Benderson Development is planning a 52-acre mixed-use project in Wellen Park, extending the its footprint into one of the country’s top-selling master-planned communities—No. 6, in fact, according to the latest rankings.

The development, on South Tamiami Trail at the intersection of West Villages Parkway, will bring roughly 500,000 square feet of retail, dining, entertainment and services. Construction is in the early planning stages and is expected to begin in late 2026 or early 2027. According to county records, Benderson Development purchased the vacant land site from Mattamy Thomas Ranch LLC last month for $23,403,800.

While site plans and tenant rosters are still being finalized, Shaun Benderson, managing director of the mega-development firm, says the intent is to build what the company describes as a “first-class regional shopping and dining destination” that functions as more than a conventional shopping center.

“When we say ‘first-class,’ we’re talking about the quality of the experience from the moment a guest arrives,” Benderson says. “That includes beautiful landscaping, thoughtfully designed public spaces, and a mix of retail, dining and services. It will be a place to gather, meet friends, enjoy a meal, walk your dog or spend an afternoon exploring.”

Benderson says the project will be tailored to Wellen Park’s existing character, with an emphasis on walkability and outdoor life. “Wellen Park has a very distinct identity — active, outdoor-focused and highly social,” he says. “This development is being specifically designed to complement that lifestyle. It will feature pedestrian and golf-cart-friendly pathways, inviting outdoor gathering spaces, and a curated tenant mix that enhances and expands on the offerings already found in Downtown Wellen.”

The company hasn't disclosed specific tenants, but says it expects to land a mix of national brands, regional operators and local businesses. “We're still finalizing the total number of tenants, which will depend on the space requirements of the primary anchors,” Benderson says. “Our goal is to bring a balanced mix of national brands and strong regional operators, complemented by a selection of beloved local businesses. Wellen Park already offers a great collection of local favorites, so we want to introduce new-to-market names and popular brands that meet the needs of this fast-growing region.”

The project arrives as Wellen Park continues to appear on national lists of fast-selling master-planned communities. The development ranked No. 6 nationally on RCLCO’s 2025 mid-year list of top-selling master-planned communities, with 531 home sales recorded through June 30, 2025. Wellen Park is home to roughly 10,000 residents and is planned for more than 50,000 residents and about 22,500 homes at full build-out.

Benderson’s new project will sit along U.S. 41 near existing infrastructure that has been upgraded as the area has added residents and traffic. “There will be additional improvements as plans move forward, but the project already benefits from strong infrastructure already in place, including the new U.S. 41 roundabout at Wellen Park Boulevard and the fully signalized U.S. 41/West Villages Parkway intersection,” Benderson says.

Benderson Development, headquartered in Manatee County, is one of the largest privately held real estate owners in the country, with more than 1,000 properties across 40 states. The Wellen Park project extends a regional strategy that already includes several high-profile properties in Sarasota County. 

Locally, Benderson is best known for the University Town Center district along Interstate 75 and University Parkway, an approximately 4 million-square-foot retail and mixed-use cluster that includes The Mall at University Town Center and a surrounding mix of specialty shops, restaurants, hotels and offices. The company also developed Cocoplum Village Shops in North Port—the first major shopping center built in that city in about 25 years, and now home to dozens of open-air stores and restaurants along Tamiami Trail. 

Benderson has also been repositioning older retail properties, including The Landings, a Publix-anchored open-air center off U.S. 41 south of Proctor Road that has added new tenants in dining, wellness and fitness in recent years. It also acquired the Crossings at Siesta Key in 2022. The company is also behind Siesta Promenade, a new mixed-use project at U.S. 41 and Stickney Point Road that used to house a Shell gas station and a mobile home community. 

For now, the Wellen Park site remains in the planning phase, with no renderings publicly released and tenant negotiations ongoing. Benderson says it is still “finalizing the total number of tenants” and that some details, including traffic improvements beyond those already in place, will be determined as approvals move forward.

As the company works through that process, it’s framing the Wellen Park project as a long-term investment in an area where rooftops and visitors are already in place—and still multiplying.