335 Apartments Planned Near Eagle Ridge

Housing has been in high demand in the Lake Wales area, and planned single-family developments have been building out rapidly, but demand is equally strong for apartment homes. Some of that demand will soon be met as Equinox of Florida LLC moves forward with their plans to build 335 new units on the north side of town.

The new complex will consist of 13 buildings on two separate parcels totaling almost 50 acres. They are located about 500 feet north of Chalet Suzanne Road, directly behind Shoppes on the Ridge, and will be accessed by a new entrance boulevard. The new street will run between the two clusters of apartments and connect with Chalet Suzanne Road at a point across from one of two northern entrances to Eagle Ridge Mall.

According to City of Lake Wales Planning Director Kathy Bangley, the entrance boulevard has been part of the City's planning concept for the area for many years. The road is Envisioned to extend farther north as a loop connecting Chalet Suzanne Road to the US 27 signalized intersection adjacent to Home Depot. That street was ended in a stub anticipating that connection.

The first phase of the road construction, consisting of 650 feet, is expected to begin in June. City officials are hoping that other property owners in the area will recognize the benefits of having the new frontage and participate in completing the loop this year.

"It would help relieve traffic congestion in that area," Bangley told LakeWalesNews.net, pointing out that it would also increase the value and developability of the rest of that land. Bangley added that the developers are finalizing their civil engineering design and have recently obtained the permits needed to connect the still-unnamed boulevard to Chalet Suzanne Road.

The apartment project was also Envisioned before 2008, but the economic recession put the plans on an extended hold. Now, after a decade of sustained growth, investors are ready to put the plans into action. Designs for the complex include a clubhouse and pool for residents. It is anticipated that the complex will house about 800 residents.