Massive master-planned community starts blooming near Bradenton

After more than a decade in the pipeline, a 1,175-acre site in southwest Bradenton is sprouting with new homes as a master-planned community called SeaFlower comes to life. For more than 80 years, the land operated as a flower farm, so its name pays tribute its history as well as its proximity to Sarasota Bay.

The developer behind the project — Ed Hill, principal at Lake Flores Land Co. — has been working on the project for over 10 years. Proving that large-scale development isn't for those seeking a quick buck, he has been engaged in a lengthy, complex process in that time including obtaining permits and entitlements, undergoing rezoning and holding some 25 meetings with neighborhood groups.