ICI Homes and David Weekley Homes announced Dec. 23 the purchase of 550 acres of Skinner family land to develop Seven Pines, a master-planned community within the 1,063-acre Southeast Quadrant at Butler Boulevard and Interstate 295.
They did not announce the purchase price.
Once completed, Seven Pines will comprise 1,600 single-family homes, apartments and more than 1 million square feet of commercial and retail space, said the news release. The community also will include a 34-acre park with a lake.
ICI and David Weekley will develop the residential portion of the project.
Plans show Seven Pines will be south of the quadrant’s Village Center property, where Atlanta developer Jeff Fuqua had 67 acres under contract to construct Highland Row. It was designed with a food hall, grocery store, movie theater, apartments, hotels and event space.
Fuqua’s contract expired.
In August, A.C. “Chip” Skinner said most of the single-family residential property in the Southeast Quadrant was expected to close by the end of the year.
“We have a bold vision for our brand new master-planned community, Seven Pines,” Mori Hosseini, chairman and CEO of ICI Homes and the managing partner of the Seven Pines partnership, said in the news release.
“Our development will have distinctive new designs in walkable neighborhoods, a vibrant village center, plus parks, trails, lakes and green spaces, bringing residents closer to nature and creating a strong sense of community for Seven Pines,” he said.
“We have successfully teamed-up with David Weekley Homes in many communities over the years and I could not be more pleased to once again partner with one of the largest, most-respected, highly-innovative homebuilders in the country.”
Groundbreaking on Seven Pines is scheduled for January. Construction on the model home, amenity center and the main entry will begin in November.
Seven Pines will feature a 7,900-square-foot residents club, including a resort-style pool, lap pool, children’s “sprayground” and a party cabana.
The clubhouse will have 3,000 square feet of fitness space, which will comprise cardio and group fitness areas.
Multipurpose trails will circle the lake at the development’s Central Park.
Kernan Boulevard will be extended to the south, and will serve as the community’s main entrance. Another entrance is planned along Gate Parkway.
Homes will be built in a variety of architectural styles and sizes in interconnected neighborhoods.
The parcel is the last large parcel of Skinner family land, which originally included the St. Johns Town Center and the University of North Florida.
The name Seven Pines is a tribute to the seven Skinner brothers who led the family’s property holdings.
