Did you know Horizon West is home to five unique villages and a town center situated on the center of 21,000 acres? That’s just under 32 square miles, which is just about the same size as our most magical neighbor, Walt Disney World! The village-centric design comes from the urban planning concept of garden cities. Each village is carefully designed so that residences will be within close proximity to a commercial village center, walkable schools and public parks, where wide pathways connect everything. Green spaces and nature preserves are found along pathways and throughout each village. It is this thoughtful design that brings to life the ‘New Suburbanism’ lifestyle that we enjoy here in Horizon West.

To learn more about New Suburbanism and the master plan of Horizon West, visit: HorizonWestHappenings.com/WhatIsNewSuburbanism

How Did Horizon West Come to Life?

Horizon West has a long history and a bright future. Decades ago, what we now call home was actually home to thousands of acres of orange groves until a harsh series of repeated freezes in 1989 – an event that would set into motion an unprecedented plan to develop the land into the master-planned community that we now know as Horizon West.

At the time, the citrus growers who owned the land banded together to create a unique and thoughtful development plan that changed the course of history. They knew if they didn’t present an intelligent and comprehensive plan to the County, the fate of the land would succumb to urban sprawl – or in this area, potential “tourism sprawl”.

The future of Horizon West began to take form when the plan was adopted in 1995. Six villages were officially in the plans – what we all now call: Lakeside, Bridgewater, Town Center, the Seidel area (F), Hickory Nut (H) and Ovation (I).

The Villages of Horizon West

Horizon West Town Center will have more than 2 million sq. feet of mixed-use commercial space and up to 4,870 residential units when it is complete. Development of this 3,624-acre central area that spans all four quadrants of the 429 exchange will take up to a decade to fully complete and will act as a destination for the entire region with offerings including dining, entertainment, offices, hotels, medical, wellness, shopping, residential and education. The area known as Hamlin is the first to be developed in the Town Center, but additional residential and commercial offerings are planned and under way.

Bridgewater, the most populated of the villages with 10,450 approved residential units, has a unique charm. It features a mix of “Main Street” style, mom-and-pop businesses and is iconic for the village-centric design that is the tenet of New Suburbanism. Mixed-use space and village commercial centers are at the heart of its landmark neighborhoods, like Summerport for example. Bridgewater features walkable schools, retail and dining with broad pathways woven into the fabric of each of its communities. And just outside of Bridgewater, across S.R. 535, lies Windermere High School and the Windermere Village shopping center, which includes a number of eateries, services and will soon be home to an additional grocery option for residents. 

Lakeside, known as the “eastern gateway to Horizon West,” is the village where many Horizon Westers find their first home. Here, we find up to 8,915 residential units – a mix of luxury rental communities, townhomes and single-family homes. As of 2020, the largest variety of commercial offerings in Horizon West can be found in its village center, which is made up of the adjoining Lakeside Village Center and Westside Shoppes. Offering a wide variety of well-known national-brands and Florida-based eateries, this village has a hip, high energy that attracts people from all over the world. Lakeside is also popular for its close proximity to Disney World. In fact, many residents enjoy a nightly view of fireworks from their homes!

The Seidel area (F), which will eventually have up to 3,891 residential units, has grown by leaps and bounds. The future village center will be called The Mark, and in keeping with the village-centric design, will provide the close-by convenience residents expect from the master plan of Horizon West. Walkable schools, bike paths and access to dining and shopping are all integrated into neighborhood plans. The design of the neighborhoods in the Seidel area encourages residents to utilize common green areas and enjoy luxurious resort-style community amenities. And viewing Disney fireworks from their porch is a treat residents in this area enjoy nightly!

While other villages like Lakeside and Bridgewater were given names by developers long ago when documents were filed with the county, Village F/Seidel area is still awaiting an adopted name. It is anticipated that when the new high school located in this village is named, that may influence a more official label.

Hickory Nut (H), is home to new and prestigious neighborhoods that boast the best of the Horizon West lifestyle. With Hickory Nut Lake at the center of several of these, it rivals Bridgewater as one of the best villages in which to enjoy the lake life! And with Flamingo Crossings Blvd connecting with Avalon Road, residents in this village of Horizon West will have easy access to not only their own large mixed-use village center but also the offerings coming to Disney’s Flamingo Crossings where it intersects Western Way. Once fully developed, Hickory Nut (sometimes still seen referred to as Village H) will have up to 6,548 residences.

Ovation (I), the last of the Horizon West villages to begin to emerge, is soon to be on everyone’s watch list. Still in its infancy, it will be unfolding into a village of thoughtfully designed neighborhoods as most of the land is being developed under the plans of one master developer.

Future residents can expect to see the same intelligent design with neighborhoods to include mixed-use commercial, neighborhood elementary schools, parks and proximity to nature that is present throughout more established villages. Plans are in place for garden, village and estate homes, multifamily – up to 5,608 residential units – as well as offices and three public schools. There will also be a centrally located village center as a natural gathering spot for families of all sizes. With proximity to Walt Disney World and the extension of Western Way, Ovation will also have easy access to the future Disney created offerings at Flamingo Crossings as well as the theme parks.