- Local and state partners are conducting applied research to develop sustainable landscape and development strategies to sustain healthy, native landscapes throughout the Sunbridge region’s 27,000 acres
- In addition to the region’s 13,370 acres of dedicated open space and conservation land, Sunbridge is pioneering innovative sustainability solutions allowing people to live and thrive with the land
- Partners include the University of Florida, University of Central Florida, OUTSIDE Sustainable Landscape Collaborative, Cherrylake, Life Soils and Toho Water Authority
Sunbridge, Fla. (Oct. 12, 2022) – Sunbridge, a new region taking shape from the developers of Lake Nona, has engaged a team of sustainability leaders as partners in developing custom, data-driven programs designed to prioritize the natural world and native ecosystems. Driven by a commitment to celebrate Florida’s natural ecosystem, Sunbridge is conducting real-world, outcome-based research. This approach will demonstrate the efficacy and market value of adopting sustainability innovations and integrating them with a new Florida land development model to ensure the region’s natural environment is protected for future generations.
“Sunbridge is a community that embraces the call to do more for our land, water and wildlife,” said Clint Beaty, senior vice president of operations for Sunbridge developer Tavistock. “We’re excited to collaborate with like-minded partners to find solutions that give people an opportunity to live in a way that honors and respects our natural resources. We’re hopeful the new programs we implement in Sunbridge can be replicated in other communities across the globe.”
Working in partnership with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and the Sustainable Floridians Benchmarking and Monitoring Program, University of Central Florida, OUTSIDE Sustainable Landscape Collaborative, Cherrylake, Life Soils and Toho Water Authority, the Sunbridge Stewardship Plan focuses on five key areas: water quality preservation, water resource conservation, renewable energy and efficiency, ecological preservation and community engagement.
The Stewardship Plan focus areas are directly interconnected, with each playing a crucial role in protecting and enhancing the Sunbridge ecosystem. The sustainability team is currently conducting applied research on advancing strategies for:
- Water Quality Preservation To protect the quality of the region’s 1,620 acres of natural lakes and waterways, an applied research and monitoring plan will be used to identify and track critical biological and ecological water quality indicators, low-impact development opportunities and green stormwater infrastructure practices over time. The Sunbridge team is also working on a Lake Use Plan designed to protect, restore and reduce human impact on water quality of freshwater lakes.
- Water Resource Conservation A conservation program is being designed and implemented to substantially reduce average household water use by at least 50% (by 2030) and outdoor water use by 75% (by 2040). Landscape standards in the Sunbridge Weslyn Park neighborhood are focused on minimizing or eliminating landscape irrigation and fertilization needs by improving soil health with organic compost amendments and using predominantly native and drought-tolerant plant species. These standards are currently being studied to evaluate environmental benefits and economic savings to home builders and homeowners.
- Renewable Energy and Efficiency The homes and buildings in Sunbridge are being held to a high standard of energy efficiency and investing in renewable energy supply from the sun. The Sunbridge team is working closely with homebuilders and other industry leaders to develop renewable and efficiency standards for homes in Weslyn Park. These currently include a standard 4.25kw rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system and the use of advanced in-home technology for managing energy consumption.
- Ecological Preservation Nearly half of the Sunbridge region, 13,370 acres, of open space and natural ecological habitat are being preserved. In addition, Sunbridge partners are evaluating innovative strategies for regenerative soils, prudent irrigation protocols, advanced composting treatments and the use of native and drought-tolerant plant palettes to encourage a symbiotic relationship between the built and natural environment. Unlike typical land development projects, Sunbridge is dedicating significant resources to tagging, protecting and transplanting heritage live oak trees throughout the community. Since 2020, 31 trees have been given new homes with plans to relocate more than 200 in the next few years.
- Community Engagement By engaging residents, visitors and other partners with educational programs, fun events, volunteer and citizen science opportunities, Sunbridge is working to ensure community-wide support of its Stewardship Plan. Currently, we are exploring opportunities with Osceola County Schools to create ways to add sustainability, conservation and ecological research to the curriculum for the new K-8 school scheduled to open in 2024.
“It’s very exciting to work with the team at Sunbridge because we have the opportunity to introduce homebuyers to sustainable Florida landscapes. This new way to approach the American yard creates inviting and livable communities that help protect and preserve the natural resources all Floridians enjoy,” said Timothee Sallin, Co-CEO of Cherrylake.
This week, Sunbridge is the presenting sponsor of the OUTSIDE Sustainable Landscape Collaborative conference, Oct. 13 – 14, in Lake Nona. The two-day event will feature workshops and panel discussions designed to increase the adoption of sustainable landscape practices that create a more vibrant, healthy, and sustainable future for all Floridians. The conference also includes an exclusive tour of Sunbridge focused on research plantings at Weslyn Park neighbrohood and Basecamp info center. For more details on the conference, visit https://outsidecollab.com.
To learn more about the Sunbridge Stewardship Plan, visit https://sunbridgefl.com/stewardship.
To learn more about the native plant testing at Sunbridge, click here.
For Sunbridge images, click here.
About Sunbridge
Sunbridge is the latest community from the creators of Lake Nona, Tavistock Development Company. At the forefront of the region’s next wave of connective smart growth, the community encompasses more than 27,000 acres across both Orange and Osceola Counties in Central Florida between metro Orlando and the Space Coast. Built on the success of Lake Nona, Sunbridge carefully mixes residential, recreational, businesses and civic uses designed to create connections to nature. Sunbridge is preserving large stretches of Florida nature and giving people unprecedented access to oak forests, lakes, wetlands, and waterways. The community opened in 2020. For more information, visit SunbridgeFl.com.
We put together some tips to help keep your family safe and entertained while staying inside during a hurricane or storm.
BEFORE THE STORM
- Be sure to fully charge electronic devices (charge your portable battery chargers too!)
- Download movies, audiobooks and games onto those devices so they are accessible if your internet is disabled
- Give your children their own flashlight (this can provide them comfort and empowerment during the storm)
- Give your children headphones (noise-cancelling headphones can help calm frightened children)
- Consider a trip to the bookstore before the storm to let your children pick out new books, coloring books and crafts
DURING THE STORM
- Build a fort together in a safe closet or room away from windows and set it up as a theater with snacks, a cooler, soft blanket and pillow
- Have a scavenger hunt (with or without a flashlight)
- Draw and color portraits of each other
- Make themed collages out of pictures and words cuts from old magazines
- Write a letter to your future selves
- Hurricane The Musical: Write and perform a silly play about the hurricane
- Choreograph a dance and perform
From cereal and shelf-stable milk to pre-made chili, here is a grocery list and some meals and snack ideas to help you get prepared. While some options may require a camp stove or grill, there are several no-cook options.
It’s a good idea to freeze things that you would normally refrigerate (milk, meat, etc.). The thawing process will buy you some time. Freezing big containers of water to keep in your freezer or a cooler will leave you with giant ice cubes that will slow down the unsavory side effects of those perishables warming. There are also a few foods you can cook ahead of time.
Logistics aside, knowing what to eat during a power outage and what you should stock up on beforehand can be tricky so here are a few ideas.
GROCERY LIST
- Eggs
- Bacon
- Bread/tortillas
- Ready-to-eat canned meats, veggies, and juices (some cans may require a can opener)
- Fruits and veggies that can be kept at room temp: oranges, apples, bananas, lemons, limes, avocados, tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers
- Pickles
- Fruit cups, dried fruit, fruit bars, applesauce
- Meat: Burgers, hotdogs, and chicken
- Frozen berries
- Dry cereal or granola
- Peanut butter and jelly
- Soy/almond shelf-stable milk
- Trail mix
- Instant soup mixes
- Crackers and chips
PRE-COOK
- Hard-boil eggs
- Bacon
- Pasta
- Chili
- Meat: Burgers, hotdogs, and chicken
MEAL AND SNACK OPTIONS
- Hard boiled eggs and fruit
- Cereal and soy/almond milk
- Bread with avocado spread and sliced tomato
- Granola bar and fruit
- Trail mix and fruit
- Peanut butter and crackers
- Cold-cut sandwiches and wraps with sliced tomatoes and cucumbers served with fruit
- Canned tuna and crackers with sliced tomato
- Frozen berries: a refreshing snack, especially when the power goes out!
- Peanut butter wrap: Spread peanut butter on a tortilla and layer with sliced bananas, chocolate chips and granola
- Zucchini noodle salad: use a spiralizer or veggie peeler and serve with dressing of your choice (easy dressing: 3 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar, pinch of salt and pepper, 1 tablespoon lemon juice)
- Re-heat chili, pasta, or meat over a camp stove or grill
Every neighborhood truly starts from the ground up. Healthy soils are the foundation for healthy plants, wildlife, and people. This is why we are starting from the ground up in Sunbridge.
In collaboration with University of Florida, University of Central Florida, The Nature Conservancy and the OUTSIDE Sustainably Landscapes Collaborative, we have planted an experimental garden at Basecamp to test and monitor innovative strategies for regenerating soils, reducing water consumption, rooting landscapes with native plants, and creating habitat that invites pollinators, birds and other wildlife to do their work.
The goal is to take our learnings and continue to influence healthy, native landscapes throughout Sunbridge.
Gardens like this spur our children’s curiosity, getting them away from screens and outside enjoying nature. In the end, we are committed to implementing more sustainable practices that have an expansive, measurable, and persistent benefit to our human and natural communities.
Stop by Basecamp today to take a meandering stroll through the garden.
Exclusively Frame Home, OTT Streaming Service, and 10G Capacity Highlight New Region
Ashton Woods, David Weekley Homes, Craft Homes, Pulte Homes and Toll Brothers will design and construct first homes at Weslyn Park.
Frame-only homes highlight the neighborhood’s unique building standards.
Sunbridge will exclusively offer residents over-the-top (OTT) streaming service via internet at every home thanks to 10G capacity.
Sunbridge, Fla. (July 21, 2021) – Sunbridge, a new region taking shape from the developers of Lake Nona, today announced the homebuilders, unique build standards and exclusive OTT streaming service and 10G capacity that will differentiate the region’s second, single-family residential neighborhood, Weslyn Park. Located along Cyrils Drive across from Del Webb Sunbridge, Weslyn Park first phase will feature 577 homes at build out. Construction of the neighborhood began this spring with plans to open fall 2021.
The initial homes in Sunbridge’s Weslyn Park neighborhood will be designed and built by Ashton Woods, David Weekley Homes, Craft Homes, Pulte Homes and Toll Brothers. Each builder brings a diverse and exceptional portfolio as well as a history of quality, and record-breaking sales from within Tavistock’s award-winning Lake Nona community, located only a few miles north of Sunbridge. Just across the street from Weslyn Park, Pulte Homes is also developing Del Webb Sunbridge, a 55+ active adult community that welcomed Sunbridge’s first residents in summer 2020.
Weslyn Park will feature a range of home types and lot sizes, from townhomes to larger singlefamily lots, designed to enable the Sunbridge lifestyle – creating connections with nature and with fellow neighbors. Weslyn Park homes will feature a beautiful, varied street scene with a spectrum of styles ranging from traditional to more contemporary, many with covered front porches that welcome residents outdoors and enhance social connections within the neighborhood.
A unique blend of siding and trim choices, custom exterior color palettes and indigenous landscaping will define the Sunbridge building ethic, which is intended to complement the natural beauty of Florida landscape by which its enveloped. Builders within the nature-forward community will build 100 percent frame homes. Featuring James Hardie® siding products, Weslyn Park frame homes will incorporate the essentials of sustainable living in Sunbridge through energy efficiency, sustainable materials, enhanced design and construction.
Weslyn Park will feature acres of open space, playgrounds, sport courts as well as ponds and natural areas. The neighborhood will also have a community garden, park and a leisure pool that celebrates the outdoors with fun gathering spaces. Additionally, paved and unpaved pathways will mark the Sunbridge trail network connecting residents to community amenities and big Florida nature.
Sunbridge will also offer one of the most robust technology infrastructures of any community in America capable of delivering 10GB speed and serving as one of the first communities to exclusively offer “over-the-top” (OTT) service instead of the traditional cable television offerings. Each home in Sunbridge will be equipped with internet and each homeowner will have the freedom to choose their own video via an “over-the-top” (OTT) service, which will allow television content to be provided via a high-speed internet connection rather than a cable or satellite provider. A variety of package options will be offered that will deliver an experience similar to traditional cable with all the advantages that streaming services have to offer.
Future development plans for Sunbridge include a variety of neighborhood amenities, robust trail network, an Osceola County K-8 school opening in 2024, and planned waterfront recreational area where people will be able to boat, dine, shop, work, and attend events. In fall 2021, Sunbridge will open Basecamp – an information center and a hub of activity that will give visitors an early glimpse of life at Sunbridge.
Initial build out of the multi-decade community is taking place in the northwest region of Osceola County with access from Narcoossee Road and Cyrils Drive. To learn more about Sunbridge, visit SunbridgeFl.com.
About Sunbridge
Sunbridge is the latest community from the creators of Lake Nona, Tavistock Development Company. At the forefront of the region’s next wave of connective smart growth, the community encompasses more than 27,000 acres across both Orange and Osceola Counties in Central Florida between metro Orlando and the Space Coast. Built on the success of Lake Nona, Sunbridge carefully mixes residential, recreational, businesses and civic uses designed to create connections to nature. Sunbridge is preserving large stretches of Florida nature and giving people unprecedented access to oak forests, lakes, wetlands, and waterways. The community opened in 2020. For more information, visit SunbridgeFl.com.
ADTRAN delivers flexible, reliable, easy-to-use solution for innovative development.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (June 2, 2021) — ADTRAN®, Inc., (NASDAQ:ADTN), the leading provider of next-generation multi-gigabit fiber and fiber extension broadband access solutions, today announced Tavistock Development Company is leveraging the ADTRAN Total Access 5000 (TA5000) 10G fiber access platform with XGS-PON technology to deliver Florida’s first 10 Gbps high-performance broadband service to Sunbridge, its newest master-planned community in Central Florida. Working through service provider 832 Communications, Tavistock will provide up to 10 Gbps symmetrical FTTH services to an anticipated 10,000 residents over the next 10 years. ADTRAN’s solutions provide the flexibility, reliability and ease of use Tavistock needs to build out an exceptional network and support the unique needs of the 27,000-acre Sunbridge community.
Traditional Tier 1 service providers do not currently offer high-speed broadband options in the Central Florida region surrounding Sunbridge. Tavistock searched for a solution that could deliver on its innovative vision to provide multigigabit services that will support the large-scale development plans for residents and businesses, and their increased demand for OTT streaming, telehealth, remote education and work-from-home scenarios.
“With Sunbridge, we have a one-of-a-kind opportunity to build a new kind of community,” said Jim Zboril, Senior Managing Director at Tavistock. “It is uniquely connected – both physically to the natural Florida landscape and digitally allowing residents and businesses to have unprecedented connectivity that will enable them to take advantage of future technological progress.”
Sunbridge represents a fresh approach to regional growth, balancing residential, business and recreational uses amongst large stretches of Florida’s natural environment. Sunbridge is in the initial stages of a multi-decade buildout. The community’s first residents arrived in Del Webb Sunbridge in 2020, and a second neighborhood, Weslyn Park, will open in the fall of 2021. The community’s technology approach is designed to support and enhance connectivity while creating a frictionless user experience.
“All across America, families are looking to join communities that can support their interests. Whether that is hiking a series of challenging trails or conquering the latest virtual reality game, we all need reliable connectivity. ADTRAN’s solutions enable service providers to meet these demands today and build a network that can grow with the communities they serve,” said Craig Stein, Vice President of Sales at ADTRAN. “We’re helping communities, large and small, rapidly deliver the internet access and connected home experience their subscribers demand, which is drawing more residents and opportunities to their areas.”
The ADTRAN TA5000 platform is the highest density 10G PON solution in the U.S. market and serves as the foundation for the industry’s most comprehensive fiber access portfolio. To learn more about the platform’s full features, please visit www.adtran.com/TA5000.
About Tavistock Development Company
Tavistock Development Company is a diversified real estate firm located in Orlando, Fla., owned by Tavistock Group. Specializing in planning, design, finance, construction, and development of groundbreaking projects, Tavistock Development Company has built a portfolio of nationally acclaimed residential, retail, commercial, and industrial projects highlighted by master-planned communities Lake Nona and Sunbridge in Central Florida and Pier Sixty-Six Hotel & Marina in Fort Lauderdale. For more information, visit www.tavistockdevelopment.com.
About Sunbridge
Sunbridge is the latest community from Tavistock Development Company, creators of the award-winning smart city Lake Nona. Coming to life on 27,000 acres in Central Florida, Sunbridge is built around innovation and sustainability at the forefront of the region’s next wave of connective smart growth and development. Sunbridge will thoughtfully mix homes, schools, parks, recreational amenities and vibrant employment centers amongst large stretches of Florida’s natural environment. The community will be connected by an extensive trail network that will provide unprecedented access to oak forests, lakes, wetlands and waterways. Sunbridge opened its first neighborhood, Del Webb Sunbridge, in fall 2020. Sunbridge’s second neighborhood, Weslyn Park, will open fall 2021. For more information, visit www.sunbridgefl.com.
About ADTRAN
ADTRAN, Inc. is a leading global provider of open, disaggregated networking and communications solutions that enable voice, data, video and internet communications across any network infrastructure. From the cloud edge to the subscriber edge, ADTRAN empowers communications service providers around the world to manage and scale services that connect people, places and things. ADTRAN solutions are currently in use by service providers, private enterprises, government organizations and millions of individual users worldwide. Find more at ADTRAN, LinkedIn and Twitter.
Sunbridge, Fla. (Sept. 1, 2020) – Today, Tavistock Development Company unveiled the name and details surrounding the second single-family residential neighborhood in Sunbridge, the company’s newest master-planned community in Central Florida. Formerly known as “Neighborhood C,” Weslyn Park is located along Cyrils Drive across from Del Webb Sunbridge and will feature 575 homes in the first few phases. Homebuilder announcements are expected later this year.
Weslyn Park will feature a range of home types and lot sizes, from townhomes to 60-foot single-family lots, designed to enable the Sunbridge lifestyle – creating connections with nature and with fellow neighbors. Weslyn Park homes will feature a beautiful, varied street scene, with covered outdoor spaces and a spectrum of styles ranging from more traditional to more contemporary. The neighborhood will feature more than 60 acres of open space, playgrounds, sport courts as well as ponds and untouched nature areas. The first part of the Sunbridge trail network, with paved and unpaved pathways, will connect homes to community amenities and big Florida nature. There are 100 homes in the first phase of development.
The Weslyn Park neighborhood is the newest addition to the initial development phase, which also includes the active-selling Del Webb Sunbridge, a 55+ active adult community that recently welcomed Sunbridge’s first residents. Future development plans also include a variety of neighborhood amenities, robust trail network, future Osceola County K-8 school, and planned waterfront recreational area where people will be able to boat, dine, shop, work, and attend events. In summer 2021, Sunbridge will open Basecamp – a hub of activity designed with immersive experiences and information center that will give visitors an early glimpse of life at Sunbridge.
Initial build out of the multi-decade community is taking place in the northwest region of Osceola County with access from Narcoossee Road and Cyrils Drive. To learn more about Sunbridge, visit SunbridgeFl.com.
About Sunbridge
Sunbridge is the latest community from the creators of Lake Nona, Tavistock Development Company. At the forefront of the region’s next wave of connective smart growth, the community encompasses more than 27,000 acres across both Orange and Osceola Counties in Central Florida between metro Orlando and the Space Coast. Built on the success of Lake Nona, Sunbridge carefully mixes residential, recreational, businesses and civic uses designed to create connections to nature. Sunbridge is preserving large stretches of Florida nature and giving people unprecedented access to oak forests, lakes, wetlands, and waterways. The community opened in 2020. For more information, visit SunbridgeFl.com.