Metro Development Group has confirmed DRB Homes, Lennar and D.R. Horton will be the first three homebuilders in Kissimmee Park, Central Florida’s first master-planned community to feature a giant swimming lagoon amenity.
All three builders have a long history with Metro and have built homes in its lagoon communities throughout the Tampa Bay market and its recent expansion into Jacksonville.
Kissimmee Park, formerly known as Whaley Platt, spans 750 acres of Osceola County’s East of Lake Toho district south of Kissimmee Park Road and the Crossprairie master-planned community. The development is approved for 2,818 homes, two commercial centers and a future K-8 charter school.
The first phase will include the 20-acre site at the corner of Kissimmee Park and Lake Tohopekaliga roads where the lagoon will be built. This phase includes 276 detached homes and townhomes.
Adam Schott, Orlando division president for DRB Homes, said he’s excited to be a part of Kissimmee Park because “Metro does a great job of building a community and a brand that people are aware of.” In addition to the lagoon amenities, Metro also installs high-speed broadband internet and solar-powered streetlights in its communities. DRB is under contract for 60-foot lots and townhomes, and Schott said he expects vertical construction to get underway in 2026.
Metro’s lagoon communities are among the top sellers in the nation. Last year, homebuilders at Mirada, the company’s third MetroLagoon community in Pasco County closed 874 sales, a 24% increase over 2023.
“I know from our traffic numbers that the amount of people who come through the model doors in our Tampa communities are fantastic,” Schott said. “I mean, we just see a lot of people.”
Most of the buyers are there because they want to be in a lagoon community. “It’s like going to Mexico,” he said. “It’s beautiful, blue water. It’s wild.”
Lennar has also long shared history with Metro and even launched some of its first active adult communities at Angeline and Mirada. Just this week, longtime Lennar executive Jim Bavouset was named president of Metro Development Group.
Bavouset spent 20 years with Lennar, serving as in-house counsel and executive VP of national land operations.
“Jim’s career and the name he’s made for himself at Lennar is well known across the residential real estate industry,” said John Ryan, Metro’s CEO. “He’s got the know-how and the successful track record to be the perfect fit to lead Metro into its next phase of growth and innovation.”
In his earlier role, Bavouset helped secure deals for Lennar in Tohoqua, Crossprairie and Waterlin. Kissimmee Park will be the builder’s fourth community in the East/South Lake Toho districts.
“I couldn’t be more excited to join Metro Development Group and contribute to its vision for the future,” said Bavouset. “Metro has established itself as the leader in community development in Florida. I look forward to working alongside the Metro team to drive new opportunities in Florida and beyond. We will continue to deliver first-class communities to our builder partners and ultimately the families who will live in our communities as they are the reason we come to work every day.”
D.R. Horton has also been active in the St. Cloud market with its Kindred development on Cross Prairie Parkway. The Texas-based homebuilder has locked up 900+ lots in Roan Bridge and is still working to accumulate more land along Kissimmee Park Road.
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