New apartments coming to fast-growing part of Manatee. They offer very different options
Along with all the thousands of single-family homes coming to the Parrish and North River areas are two new apartment complexes, and they couldn’t be more different.
A developer recently submitted plans to Manatee County Government Building and Development Services for a 306-unit apartment complex with related utilities and storm system at 9009 Moccasin Wallow Road.
Called The Floridian at Moccasin, the project is billed as an exclusive resort community of single-story villas, designed for a laid back, coastal lifestyle.
“Like our Sarasota location, this new property will feature unique lease terms and an unparalleled variety of amenities to enhance the classic coastal lifestyle Florida is known for,” the company web site states.
The Floridian Club of Sarasota is located in Venice and has nine floor plans, a 10,000-square-foot clubhouse, bar and game room, fire pits on the lake view deck, and tiki bar.
The Floridian web site notes the current single-family home market heavily favors sellers: “It’s a great time to sell, but not a great time to buy. Lease your next home and save your money for a better market.”
The Floridian at Moccasin Wallow site is located at Carter Road, across the street from a new Del Webb community being developed.
A sign at The Floridian property indicates the apartments will be single-level, and maintenance free.
New affordable housing in Parrish
Nearing completion is the Parrish Oaks project with 120 units of garden apartments at 5111 Oxford Road.
The affordable housing project includes one, two, and three-bedroom apartments. A call for comment made to the Parrish Oaks was not immediately returned.
Because Parrish Oaks has three-story apartments, and the Parrish Fire District does not have a ladder truck, East Manatee, North River, and Bradenton fire departments, in that order, would respond in the event of a fire there, said Michael Williamson, Parrish’s division chief.
An inadequate supply of affordable, or workforce, housing has been a chronic problem Manatee County. In the Bradenton area, two of the more recent affordable housing projects include Oaks at Lakeside, 3505 53rd Ave. E., and Sandpiper Place Apartments, a new Blue Sky Communities neighborhood, at 4605 26th Street, W.
“The need for additional affordable housing options has been a recognized challenge for years. Add the immediate financial difficulties so many residents are facing given the pandemic and you have an even larger need going forward,” Jacki Dezelski, president and CEO of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce, said in an email to the Herald in September.
Rising prices in the super-heated existing single-family home market has helped push the dream of buying a first home further out of reach for many. In December, the Bradenton area recorded 831 closed sales of existing single-family homes as the median price rose 6.8 percent to $357,000.
In the Parrish-North River area, developers have already received, or are requesting permits to build about 25,000 newsinge-family homes, according to county officials.
