In the late 1990s the Bonita Bay Group (BBG) began to assemble 1500+ acres of grazing and agricultural lands for what they would eventually call Verandah. Their vision was of “a golf-oriented, nature-centric residential community”. In 2002 the Verandah West Community Development District, a special-purpose local government, was formed to fund and maintain infrastructure covering roughly 780 acres. Examples of these services include water and sewer management, bridges, culverts, conservation areas, etc.
In 2003 BBG commenced development of Verandah with environmental preservation and green practices in mind. They preserved wetlands, lakes, uplands, and many native trees, earning Green Land Development certification (the first in Florida from the Florida Green Building Coalition) and multiple awards for sustainability and landscaping. A large portion of the land was dedicated to open space, nature preserves, and scenic trails. A permanent easement along the Orange River sought to protect its ecological integrity and provide residents with river access and wildlife views. A host of home builders, using preapproved designs for specific neighborhoods, began to build townhomes, condominiums, and single-family homes. A few of these included Centex, DR Horton, Royal Corinthian, Ruttenberg, and Wyman Stokes. And the vision for Old Orange as a championship golf course became a reality.
In 2007 Verandah earned the Council for Sustainable Florida’s Best Practices Award for green building, the Florida Urban Forestry Council’s Trees Florida Award, and Project EverGreen’s national Because Green Matters Award. It was also recognized as one of Where to Retire magazine’s 100 Best Master-Planned Communities. The Whispering Oak golf course, designed by Jack and Jack Nicklaus II, was named by Golf Inc. magazine as one of the top five new private courses in the country. Bonita Bay also began construction of Sweetwater Landing on the Caloosahatchee River which was planned as a marina and restaurant for Verandah residents. In 2008 there was a strong economy and sales in Verandah significantly exceeded projections. Buyers were drawn to the scenic setting, golf courses, and amenities.
The financial downturn around 2008–2009 and the resulting real estate crash were soon to dim Bonita Bay’s unparalleled success. Stay tuned for the next chapter of Verandah’s history.
