SARASOTA

Wellen Park luxury apartment property welcomes first tenants

Derek Gilliam
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Tropia Wellen Park, the first apartment community in Wellen Park, has tenants moving in. The luxury apartment property in North Port has 684-square-foot units for rent for $1,899.

The first residents at a luxury apartment property in North Port have started moving in to units at the 13.6-acre development.

The high-quality finishes on the four-story buildings in the new retail area being created at Wellen Park's main hub — Downtown Wellen — signal an identity shift for North Port, long known as a working class community.

Rents at Tropia Wellen Park, developed by Atlanta-based Davis Development, start at $1,899 for a 684-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment. The development includes one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. The largest will be 1,548 square feet.

Solis Hall, the recently opened event space, sits on the banks of an 80-acre man-made lake at Wellen Park. The hall can serve a number of purposes ranging from a wedding venue to stage for concerts, plays and movies – with patrons able to bring their own chars and enjoy from the Great Lawn at Downtown Wellen Park.

“Tropia perfectly complements the atmosphere and lifestyle that Downtown Wellen offers,” said Rick Severance, president of Wellen Park. “We’re excited to welcome Downtown Wellen’s first residents at Tropia.”

The 279-unit development overlooks the 80-acre lake that is a centerpiece for Wellen Park, one of the best-selling, master-planned communities in the country.

Davis Development purchased the property for $4.2 million in May 2021, according to Herald-Tribune archives. The development company has built 25 other apartment communities in Florida with more under construction or in various planning stages, according to a news release.

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Daivs Development will also oversee day-to-day management of the property.

Amenities include a resort-style pool, two-story fitness center, dog park and pet spa and proximity to high-end shopping. The news release described the amenity package as catering to a "resort-inspired lifestyle" and highlighted a golf simulator, movie-theater, cyber bar, private offices and social lounge.

According to a news release, units will feature: "large walk-in closets, washers and dryers, kitchens with spacious islands and feature upscale modern finishes like wood-look vinyl floors throughout, quartz countertops in kitchens and bathrooms, sleek matte black fixtures, two-tone paint color schemes and smart-home Nest thermostats for improved energy efficiency. Most units have patios and balconies, primary bathrooms with soaking tubs, and garages attached by indoor corridors."

The view of the Great Lawn at Downtown Wellen Park during a Feb. 22 media walking tour. Wellen Park is currently hosting events three days a week at the Great Lawn and stores and restaurants will be opening up on a rolling basis through May.

The apartment complex will be the first rental property in Wellen Park, but it won't be the last. The planned community will soon also add Stillwell, a single-family neighborhood built as rentals, and Solea, a 55-and-older apartment complex in the near future.

 Wellen Park currently has approximately 9,500 residents and at full buildout will have more than 50,000 residents and 22,500 homes, according to the news release.