West River Village Master Plan

West River Village is envisioned as a restorative community that celebrates Florida’s native ecology while creating meaningful connections between people, nature, and place. Anchored by water, wellness, and walkability, the master plan reimagines 210 acres at the edge of Myakka River State Park as a vibrant mixed-use environment where development and environmental stewardship work together. The vision prioritizes long-term ecological health, community connectivity, and a timeless identity rooted in the character of Florida’s landscapes.

The resulting framework organizes up to 1,400 multifamily residential units, a 100-key hotel, and approximately 250,000 square feet of commercial and civic space into three distinct yet connected districts: Headwaters, Freshwater, and The Canals. Retail, hospitality, healthcare, and community gathering spaces are woven together through preserved wetlands, green corridors, trails, and public parks, creating a walkable environment where residents are never far from nature.

As development pressure accelerated throughout the region, the site presented a complex set of challenges. Fragmented land ownership, environmentally sensitive landscapes, and the need to accommodate future growth required a coordinated planning strategy capable of balancing development potential with ecological responsibility. Unchecked growth threatened habitat loss, fragmented neighborhoods, and disruption to watershed-scale systems that are critical to the character and performance of the region.

The site demanded a comprehensive understanding of wetlands, floodplains, hydrology, and long-term ecological function. The challenge was not simply where to build, but how to create a resilient framework that could support community growth while protecting and enhancing the natural systems that define the landscape.