Builder plans 825-home community in south Sarasota County

Neal Communities recently marked the final home sale in its 1,151-unit Boca Royale community in south Sarasota County. The builder also committed to building 825 more residences that will connect Boca Royale with the Wellen Park area by 2029.

The final Boca Royale home sale came at the end of a 15-year turnaround of the Boca Royale property, which Neal Communities acquired in 2011 and began upgrading to expand housing capacity in the Englewood area.

“At our time of purchase in 2011, the Boca Royale community had 286 lots,” Pat Neal, owner and founder of Neal Communities, says in a statement.

“Today, this wonderfully restored community has 1,151," Neal says. "Not only have we built 865 lots over the past decade, but we’re also excited to be adding another 825 units by the end of 2029 in order to serve the rapidly growing demand for high-quality housing in the greater Tampa area.”

Called Boca Royale Golf & Country Club at Wellen Park, the 825-home development will span approximately 500 acres. It will have a recreation center that is now under construction, including a pool with poolside bar and grill, golf simulator, putting green, pickleball courts, fitness center, movie wall, art room, club rooms and playground. New homes in Boca Royale Golf & Country Club at Wellen Park will start in the mid-$300,0000s.

When built out, the development will complete the area’s connection to the 10,400-home Wellen Park community, according to the statement. Boca Royale will connect into Wellen Park through a planned east-west connector road that links to the southern extension of Preto Boulevard. The developer plans to complete the connection to Preto Boulevard in 2028.

Based in Lakewood Ranch, Neal Communities has built more than 23,000 new homes in over 90 communities from Tampa to Naples. The company had $586.33 million in revenue in 2025, according to the Business Observer's Big Book of Business, a drop of 26.72% from $800.17 million in 2024.