Orlando developer to build light industrial complex in Lakewood Ranch

As businesses looking to rent space consider the two new light industrial buildings going up on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, just south of Professional Parkway in Sarasota County, Tavistock Development's James Peek says one important item might rank at the top of their list.

"It's Lakewood Ranch," says Peek, a development associate in commercial sales and leasing for Tavistock. "It's nice, and safe."

Peek notes light industrial buildings aren't always in close proximity to such communities as Waterside. That is one reason Tavistock is designing this Lakewood Ranch Corporate Park project — two buildings with a combined 93,022 square feet — "a lot more tastefully." 

Tavistock, through LLCs, paid $5.6 million for the two sites that will house the buildings, Sarasota County property records show. Tavistock bought the sites from Lakewood Ranch homebuilder Neal Communities in deals that closed July 7. 

While he says the design is intended to be functional, he adds there are many upgrades in electricity, roof insulation and the roofing itself.

Peek says Orlando-based Tavistock — known for ts Lake Nona project there — has received interest "across the board" in the types of businesses that would like to move into one of the two buildings once they open in the first quarter of 2026. He says nothing is locked in yet, but he expects interest from medical tech companies to local gyms and volleyball groups to home service providers such as those selling sliding glass doors or window dressings.

While he expects businesses to lease parts of the buildings, he wouldn't be surprised if a business took the entire "back" building of 53,070 square feet.

Building One, which is 39,952 square feet, fronts Lakewood Ranch Boulevard while Building Two sits behind it with two 1,000-square-foot parking lots and 150 feet of other space dividing the buildings, The total site is 6.37 acres.

It's another major project for Tavistock in Lakewood Ranch. The company built The Green on State Road 70, which now hosts businesses such as Fresh Market and L.A. Fitness, along with the apartment complexes behind it.

"Schroeder-Manatee Ranch has a long-standing relationship with Tavistock, collaborating on multiple projects to bring high-quality commercial development to our community," SMR Senior Vice President Laura Cole says in an email. "Its latest light industrial project reflects our shared commitment to delivering well-designed, market-driven solutions that meet the evolving needs of our growing region."

Skipper Peek, a senior vice president for Tavistock, and James Peek's father, says his company loves doing business with SMR.

"It's a great community," Skipper Peek says. "SMR does a wonderful job designing the infrastructure and then retaining the quality of the community."

While Tavistock has done some clearing of the land, Skipper Peek says a groundbreaking will be held in about a week. Then construction will speed toward its February completion date.

"Preliminary interest has been very good," Skipper Peek says. "We are cautiously optimistic. We hope we can get some good, quality tenants interested."

SMR has become limited in space it still owns in Lakewood Ranch, but Skipper Peek says Tavistock would be interested in anything that might come along in the future.

"We have our eye on other things," he says. "We would be delighted to be involved."

This article originally appeared on sister site YourObserver.com.