Depending on the builder’s choice, there will be downtown towards CrossPrairie, a 1,400-acre master planning community in Osceola County, east of Lake Toho.
According to a report from GrowthSpotter, Master BTI partners, who are working with residential lots with a set of home builders side by side to handle CrossPrairie’s residential lots, are currently recruiting WMG development for the 95-acre urban center at the new Florida Turnpike Interchange.
Construction of WMG is expected to begin later next year. This starts with the final segment of Cross Prairie Parkway, passing through the new Nolte Road and the community.
The developer, who has offices in Chicago and Winter Garden, has been quietly working with BTI partners and the city of St. Cloud for months, working on a revised master plan in the city centre, which he dubbed Heritage. Once completed, there will be up to 1,200 residential units, 600 hotel rooms, 200,000 square feet of medical and facility uses, and 2.7 million square feet of commercial and office space.
Craig Kopko, the development EVP for WMG, told GrowthSpotter, who was first contacted BTI three years ago, when the developer first contacted BTI and asked about the development of a grocery-anchored retail plaza at CrossPrairie. But when they saw the scope of the project and the demand from home builders in the community, they expanded their vision.
“This is probably the biggest project we’ve done as an organization, but the team members in it are doing projects that are more than a similar size and range,” says Kopko.
City Council approved WMG’s reserve plot planning amendments and development agreements in April. The plan, prepared by GAI consultants, calls for the centre to be developed in stages. It has a grocery-anchored plaza and two big box stores, as well as dozens of shops, restaurants and clinics. The first stage takes about 5-7 years to complete, but there are also two hotels and two suburban style apartments.
“This is what the market today wants, and this is what we can meet,” Cop said. “Our goal is to create very vibrant and active projects together, and as the market matures, the more densities we can get.”
This site plan shows what the heritage will look like in about five years. It is designed to add density over time. (Site plan by GAI consultant)
WMG predicts that it could take 20 years for Heritage to reach a full build-out. Here you will find additional parking garages, retail, office buildings and 600 multi-family units. (Site plan by GAI consultant)
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This site plan shows what the heritage will look like in about five years. It is designed to add density over time. (Site plan by GAI consultant)
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Davey Brown, Vice President of Retail Development at WMG, said this week he plans to meet with future tenants at ICSC’s Las Vegas, the world’s largest retail treaty. “We are in a unique situation in that we have more tenants calling us than we call them,” he said.
Interest mainly comes from national brands with which WMG has existing relationships. Some of the brands the company has partnered with in the region include Publix, Miller’s Ale House, Chipotle, Starbucks, KFC, Wild Fork, Blaze Pizza, Panda Express, Raise Cane’s and White Castle.
We had a fun morning at the Plaza Colina development in Clermont. Later this year there will be more than 3,200 square foot restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating. Thank you to the team and colleagues who did the job…pic.twitter.com/ibuvony2er
– WMG Development (@WMGDEV) April 9, 2025
The project will feature a walkable lifestyle centre overlooking the lake, which can attract users unfamiliar with the Orlando market, and an independent chef-led restaurant. The project also includes medical components, such as potential independent emergency rooms and dental clinics.
“We’re a fun office,” Copco said. “We believe there is a demand for offices. When it comes to retail and office integration, we are working on something very special, emphasizing the concept of mixed-use and allowing us to integrate it in some areas within the project.”
Kopko said WMG is planning to self-develop the first two apartments. This has 600 units.
Between Crosspraire and Edgewater West, BTI Partners controlled approximately 2,600 acres east of the county in the mixed-use district of Toho Lake Toho. The property is divided into 11 different regions and qualifies for around 9,000 residential units.
CrossPrairie’s home builders include Meritage, Jones Homes, M/I Homes, Beazer, Lennar and K. Includes Hovnanian, David Weekley Homes and Starlight Homes. Ashton Woods has signed with one of his neighbours, but has not yet been closed.
Any tips on developing Central Florida? Please contact me at lkinsler@growthspotter.com or (407) 420-6261. Follow GrowthSpotter on Facebook and LinkedIn.
Original issue: May 27, 2025 6am Edit
