Syd Kitson: 2025 Legends Award Winner
Syd Kitson, founder of Babcock Ranch, has been awarded the 2025 Legends Award by Zonda Home’s Builder Magazine. The Legends Award recognizes exceptional leaders and teams who have made groundbreaking contributions to future-proofing master-planned communities. Honored for his visionary work in creating America’s solar-powered town that has become a national model for storm resilience, this […]
Babcock Ranch Expands Healthcare Access with Launch of New Tampa General Hospital Mobile Unit
On-Site Unit to Provide Convenient Access to Vaccines, Sick Visits, and Well-Women’s Exams BABCOCK RANCH, Fla., August 4, 2025 — Babcock Ranch is enhancing its healthcare offerings with the addition of a new mobile primary care unit operated by Tampa General Hospital (TGH), one of the region’s leading academic health systems. Launching in early Fall […]
FGCU and Babcock Ranch Celebrate $21.7 Million in State Funding to Advance Institute on Sustainability and Resiliency in Charlotte County
BABCOCK RANCH, Fla. (Aug. 14, 2025) – Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) and Babcock Ranch are proud to announce the recently approved Florida state budget includes $21.7 million in phase one funding to support their shared vision of creating a premier learning, research and outreach facility in Charlotte County. This announcement builds on the formal […]
Babcock Ranch Ranked No. 7 Among 50 Top-Selling Master-Planned Communities of 2025
The town is up 15% year-over-year, leading growth in Florida, the top-selling state overall BABCOCK RANCH, Fla. (July 31, 2025) – Babcock Ranch, America’s first solar-powered town, is named the seventh fastest selling master-planned community (MPC) in the United States, based on the mid-year rankings report compiled by prestigious real estate consulting firm, RCLCO. This […]
Babcock Ranch Reaches 5,000 Homes Sold
BABCOCK RANCH, Fla. (July 24, 2025) – Babcock Ranch has surpassed 5,000 new home sales, a major milestone reflecting the town’s accelerating momentum in both residential growth and commercial development. Mark William and Fay Jean Petersen, the 5,000th homebuyers, purchased their second home in the Willowgreen community by Lennar and received a welcome gift basket […]
Featured in National Association of Realtors® Housing Resilience: Challenges and Best Practices
Babcock Ranch was featured this National Association of Realtors® (NAR) On Common Ground article highlighting the importance of smart growth, resilient design and sustainability. Experts from the fields of architecture, engineering, planning and insurance have figured out how to harden houses against the threat of myriad natural disasters including fire, wind and flood. The issue […]
Syd Kitson receives Wake Forest 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award
On April 25, 2025 Wake Forest and the Alumni Council recognized Syd Kitson (’81, P ’08) as one of their 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients for his service to the University and for exemplifying Pro Humanitate. Read the full story by Wake Forest Magazine.
New mixed-use district set to transform Babcock Ranch in 2026
BABCOCK RANCH, Fla., April 23, 2025 – Babcock Ranch, America’s first solar-powered town, today unveiled details about its next major development: B Street. Slated to open in mid 2026, this walkable, mixed-use district will add a vibrant layer of connectivity and energy to the sustainability-centric community. “B Street isn’t just about expansion; it’s further shaping […]
Featured on CNN: Florida Town Built to Withstand High Winds
As featured on CNN: Babcock Ranch was developer Syd Kitson’s sustainable dream town, built and engineered around its own solar array to withstand flooding and high winds. CNN’s Chief Climate Correspondent Bill Weir reports how the Southwest Florida town held up through two hurricanes for “Adaptation Nation” on “The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper” Watch […]
The Future of Hurricane-Proof Construction Is Taking Shape in Florida
The town of Babcock Ranch was built to withstand hurricanes. And it runs almost entirely on solar energy. BY ERIKA THOMAS Imagine an American town that’s powered almost entirely by solar energy, where commercial and residential development is balanced with natural green space and ecosystems, and the infrastructure is specifically designed to withstand natural disasters.You […]