Forbes: Hurricanes Helene and Milton Should Motivate Us to Bury Power Lines
Hurricanes Helene and Milton remind us of electricity infrastructure’s vulnerability to extreme weather events. However, at least one Florida community, Babcock Ranch, managed to avoid electricity shutoffs from downed power lines. A newspaper story reported that “All the structures at Babcock Ranch are built to withstand more than 150-mile-per-hour hurricane force winds, and its 150-megawatt […]
The Travel: Are Climate Resistant-Communities The Future
When two major category hurricanes tore through the State of Florida within two weeks of each other recently, both state and local officials warned of their potential to unleash catastrophic damage to the areas within their reach, issuing mandatory evacuation orders to millions of Floridians. Babcock Ranch on the West Coast of Florida was built […]
Vision Times: How Babcock Ranch Is Built to Be “Hurricane-Proof”
A unique Florida community, situated approximately 15 miles northeast of Fort Myers, which calls itself “the Hometown of Tomorrow,” did not flood or even lose power following hurricane Milton’s landfall on the Florida coast last week because it was specifically built to withstand hurricanes. Babcock Ranch, which opened in 2018 and is about the size of […]
New York Post: How Babcock Ranch Escaped Hurricane Milton’s Wrath
A Florida community built specifically to withstand powerful storm-force winds made it through Hurricane Milton with barely a scratch — never even losing power as the tempest ran roughshod on the Sunshine State. Babcock Ranch, a town about 15 miles northeast of Fort Myers, bills itself as “the Hometown of Tomorrow” on its website, a claim […]
The Daily Mail: How Babcock Ranch Was Built to Withstand Hurricanes
Babcock Ranch, a community that opened in 2018, experienced some downed traffic lights and trees but never lost power during Milton. It was built specifically to withstand hurricanes. Buildings can withstand winds of 150 mph, and power lines are buried underground, meaning they cannot be toppled by wind. The town – which is set to […]
The New York Times: Babcock Ranch a Climate-Resistant Community
As Hurricane Milton rushed ashore last Wednesday at least 2,000 Floridians found safe haven at Babcock Ranch, a community the size of Manhattan that opened in 2018 to withstand climate-driven storms. Babcock Ranch has built about a quarter of its 22,000 planned housing units along with two schools, parks and six million square feet of […]
Shoppes at Yellow Pine Fully Leased
The Development Will Boast 120,000 Square Feet of Commercial Space For Retail, Dining, Medical Services Upon Completion in Mid-2025. BABCOCK RANCH, Florida, July 11, 2024 – Today, Babcock Ranch, an 18,000-acre, 50,000-person master planned community in Southwest Florida, has announced that its newest development – The Shoppes at Yellow Pine – is now fully leased. […]
PulteGroup Honored by the Florida Green Building Coalition at TerraWalk Ceremony
PulteGroup was once again honored as Florida’s greenest homebuilder by the Florida Green Building Coalition, earning the 2023 Builder of the Year Award for completing more green-certified single-family homes than any other builder in the state. The national homebuilder, one of the country’s most recognized and trusted brands for 70 years, was also a top […]
Babcock Ranch named a Top 100 Amenity Community by Ideal-LIVING
Wilmington, NC – June 18, 2024 – Ideal-LIVING magazine, a leading publication for those seeking to find their ideal destination, life, and home, is thrilled to announce its 2024 “Best Places to Live” issue. This special edition unveils its Top 100 Amenity Communities across the nation and abroad, based on reader surveys’ desired amenities.“Each year, […]
Babcock Ranch surpasses another milestone with over 4,000 homes sold
More than 4,000 homes have sold at Babcock Ranch, America’s first solar-powered town and the seventh fastest-selling master-planned community in the U.S. in 2023. “From the first sale in 2017 to the 4,000th in 2024, we continue to be honored by the trust every resident has placed in the town and us as a developer,” […]
Babcock Ranch named one of Money’s Best Places to Live 2024
Each year, Money applauds cities and towns exhibiting a thriving economy that is combined with affordability, diversity and an exceptional lifestyle. This year, we are proud to announce that Babcock Ranch made their Top 50 Best Places to Live. Read here to learn why Babcock Ranch was selected and to get more in-depth details about […]
Babcock Ranch recognized as nation’s seventh top-selling community in 2023
BABCOCK RANCH, Fla. (Jan. 11, 2024) – Babcock Ranch continues to rank among the top-selling communities in the nation on industry-leading lists for 2023. America’s first solar-powered town was recognized as the seventh best-selling master-planned community by RCLCO Real Estate Advisors and the eighth by John Burns Real Estate Consulting.The rankings are based on the […]
Babcock Neighborhood School Earns Cognia Accreditation
Babcock Ranch, Florida, FL – December 20, 2023 – Babcock Neighborhood School announced today that it has earned Cognia® Accreditation. Cognia is a nonprofit organization that provides quality assurance for schools, school districts, and education service providers. Cognia, formerly AdvancED, nationally recognizes districts that meet rigorous standards focused onproductive learning environments, equitable resource allocation that […]
Syd Kitson Named TIME ‘Dreamer of the Year’ in a Branded Content Partnership with American Family Insurance
Kitson is celebrated for his pioneering achievements in developing America’s first solar-powered town in Southwest Florida Syd Kitson, Founder of Babcock Ranch, America’s first solar-powered town, has been recognized as the 2023 TIME ‘Dreamer of the Year,’ in a branded content partnership presented with American Family Insurance. The TIME “Dreamer of the Year” recognizes an […]
Tampa General Hospital and Kitson & Partners Announce Partnership to Offer World-Class Care to Residents of Babcock Ranch Community
Exciting news for Babcock Ranch, the pioneering solar-powered town in America, as it joins forces with Tampa General Hospital (TGH), renowned for its exceptional healthcare. This collaboration marks a significant milestone, blending TGH’s top-tier medical expertise with Babcock Ranch’s cutting-edge, sustainable living. Stacey Brandt, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at TGH, emphasizes the […]
SolarButterfly Visits Babcock Ranch
The SolarButterfly, a 30-foot, solar-powered, self-sustainable residential vehicle, visited Babcock Ranch—also known as America’s first solar-powered town, on it’s 4-year global tour to show the world that there are solutions against Global Warming. Read more about their visit in this Gulfshore Business article.
Babcock High students 3D print prosthetic limbs
FOX 4 Now visited Babcock High School to learn more about their Design Labs project to 3D print and assemble several parts needed to make prosthetic limbs for those in need. For a group of ninth and tenth graders at Babcock High School, the first day of school this year was like taking a first […]
Babcock Ranch featured in New York Times article on solar power
Not every energy-resilient community is classified as a microgrid. Babcock Ranch, a development about 15 miles northeast of Fort Myers, Fla., calls itself the nation’s first solar-powered town. Babcock Ranch has an 870-acre solar farm to power the community, including two solar array systems totaling 150 megawatts of capacity, a transmission substation (with another being […]
Babcock Ranch featured on Action News Jacksonville
Action News Jax Anchor Tenikka Hughes visited Babcock Ranch and spoke to Syd Kitson to learn how innovation here could help make homes safer when severe weather hits the Jacksonville area. WATCH THE FULL SEGMENT HERE.
Babcock Ranch’s Lake Timber Lodge renovations enhance resident connections
BABCOCK RANCH, Fla. (April 6, 2023) – Kitson & Partners has completed renovations at Babcock Ranch’s first recreational amenity building and unveiled a new name – Lake Timber Lodge, a rustic waterfront clubhouse with a swimming pool and gathering spaces for events, meetings and activities for residents. Renovations added poolside cabanas and a new screened […]