Esplanade At Wiregrass Ranch, Valencia Ridge & Amberlin Apartments Are Adding ‘Curb Appeal’ For Active Seniors!
Introduction By Gary Nager
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
