The new single-family homes — which start around $300,000 — are part of a broader master plan to bring mixed-income housing to western Martin County. Buyers putting 10% down are expected to pay less than $3,000 a month, according to developers, often cheaper than comparable rent in the region. (WPEC)
INDIANTOWN, Fla. (CBS12) — In a corner of Martin County better known for farmland than front porches, brand-new homes are rising — and for once, they’re priced for the people who keep the region running.
Governor Ron DeSantis made a stop in Indiantown Friday to help celebrate the completion of Terra Lago’s first 30 homes — a milestone in Florida’s push to create more attainable housing options.
“You’re not going to be able to afford a home on Jupiter Island or even around Stuart,” DeSantis said. “So if you want someone to work at the sheriff’s department, this would be an opportunity where they could actually afford a good house and be able to support a family.”
Developers Meritage Homes and Ryan Homes are leading construction at Terra Lago.
The new single-family homes — which start around $300,000 — are part of a broader master plan to bring mixed-income housing to western Martin County.
Buyers putting 10% down are expected to pay less than $3,000 a month, according to developers, often cheaper than comparable rent in the region.
“This is the foundation of what is going to be here for the rest of the time to come,” said Josh Kellam, president of The Garcia Companies, which helped develop Terra Lago. “Affordability and attainability are possible again.”
Model homes are now open, and the first residents are expected to move in later this month. Among them: Milton and Rosa Williams, longtime locals who say homeownership here is more than a milestone — it’s a legacy.
“It feels great to know you’re one of the first,” said Milton, a retired teacher from Indiantown Middle School. “My favorite room is the flex room — I can watch a lot of football, basketball, and I’m right by a pond.”
Beyond the front doors, the full Terra Lago buildout includes plans for townhomes, apartments, lakes, green space, and walking trails.
The governor’s visit also marked another major announcement: a $22.5 million state investment in Indiantown’s wastewater infrastructure. That’s on top of $43 million already spent replacing sewer lines and outdated systems.
DeSantis said the upgrades are expected to eliminate more than 124,000 pounds of nitrogen and 25,000 pounds of phosphorus from the local environment annually.
“Since 2022, Indiantown has received more than $76 million from the state,” he said. “Our role isn’t to dictate which project gets built — it’s to assist with the public infrastructure that makes these kinds of projects possible.”
Village leaders say the impact will be felt in everything from cleaner water to long-term growth.
“The water means less boil water notices and safer peace of mind when they turn on the tap,” one official said.
Developers and business leaders emphasized the ripple effect of building homes for Florida’s working families.
“People shop. They raise their families here. They buy goods and services,” said Eric Silagy, the FC100 Foundation Chair. “This is about building a community that supports itself and grows from within.”
DeSantis also credited Florida’s growing population and economy to his administration’s policies — and a contrast with other states.
“What I’ve learned is, anytime they do really dumb things, we get more residents that move here,” DeSantis said.
As more families prepare to plant roots in Indiantown, residents like Rosa Williams say the dream is already real.
“Well, we got kids, and they have kids,” she said. “So you know when families come home for gatherings this is the place.”
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