New community brings Ormond, Flagler together

Ormond Beach Observer
Business

A groundbreaking celebration marked the official start of the development.

Wayne Grant

News Editor

A Flagler County home in Ormond Beach. That’s going to a fact of life for many more people in coming years as a new development, called Huntington Village, is built out.

The site will have an Ormond Beach address, as well as water and sewer, but will actually be located in Flagler County.

That’s good news for the business community of both areas, judging by the ground-breaking and ribbon cutting event on May 27. It was attended by both the Ormond Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce.

Located in the Hunter’s Ridge area, the development is accessed by Shadow Lakes Boulevard or Airport Road.

Bill Navarra, current president of the Ormond Beach chamber, said the development will have a tremendous impact.

“We have nothing like it in the area,” he said.

The development is considered unique because, while not age-restricted, it’s called an “age-targeted community,” to those 55 and over.

Heather Thompson, director of membership for the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce, agreed it will increase opportunities for businesses, from landscaping to garage doors, and will benefit both chambers.

“We’re partners with Ormond Beach,” she said. “We’re friends and neighbors.”

The Ormond/Flagler address can already be found in the area, such as in Plantation Bay, and will continue to grow. All future developments in Hunter’s Ridge and Plantation Bay will be in Flagler County.

No one was more excited at the ribbon cutting than Howard Lefkowitz, the developer who has been working on the project for nine months.

“Unless you’re a builder, you don’t realize how exciting it is see it all come together,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of fun putting this together. It will be something everyone will be proud of.”

Each builder, Vanacore Homes and Gallery Homes, has built a model and a spec home. They will continue building 50 homes in the first phase and final build-out will be 172 single-family homes and 155 villas. The two builders are going to construct the same number of homes.

Lefkowitz calls it a “lifestyle community” with maintenance-free living.

All lawn maintenance, irrigation and exterior painting will be provided in the mandatory maintenance contract. There will be social activities and recreation, a swimming pool and a 12,500-square-foot club house with a full-time manager, activity rooms, and a great room for events.

Also on hand at the ribbon cutting was Nate McLaughlin, Flagler County Commissioner, who said he appreciated the investment by the developer and builders.

“When the community sees you take a risk, they are going to support you,” he said.

Lefkowitz said both Flagler County and Ormond Beach were great to work with. Permits must be pulled in Flagler, but water and sewer connections are made with the city.

Visit huntingtonvillagefl.com.