Big potential

Executive Summary
Company. Lake Flores Industry. Development, commercial real estate Key. Project is one of the biggest in Manatee County in several years.

Fourth-generation Manatee County farmer turned real estate developer Whiting Preston is growing something not seen in years on many parts of the Gulf Coast: a supersized and super ambitious mixed-use, master-planned community.

The project is Lake Flores, a southwest Bradenton development Preston and many others believe has potential to significantly reshape a large portion of Manatee County. Plans, for a buildout of 20 years, include up to 6,500 residences, a combination of homes, condos and apartments; 3 million square feet of retail and office space; and two hotels with 500 rooms. The project is on 1,300 acres of empty farmland and fields next to IMG Academy, between Cortez Road, El Conquistador Parkway and 53rd Avenue West.