Home Sweet Lakewood Ranch Home

Originally from Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Art and wife Chris have lived on Long Island all of their lives.

Chris worked in education and retired as an English teacher two years ago while Arthur works as the Vice President and Chief Facilities Officer at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, a cancer research institute on Long Island, where he has worked for almost 35 years.

When their daughter Kelly (now 33) was born, Chris took time off to be home with her. She returned to work as a teacher’s aide in the Huntington School District while completing her bachelor’s and master’s degree to become a New York state certified English teacher.

The couple discovered Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch after visiting friends here for several years. The verdict? They really liked the area. The twosome wanted their new home to tick off the following boxes: climate, culture and outdoor + sporting event activities.

“Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch has a lot to offer,” says Art, “and we were looking for an area that would allow us to enjoy outdoor activities year round. This location also has art museums, the symphony, opera, concerts and more. This area is becoming a significant venue for many sport events, too, including the Pentathlon, rowing, tennis and golf to name a few.”

“Lakewood Ranch itself has all amenities you need, including many restaurants, shopping, good medical care, accessible transportation, with three airports near by, and easy access to I-75, making travel to other areas very convenient.”

Located within the richly wooded landscape of Lakewood Ranch, Country Club East offers the perfect combination of both privacy and access to amenities. After deciding on this as their ideal location, Art and Chris looked at all of the homebuilders in Country Club East, a private, gated community built around lakes, nature preserves and an 18-hole golf course designed by Rick Robbins, and decided on Neal Signature Homes.

“They had the best designs, and it was very apparent that they build quality homes. In addition, the floor plan was well thought out and well suited for comfortable Florida living. From the moment we stepped into the model, a very professional sales associate greeted us and was able to answer all of our questions.”

The couple liked the style of the homes in Haddington, the lakefront location and the accessibility to Lorraine Road, making it easy to get in and out of the community. A maintenance-included community, Haddington makes homeownership very easy.

“Haddington is also a green and eco-friendly community, which is a great benefit to everyone,” says Art.

The two decided on the Savoy floor plan, which features three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms. They also took advantage of the custom design features by adding the half bath, upgrading the master bathroom and changing some of the windows in the home to better suit their lifestyle and taste.

“We love the layout, custom features and the quality of construction,” says Art. “I can’t say enough about Michelle Hunt [the sales associate who helped the couple build and design their home]. She is very professional and a joy to work with. She made the whole home buying process fun, which is what it should be, and helped through out every step. She was able to answer every question, and if she did not have the answer, she would get it for us.”

The couple is looking forward to the Florida lifestyle. They are most looking forward to spending time outdoors, bicycling, walking and taking advantage of the many cultural activities.

Truly country club living at its best, neighborhood amenities include a swimming pool and spa, dog park, playground, volleyball court, golf course access (no membership required!), an outdoor kitchen and an inside gathering area.

“Chris has been taking oil painting lessons since she retired and is looking forward to spending time painting in our new house,” says Art. “I enjoy cooking and hope to have time to hone my culinary skills and entertain friends. I am also interested in doing volunteer work and hope I can make a meaningful contribution to helping disabled veterans.”

The pair is also extremely excited to welcome their daughter Kelly, who currently lives in Fresno, Calif., to Lakewood Ranch sometime this summer.