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 […]
Babcock Ranch recognized as a Top 10 master-planned community in 2024
BABCOCK RANCH, Fla. (Jan. 9, 2025) – Babcock Ranch has once again ranked as a top 10 master-planned community in the nation on industry-leading lists for 2024. America’s first solar-powered town was recognized as the 10th best-selling master-planned community by John Burns Research and Consulting. The rankings are based on the town’s 797 homes sales […]
Business Insider: I moved to a ‘hurricane-resistant’ community
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Patti DiMarco, a 76-year-old Realtor who splits her time between New Jersey and Florida. After increasing concerns over hurricane damage and rising insurance costs, DiMarco moved to the ‘hurricane-resistant’ community of Babcock Ranch. Located 20 minutes north of Fort Myers, Babcock Ranch was built on land […]
Syd Kitson receives Governor’s Business Leader Award 2024
The Florida Council of 100 (FC100) announced Syd Kitson, chairman and CEO of Kitson & Partners and founder of Babcock Ranch, as the recipient of the FC100 2024 Governor’s Business Leader Award. Since the Council of 100 was formed 63 years ago, 23 members have been honored with this distinguished award, which recognizes long-term excellence […]
Realtor.com: Inside America’s First Solar-Powered Community
America’s first solar-powered community has had a “mind-blowing” effect on residents’ power bills—and it’s even getting attention for surviving Hurricane Milton unscathed, and without losing power. Billed as “the Hometown of Tomorrow,” this planned community in Punta Gorda, FL, just 15 miles from Fort Myers, is fueled by solar energy, thanks to the 880-acre solar […]
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 […]
