Minneola is preparing for a busy year in 2026—especially in the corridor near the junction of Hancock Road and Florida’s Turnpike.
The intersection of Hancock Road and Florida's Turnpike has established itself as one of Lake County's most active development hubs, driven by new residential projects, healthcare facilities, and commercial developments.
This progress is already visible on site, as developers move beyond the approval phase and advance to ongoing construction, with several projects following schedules that point to completion in 2026.
Much of this movement is the result of the city's rapid population growth, which increased by 38% between 2020 and 2024, according to data already released by the Orlando Business Journal. Between 2023 and 2024 alone, Minneola recorded a population growth of 9%.
Infrastructure and connectivity drive growth
Improved regional access has also been a determining factor. Projects to expand the Florida’s Turnpike, with investments exceeding US$ 162.3 million, have expanded the road from two to four lanes in each direction between Clermont and the Hancock Road junction, significantly increasing the region’s connectivity.
North of the junction, another project, valued at US$233 million, is expanding the Turnpike to eight lanes, with construction scheduled to be completed by 2028, extending just past O'Brien Road in Groveland.
Residential expansion continues at a rapid pace
The Hills of Minneola community has played a central role in this expansion, driving the early stages of development and ensuring a steady supply of new homes.
In 2018, Brad Parker of Southern Realty Enterprises brokered a $75 million sale in which Jen Florida 30 LLC, an investment partner of Sun Terra Communities, acquired nearly the entire project area.
According to Parker, Hills of Minneola is comprised of several neighborhoods, including a community geared toward residents aged 55 and older, as well as market-priced homes geared toward the local workforce.
“They build and sell just as quickly,”Parker said. “It has been one of the most successful communities in Central Florida.”
Sun Terra's long-term plan calls for up to 2,200 single-family homes and 800 units for active adults, with several major builders already under contract.
New apartment communities are also planned for the Hills of Minneola area, accompanying infrastructure investments and growing housing demand.
One of the upcoming projects, Vista Hills, is scheduled to begin construction in January 2026, located just behind the existing Minneola Hills Apartments.
According to Kevin Skorman, vice president of Orlando-based Skorman Development LLC, the company owns 163 acres within that corridor, acquired as part of a larger $29 million purchase completed in 2021.
The Vista Hills project will have 324 units, with options ranging from one to three bedrooms, distributed across four residential complexes, each consisting of four apartment buildings arranged around a central courtyard.
The developer also controls an approved 26-acre site on U.S. Highway 27 at Sullivan Road, about four miles from the Hancock Road junction. The site is zoned for up to 468 multifamily units or townhomes, within a potential project under the Live Local Act.
In addition, an additional six acres of land on the same strategic corner has been approved for commercial use, positioning both properties in one of the city's fastest-growing corridors.
The area is adjacent to Pointe Grande, a new apartment complex that, according to Skorman, is being built by Hillpointe, a Winter Park-based real estate development and management company, further strengthening the region's residential expansion.
Growth of mixed-use projects
The largest project currently under development by Skorman Development is Hills City Center, a 96-acre mixed-use district located directly on the Turnpike.
The development, anchored by a wellness center, is approved for more than 1,000 multifamily units and over 500,000 square feet of medical office space.
“We have seen an impressive level of interest in Hills City Center from all segments of the market,” said Skorman. “From large retail chains to restaurants and unique local businesses, there are multiple options for interested tenants in each planned area.”
The project also includes a senior living community, a hotel, three digital billboards, and approximately 600,000 square feet of retail space. A supermarket is also part of the plan and is expected to be announced soon.
The first major anchor confirmed for Hills City Center is AdventHealth hospital, a $281 million investment, which held its official grand opening on December 9. An additional 60,000-square-foot medical building is currently under construction in the same complex.
According to an AdventHealth spokesperson, the hospital has hired approximately 500 new employees, and the medical building is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2026.
“When the Minneola interchange opened in 2017, it was estimated that it would drive more than $1 billion in development, ”Skorman said. “That estimate will be surpassed by the AdventHealth and Hills City Center projects alone.”
A new hub for leisure and gastronomy
In addition to its expansion in the healthcare sector, Hills City Center is also attracting destination retail developments. Among the highlights is the new Crooked Can Brewing Co. location, which will serve as the company's headquarters and feature a food hall.
Founded in 2014, the brewery already has a location at Plant Street Market in Winter Garden and joined the Kia Center's list of suppliers in 2024. According to previous reports in the Orlando Business Journal, Crooked Can is currently the busiest local brewery in Central Florida.
According to Alan Delahunt, managing partner at Crooked Can, construction is at an advanced stage, with the building almost completely enclosed. The brewery equipment is expected to arrive on December 20, allowing installation to begin in early January.
“The internal structure is almost complete, and we have already begun electrical, plumbing, and mechanical installations,” Delahunt said. “We are very excited to see this project come to life and bring even more of our beer to Lake County.”
The inauguration is scheduled for the summer of 2026, expected to take place between June and July.
Skorman described the new space as "the largest destination brewery and food hall in the state of Florida, " occupying three acres next to a community park with a stage for live events and outdoor gathering areas.
For Tara Tedrow, partner and land use attorney at Lowndes, the Hancock Road corridor is becoming the "crown jewel of development in Lake County."
“Residential growth has led this new phase of expansion,” Tedrow said. “But with projects like Hills City Center, Crooked Can Brewery, and AdventHealth coming online, retail and medical office sectors have also become priority targets for development.”
Source: BizJournals.com