Talent.” Tickets cost $15 for a theater seat, $20 for a table seat. To purchase tickets & get more info, call (813) 829-2760 or visit NewTampaArtsCenter.org/events.
When Duncan Pastore was growing up in New Tampa, he played recreational baseball with what is now the North Tampa Athletic Association (NTAA), dreaming of one day playing Major League Baseball.
Duncan became a Wharton High standout who recently signed with the New York Yankees and, at age 24, is currently playing for its Single-A affiliate, the Yankees’ Florida State League (Single A) affiliate, the Tampa Tarpons.
Back in Duncan’s NTAA days, his father Lou was one of the league’s volunteers, ensuring his son and others in the community had a thriving league for youth baseball and softball, even serving as league president.
“Duncan playing with the Yankees is a dream come true,” Lou says. “It’s every kid’s dream to play professional baseball and eventually [make it to] the big leagues. As you move up the ladder from high school to college, the chances of you making it one step further is less each time. The fact that he was able to do it makes me, his mom, and everyone who knows him extremely proud of him.”
And to think, it all started on the fields in New Tampa.
This spring, hundreds of boys and girls will have their opportunity to work on their dreams their dreams to follow in Duncan’s footsteps, while others will play just to get outside, have fun and develop skills such as teamwork and sportsmanship in the NTAA.
Duncan Pastore (Source: Nova SE University)
Registration is now open for boys and girls ages three to 16 (as of April 30, 2025) to play baseball and softball with NTAA.
Robert Pickett is the director of baseball for ages 12 and under for the league.
“We’re a thriving and growing league, right in the heart of New Tampa, and a lot of people don’t know about it,” Robert says.
While the NTAA had more than 450 players last season, Robert says an ideal size would be closer to 600-700 playing baseball and softball. “The more teams there are, the more competitive it is,” Robert explains. “I’d rather have 10 teams in each division instead of three. It’s more fun.”
That’s why he and others from the entirely volunteer-run league are increasing their recruiting efforts this year, hoping that new players will grow the NTAA community.
The NTAA plays baseball and softball at two field complexes. One is Eber Field, located near the corner of Cross Creek Blvd. and Kinnan St., and the other is Live Oak Park, located behind Turner Bartels K-8 School.
“Every night the parks are bustling,” Robert says. “If you drive by Eber Field on a Tuesday night, you’ll see games on two fields, concessions are open, families are everywhere,” he says. “You can go hang out and feel the sense of community.”
Registration for the Spring 2025 NTAA season will remain open until mid-January. That’s vastly different than at the nearby Wesley Chapel Athletic Association (WCAA), where registration filled within minutes of opening.
Some parents have asked why NTAA is open for registration while WCAA is completely full. What’s the difference?
According to Robert, it all comes down to capacity.
With the ongoing explosive growth of Wesley Chapel (vs. the nearly-built-out community in New Tampa), there’s simply more demand for WCAA youth baseball and softball than there is space for players.
Because WCAA and NTAA are both part of the Babe Ruth League, there are flexible geographic boundaries, unlike with Little League Baseball programs. So, WCAA’s capacity is crunched by both tremendous growth in its “home” area, and kids from Dade City and Zephyrhills who want to play in Wesley Chapel.
Meanwhile, NTAA’s geographic location makes it sandwiched in between other areas where New Tampa kids can go to play, such as Lutz or Wesley Chapel.
That means there’s still room in the NTAA for kids in nearby Wesley Chapel to be part of a league that is this year celebrating 10 years since switching from Little League Baseball to the Babe Ruth League, which provides more flexibility for players who don’t live in the 33647 zip code.
“It’s a great outlet to have fun,” Lou says of participation in NTAA. “Sports can teach kids a lot about how to grow up and mature and become great leaders and teammates. At the same time, kids can just go out and play and not have to worry about cleaning their room or all the things they have to do.”
Lou says NTAA taught his son to be a role model for other kids, which started with Duncan looking up to the older players, and then wanting to be like them.
“Duncan wanted to break the park’s home run record,” Lou explains, “and then, when he was 12, he did it. The younger kids looking on went chasing for that home run ball as if (Yankees star) Aaron Judge himself had hit it over the fence. They ran it back to the dugout and Duncan signed it and gave it back to them. He learned to be a role model at such a young age, and that’s a big part of who he is today.”
Lou currently actually works for the Yankees as a groundskeeper for George Steinbrenner Field, where the Tampa Tarpons play, and still also maintains the fields for NTAA.
“I have now taken care of every field Duncan has played on since he started playing baseball,” Lou says, adding that he also takes a lot of pride in maintaining the fields so NTAA kids have an outstanding place to play.
In January, Duncan will return to his childhood baseball fields to host a one-day camp for young players, ages 5 to 12, whether or not they are registered to play with NTAA. He will be joined by other professional baseball players who want to give back to their community and mentor young people who want to sharpen their skills.
“Youth Day with the Pros” will be held on Saturday, January 11, at the Live Oak baseball complex. To register, go to NT-AA.com.
Registration for NTAA’s spring baseball and softball season is open now through mid-January. Players must be at least three years old on April 30, 2025, and no older than 16 on that date. Practices, which begin in early February (the season runs through May) are held at Live Oak Park (behind Turner Bartels K-8 School) and Eber Field (at the corner of Cross Creek Blvd. and Kinnan St.). For more information, see the ad below. To register, go to NT-AA.com.
Esplanade At Wiregrass Ranch, Valencia Ridge & Amberlin Apartments Are Adding ‘Curb Appeal’ For Active Seniors!
Introduction By Gary Nager
Why is this woman smiling? Fran Lott, who signed her lease to move into the 55+ rental apartment community on Bruce B. Downs Blvd., opposite BayCare Wesley Chapel known as Amberlin nearly two years ago, is thrilled to finally have been able to move into her cozy one-bedroom apartment on Dec. 10. A number of factors contributed to Amberlin’s opening being delayed by nearly a full year. (Photo by Charmaine George)
Wesley Chapel is one of the fastest-growing communities in the U.S. and even though it is primarily known for being a haven for young families, portions of the community are being built to accommodate older adults, too.
After nearly a one-year delay, Amberlin Apartments, a 55+ rental community located on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. across from BayCare Wesley Chapel hospital, finally welcomed its first residents on Dec. 10. In addition, two large single-family 55+ communities are taking shape along the extension of Chancey Rd. — one also in Wiregrass Ranch and the other just east of it.
Esplanade at Wiregrass is actually the second 55+ community with a Wesley Chapel address (the built-out Anand Vihar in Meadow Pointe was the first), and the Taylor Morrison Homes community already has homes on 600 of its 800 total lots.
Further to the east on the Chancey Rd. extension is Valencia Ridge, the GL Homes community we told you about months ago but which is just now coming on line with model homes, to the north of its “sister” GL Homes community — Winding Ridge.
Esplanade At Wiregrass Ranch
This time of year is especially busy for a certain sector of real estate in Florida — the age 55+ community. Florida prides itself on noteworthy 55+ communities like Sun City Center, one of the first master planned retirement communities in the U.S., and The Villages, the largest such 55+ community in the world, with more than 80,000 residents sprawled across multiple Florida counties (and still growing).
Wesley Chapel has recently been getting in on this growing trend, and for good reason — location, location, location! And, were not talking about just the weather, but more like what Wesley Chapel has to offer in regards to extensive access to world-class health care options (including two, and soon to be three, hospitals and a huge variety of medical specialists) and lots of local dining, shopping, entertainment and leisure activities.
Surprisingly, most of these new residents in Wesley Chapel are not seasonal — many just come down “in season” to buy or rent and become permanent residents, and many of them are retired.
(photo by Joel Provenzano) The extension of Chancey Rd. will provide access to Phases 5A & 5B of Esplanade (map below right).
Three of the newest communities where builders are still rushing to get a foothold in this age 55+ market are Esplanade at Wiregrass Ranch (by Taylor Morrison), Valencia Ridge (by GL Homes), and the rental apartment community Amberlin at Wiregrass Ranch (by Sparrow Living), although more are on the way.
Esplanade, touted as, “One of Taylor Morrison’s beautiful, 55+ resort lifestyle communities,” has been open for a couple of years now and is being built in phases, with about 600 homes built in four phases so far. With those first phases nearing build-out, the community’s last two phases — 5a and 5b — will add around another 200 lots.
A source familiar with the project, but who asked not to be named, said that Phase 4 took a little longer than expected, due to the project having to extend the main road through the community — Provincale Pkwy. — further to the south, where it will soon intersect with the Chancey Rd. extension at a second gated entry for the Esplanade community.
As you travel north along Wiregrass Ranch Blvd. past the many roundabouts, you come to an all-way stop intersection with Chancey Rd., which serves the communities of Estancia, the Arbors at Wiregrass and Persimmon Park.
Now heading east from that intersection is the new Chancey Rd. extension, which began building in 2023 and “appeared” to be completed earlier this year. But, anyone who has driven past it has noticed the “Road Closed” and “Sidewalk Closed” barriers that have been sitting there for a couple of months now, blocking access to that new 0.7-mile stretch of road.
At the other end of that Chancey Rd. extension is the location for that future second gated entry for Esplanade, which will provide direct access to Phases 5A and 5B, which is why dump trucks have been going down there day after day — they’ve been using it as a construction entrance so as not to drive through the rest of the community.
That part of Chancey Rd. will likely be opened once the new gate is constructed and functional, but it might not be until after all passes are completed, and it is no longer being used as a construction entrance. It’s too early to tell and those details were not yet available at our press time.
At some point in the future, Chancey Rd. will be extended even further east to intersect with Meadow Pointe Blvd, tying in at the existing signal that serves Double Branch Elementary and the Haven at Meadow Pointe subdivision.
(Map source: TaylorMorrison.com; Please note that the Phase 5A & 5B label locations are approximate & are not to scale)
Our source told us that some other details are not available yet, such as when sales of the lots in Phases 5A and 5B will begin (or what the pricing for those homes will be), but we were told that the 75’-wide lot option is no longer going to be offered. According to the community sales map, that means that only 45’-, 52’- and 62’-wide lots would be available in these new phases.
The same person told us that one big difference between Esplanade and the planned Valencia Ridge community (see below) are the lot sizes — noting that while the width options are the same, the lot depths in Esplanade are significantly deeper — with 135’-, 145’- and 155’-ft. depths in Esplanade vs. 110’-, 125’- and 135’-ft. depths at Valencia Ridge (as shown in the Valencia Ridge FAQ sheet) for similar-width lots.
While this may not sound like that big of a deal, the depth differences can mean the difference between having a pool and no yard vs. having a pool and some usable yard left over, or having a pool with an extended patio option, which is a fantastic option Taylor Morrison offers with homes in Esplanade, and with some patios as large as 570 sq ft. (Note-Valencia Ridge does offer similar size patio extensions on some floor plans).
However, our review of the plat for Valencia Ridge on the Pasco property appraiser’s website showed multiple premium oversized lots with depths up to 155’. But, it appears the most common lot depth in Valencia Ridge is 135’.
We also noticed that the lots the future model homes are located on are 145’ or 155’ deep and 63’ wide, which is not typical in Valencia Ridge, so potential buyers always need to be fully aware of the lot size of the model they looked at vs. the lot size of any lot they are interested in purchasing.
Our source with Esplanade said that it’s likely that a total of eight floor plans will be offered in the community, going all the way up to around 3,000 sq. ft., with 3-car garages, 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. The planned designs are a great blend between traditional and modern looks with fantastic exterior detailing. Current base prices in the existing phases in Esplanade (but it’s unknown if this pricing will translate to the new phases) range from $400,000+ to $800,000+.
Esplanade, which was named the 2023 Single-Family Community of the Year by the Tampa Bay Builders Assn., includes a beautiful clubhouse, known as The Venue, with fitness and aerobics, meeting and gathering spaces, a catering kitchen, billiards and multi-purpose rooms. Outside, there’s a heated resort-style pool and spa, resistance pool and outdoor BBQ grill, walking trails, event and fitness lawn, fenced “bark park” and tot lot playground.
Valencia Ridge Update
Meanwhile, the Valencia brand claims to be “Experts in 55+ Living Since 1996,” with Valencia Ridge being the 20th Valencia community since the developer began building, with the others being located all up and down the east and west coasts of Florida.
(Above, photo by Joel Provenzano) The Valencia Ridge “Elena” model is 3,493 sq. ft. & starts at $634,900.
Although it’s not quite as centrally located in Wesley Chapel as Esplanade (as it is located 3.5 miles further east on (and north of) S.R. 56, Valencia Ridge’s location is still good, nestled on the property just north of Winding Ridge, which also is a GL Homes community, but which is not age-restricted. Valencia Ridge will be built in three phases, totaling 517 lots, with the initial first and second phases (being built together) having 395 homesites between them.
The Valencia Ridge sales team members, like Tim Nelson, have been operating out of a model in the built-out Winding Ridge community, but are getting very close to moving to the north in an actual Valencia Ridge model. These planned models can be seen as renderings in the packet that’s available at the Valencia Ridge sales office in Winding Ridge. The move won’t happen until the portion of Two Ridges Rd from S.R. 56 to Valencia Ridge has been completed. Tim says they were hopeful the road would have been done in time to move the sales office into the Valencia property last month, with the models opening after the holidays, ideally around or on January 18. He says that all depends upon when the road can be opened to traffic, something he is eagerly awaiting.
In our article about Wyndfields Blvd. (the road with many names) in July 2024, we mentioned that Two Ridges Rd. would be aligning with Wyndfields Blvd at S.R. 56 (and will be signalized in the near future) as it builds north 1.7 miles to the entrance of Valencia Ridge.
That portion of Two Ridges Rd. has been under construction since 2019, but is getting very close to finally receiving pavement.
Even more exciting is that we had previously mentioned that the northern 0.4 miles to connect to S.R. 54 (at the signal with River Glen Blvd) would be done at a later date, but that appears to be happening now! We saw earth movers and excavators in full force between the entrance of Valencia Ridge and S.R. 54, making way for the rest of Two Ridges Rd. to be completed from S.R. 56 all the way to SR 54.
In the portion of this story about Esplanade, we discussed the difference in lot sizes and how that (according to our source) could affect the ability to have pools and usable yards.
(map from GLHomes.com) The Valencia Ridge community extends north from the extension of Chancey Rd.
We wanted to mention here that the FAQs for Valencia Ridge state that pools are being offered, “as an available option for purchase, and many home sites can accommodate a pool. However, our Signature Collection Homes [with 110’ lot depths] will not accommodate pools.”
When the models do open early next year, there will be at least one model for each of the available nine floor plans, ranging from the 1,674- sq.-ft. Camelia model, with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a 2-car garage, to the 3,139-sq.-ft. Emerald model, with 4 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms and a 3-car garage. Like Esplanade, current pricing in Valencia Ridge is within the $400,000+-$800,000+ range.
Tim also said that one important difference between Valencia Ridge and Esplanade is that, of all things, Valencia Ridge will allow all yards to be fully fenced-in with black metal bar fences, but that Esplanade does not allow that, which could be a potential deal killer, especially for some pet owners.
When we asked our unnamed source with Esplanade if this was true, we were told, “Yes…. at least partially true. We won’t allow rear fences on lots that are on ponds, but if your lot backs up to conservation [or something other than a pond] it can be fully fenced-in.” This was due, they said, to wanting to fully preserve the water views for all residents who pay lot premiums for those views.
According to its website, Valencia Ridge will boast a world-class clubhouse with multiple pools, pickleball courts, tennis courts, an expansive gym, restaurant and bar, sports lounge and large event hall. These amenities are the hallmark of the Valencia communities throughout Florida.
So, we guess it’s going to be up to each future owner’s preference as to which amenities and restrictions are more important, among all the other things each community offers. — These updates written by Joel Provenzano
Amberlin Apartments Now Open!
Of course, not everyone wants to own a home and have to deal with the headaches that come with home ownership, even when you’re talking about brand new homes.
That’s why “maintenance-free” 55+ rental communities like Amberlin at Wiregrass Ranch by Sparrow Living also are popping up across Florida.
As Wesley Chapel’s only 55+ rental community, Amberlin had been hotly anticipated in Wesley Chapel, but numerous construction delays caused a lot of people who had applications in and deposits down with plans to move in (including the Nagers) to decide they couldn’t wait any longer, especially with the huge proliferation of rental apartments in and around the three Wesley Chapel zip codes — even though none of those other communities are restricted to ages 55+.
Jannah and I were among the group of Amberlin renters originally told that the apartments would become available sometime in January 2024. But, we kept receiving news of delay upon delay that caused us to look elsewhere and eventually (in June of this year) move into another rental community that started building after Amberlin.
(Amberlin photos by Charmaine George)
However, Amberlin’s management continued to host its future residents at various locations for wine tastings, coffee socials and other events (there’s even a packed monthly events calendar for residents) and a core group of those future residents waited patiently for the news that they could finally move into their respective apartments.
That news finally came earlier this month, when dozens of Amberlin renters were finally given access to their apartments on Dec. 10, although only one building was ready for move-ins at our press time. And, although the Amberlin clubhouse was completed (above photo), its interior furnishings and amenities, including what looks like it will be a beautiful resort-style pool and the much-anticipated pickleball court, were not yet completed.
Amberlin sales specialist Kylie Ward, who Jannah and I call “Smiley Kylie,” and her co-workers have somehow kept their wits about them amidst a growing chorus of concern among Amberlin’s current and future residents.
“It hasn’t been easy,” Kylie admitted to us on Dec. 12, “but we are excited to finally have residents moving in and getting settled. We hope to have the interior of the clubhouse, the pool and even the furnished model unit (the photo below is the kitchen in a two-bedroom + office unit) completed by sometime in January.”
In the meantime, Amberlin tenants like Fran Lott (see top photo), who has been living in a local hotel for the last few months because she had already sold her villa in Seven Oaks, says that what Amberlin has to offer has been worth the wait.
“I’ve already met and become friends with so many wonderful fellow tenants here,” Fran told us while directing her movers where to place her furniture, art and books. “Amberlin already has been providing me with a wonderful social life and that’s really the main reason I wanted to move in here in the first place.”
So, even though most of the 204 total units are not yet complete and the entire community is still something of a construction site, it does appear that Amberlin at Wiregrass Ranch has at least turned the corner.
For more information about Amberlin at Wiregrass Ranch and its free Open House on Thursday, January 16, 2 p.m.-5 p.m., call (813) 669-0391 or visit SparrowLiving.com. — GN
