In collaboration with The Villages, Florida-based Benderson Development recently announced plans to develop a 700-acre mixed-use community between Interstate 75 and Florida’s Turnpike in Sumter County.
The proposed community, known as Legacy Place, is set to be anchored by an 80-bed AdventHealth Hospital that plans to offer emergency and surgical services.
According to Benderson, based in Lakewood Ranch, construction is set to begin on the 25-acre hospital in 2027 and is projected to open in 2030.
“This is an amazing opportunity for The Villages, Benderson Development and AdventHealth to come together to create something extraordinary for our community,” Robert Chandler IV, CEO of The Villages, said in a statement. “Legacy Place will bring a variety of new retail experiences and, with a reputation for providing first-class care, AdventHealth will have a significant impact on the health and well-being of our Villagers and the surrounding area.”
Encompassing over 3 million square feet of proposed development, Legacy Place will feature walkable public spaces and a mix of unique-to-market shops, restaurants and services to reflect The Villages lifestyle.
The planned area for Legacy Place will span approximately three miles along the east side of Interstate 75 near the southern end of The Villages, ending just north of County Road 514 in Coleman.
“The Villages represents one of the most dynamic and well-planned communities in the country, making it the perfect location for a first-class, super-regional destination like Legacy Place,” Randy Benderson, Managing Director of Benderson Development, said in a statement. “Our partnership with AdventHealth allows us to create a destination that not only brings new retail and entertainment options to the region, but also delivers essential health and wellness services that support long-term community needs.”
Benderson Development acquired the land for Legacy Place in 2024, partnering with The Villages to purchase the 3,400-acre former Monarch Ranch industrial site for $40 million.
The property is one of the largest vacant land sites situated within one hour from each of the Orlando and Tampa Central Business Districts, two of the fastest-growing metro areas in the United States.
Along with the proposed Legacy Place anchor hospital, AdventHealth has several other developments planned as it expands emergency, inpatient and specialty services across the region.
AdventHealth Waterman opened a new 50,000-square-foot medical office in Tavares last month and is expected to complete construction on a $20 million emergency department in Fruitland Park later this year.
Within The Villages’ existing Middleton community, AdventHealth announced late last year that it will be opening new pediatric and women’s care locations.
“This region is growing quickly, and that kind of growth brings both opportunity and responsibility,” Rob Deininger, CEO of the AdventHealth East Florida Division, said in a statement. “We’re planning for what families will need not just today, but years from now, making sure the medical infrastructure keeps pace with the lives being built here.”
The only national health system headquartered in Florida, AdventHealth currently operates 33 hospitals and 27 freestanding emergency departments across the state.
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