A major new mixed-use destination is planned for Central Florida, where Benderson Development and The Villages are teaming up on a 700-acre project designed to serve as a new southern entrance to the master-planned community.

The development, called Legacy Place, will rise near County Road 470 and Central Parkway along a three-mile stretch of Florida’s Turnpike. The site is positioned to serve residents of The Villages as well as surrounding communities in Sumter, Lake and Marion counties.

Healthcare will be a central piece of the project. AdventHealth plans to anchor the campus with a 25-acre hospital that will include 80 beds, emergency care and surgical services. Construction is expected to start in 2027, with the hospital projected to open in 2030.

The timing reflects the rapid growth of the Wildwood–The Villages metro area, where the population has increased by nearly 20 percent over the past four years. As more residents move into the region, demand is rising for medical services, retail amenities and community-focused development closer to home.

For AdventHealth, the hospital is part of a broader effort to expand access to care in a region where residents often travel for more specialized services. Rob Deininger, CEO of AdventHealth’s East Florida division, said the system is planning ahead to ensure healthcare infrastructure keeps pace with the area’s growth and better connects patients to care across the region.

At full build-out, Legacy Place is expected to include 3 million square feet of retail, restaurant, wellness and public gathering space. Benderson plans to develop the campus in phases, with the first pieces expected to open in 2027.

Robert Chandler IV, CEO of The Villages, said the project brings together The Villages, Benderson and AdventHealth in a way that will add new shopping and dining options while also improving healthcare access for residents of The Villages and nearby communities.

AdventHealth already has a significant presence in Florida, where it manages 33 hospitals and 27 freestanding emergency departments. Its Central Florida network includes AdventHealth Waterman, AdventHealth Ocala and multiple clinics and healthcare facilities in the surrounding region.

The Villages is one of the country’s largest active adult master-planned communities, with more than 150,000 residents across more than 30,000 acres in Lake, Sumter and Marion counties.

Source:  RE Business