Plans in place for area's second lagoon community

WIMAUMA (FOX 13) - They’re sprawling, man-made pools with acres of crystal blue water.  A Metro Lagoon by Crystal Lagoons will be the centerpiece of a brand-new community going up in Hillsborough County.

Construction started a few months ago at the 1,000-acre property in Wimauma.  Southshore Bay will have up to 2,800 homes, about half of them in a private section for ages 55 and older.

"Instead of making the decision to do exclusive active adult or family friendly, this is a really new concept for us, for anyone I think, by bringing active adult inside of a master plan community that's open for everyone," said Jen Austin, marketing director for Metro Development Group.

The Medley by Lennar area will be gated, and have additional amenities separate from the rest of the Southshore Bay.

"There is a massive clubhouse that's gonna be going over here, there's gonna be lap pools, there's gonna be bocce ball, pickle ball, fitness center," Metro Development Group community relations manager Chloe Crooks said.

At the heart if the development is a 5.5-acre lagoon.  Work hasn't started yet on the massive, man-made pool, but it's billed as the vacation lifestyle just steps from your front door.

"It will have a cafe, a swim-up bar; there will be paddleboards, all types of recreational rentals where you can kayak and just kinda hang out with your friends," said Crooks.

About 50-miles north, the Epperson Community in Wesley Chapel boasts the first lagoon built in the states.  But six months after the grand opening, the one-of-a-kind pool still isn't open.  Officials tell FOX 13 News they're in the final stages of permitting, and hope folks will be able to start using the 7.5-acre lagoon later this fall. 

That setback doesn't seem to be impacting sales at Southshore Bay.  We're told more than 70 homes are already under contract.

"We're bringing the shoreline, basically, to some of these inland counties that are usually about an hour or more away from the beach,” Austin said.  “It's acres of crystal-clear blue water right here in your own community."

The lagoon at Southshore Bay is expected to be completed in early 2020.  It's one of nine planned for communities in West Central Florida.

LINK: For more information: http://southshorebay.metroplaces.com/