Despite our area seeing a return to pre-pandemic housing inventory and longer times on the market, more new construction is on the way—this time, in Wellen Park.

Home builder Taylor Morrison plans to bring its Esplanade brand to the master-planned community in the Venice area. The new neighborhood, Esplanade at Wellen Park, is set to open in early 2026 and will include roughly 877 homes.

In addition to housing, the development will include a pool, spa, fitness center, pickleball and tennis courts, and a private "Bahama Bar" for residents only. A full-time manager will also be on-site to organize events and activities.

According to Tony Nason, president of Taylor Morrison's Sarasota division, the community will span roughly seven acres and will be located west of the Myakka Pines Golf Club, though the course is not owned by the developer. But “we’re looking forward to working with the golf course so that our residents can have easy access,” Nason says. Tony Morrison bought the acreage from Fairway Development - Myakka Pines, L.L.C., which is located at the same address as John Cannon Homes.

The homes in Esplanade at Wellen Park will range from attached condos and villas to single-family homes, offering between two and six bedrooms with sizes ranging from 1,500 to 3,000 square feet. Many of the homes are aimed at seasonal residents, with low-maintenance designs for those who may spend part of the year elsewhere.

The development will be gated, and home prices are expected to range from the $400,000s to more than $1 million. There will be no rental units.

Wellen Park, located near Venice, continues to grow and has around 9,500 residents. At full buildout, it's projected to house more than 50,000 people in 22,500 homes.

Esplanade at Wellen Park is one of several new developments by Taylor Morrison in the region. The builder currently has four other Esplanade communities in development across Sarasota and Manatee counties. “We’ve just announced the second phase of our Skye Ranch project, which will add over 1,200 new homes,” Nason says.

Esplanade at Wellen Park was not originally part of Wellen Park’s master plan. However, after acquiring the additional land, Taylor Morrison worked with the Wellen Park team to incorporate the project into the broader community, according to Nason.

He adds that many buyers come from outside the area, including states like New York, Illinois and New Jersey. A significant number are also drawn by the fact that their children or grandchildren already live in Wellen Park, which has seen fast and furious growth over recent years.

Sales for Esplanade at Wellen Park are expected to begin in fall 2025. For more information, click here.