People to Watch: Tracking builders Diggs, Rooney, Kitson
They are all framing and building communities – but in their own ways. Syd Kitson, Francis Rooney and Derrick Diggs were named The News-Press People to Watch for 2017 because of the challenges and opportunities awaiting them. The News-Press editorial board is reviewing their work each quarter of this year, tracking how they are making a […]
AUTO REVIEW: 2017 Chevy Bolt Is Tomorrow’s Car Today
I was standing in front of the ME Miami hotel in downtown Miami, just across the bay from Miami Beach, and was about to drive the new 2017 Chevy Bolt, an all-electric compact crossover, to Babcock Ranch on Florida’s Gulf Coast. I must admit, I had never heard of the place, and odds are, neither […]
Charlotte County community dubbed ‘City of the Future’
You’ll find solar trees throughout the heart of Babcock Ranch, and electric vehicle charging stations in every home. It’s out-of-the box ideas like these that are helping Babcock Ranch exceed the “city of the future’s” sustainable expectations. “We’ve accelerated past what even the original vision was,” said Babcock Ranch President Rick Severance. “I don’t think we’ve had […]
2017 Chevrolet Bolt more functional than fetching, but that’s OK
I was standing in front of the ME Miami hotel in downtown Miami, just across the bay from Miami Beach, and was about to drive the new 2017 Chevrolet Bolt, an all-electric compact crossover, to Babcock Ranch on Florida’s Gulf Coast. I must admit, I had never heard of the place, and odds are, neither […]
Castle Harbour Homes starts its first model in Babcock Ranch
Fort Myers-based Castle Harbour Homes has begun construction of its first furnished model homes in the Lake Timber neighborhood at Babcock Ranch. The award-winning homebuilder will begin construction of a second model in July. Both models are expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2018 and will feature interior designs by Lori Manning Designs. Plans […]
The Latest Affordable Electric Car Arrives in Orlando
The future isn’t easy to see sometimes. My mother, for one, nearly walked right past it after her birthday dinner. “That’s your electric?” she says as I point out the burgundy Chevy Bolt EV, hiding in plain sight in the restaurant parking lot. “It looks like a Beemer!” Well, it’s not technically my electric, but […]
Chevrolet Bolt EV Leads All in August Plug-in Electrified Car Sales
Just in time for Chevrolet’s announcement that it’s available nationwide, the Bolt EV has finished a sales month ahead of every other plug-in electrified vehicle sold in the U.S. At least, it probably did assuming Tesla Model S sales estimated just 7 units less than the Bolt’s 2,107 August sales is accurate. Chevrolet’s all-electric front-wheel-driver otherwise did […]
America’s first solar city, Babcock Ranch, escapes Irma’s grip
A town powered by solar energy fared well during Hurricane Irma. Babcock Ranch uses the solar panels to keep the lights on. Rick Vorell, Babcock Ranch town ambassador said, “People that have been coming in you can see the stress when they talk about going through the storms and having to experience that, having to […]
Pulte Preparing for New Homes, Neighborhood at Babcock Ranch
Pulte is getting ready to build its first inventory home in Babcock Ranch. It’s just the beginning of their plan to build more than 135 homes in that community. The Arbordale will be an unfurnished inventory home constructed in the Lake Timber neighborhood. “That is the reality — the dynamic need — people want to […]
This Solar-Powered Town Is Home To America’s First Self-Driving Shuttle Network
Later this year, if someone moves into a house in Babcock Ranch–a newly built, fully solar-powered town in Florida–they’ll be able to take an autonomous shuttle to the grocery store. The shuttles (powered by electricity from the community’s own massive solar farm) will be part of the first autonomous network in the country. The shuttles are also […]
