Lakewood Ranch real estate

San Marco Plaza to offer bit of Italy

By TOM ARTHUR
tom.arthur@heraldtribune.com

LAKEWOOD RANCH -- Lakewood Ranch is about to get another jolt of commercial development.

San Marco Plaza, a 65,000-square-foot complex reminiscent of St. Mark's Square in Venice, Italy, will break ground next week and could be open by early 2006.

It will be within walking distance of the 198,000-square-foot Main Street district set to open in November.Added together, the two developments will offer several new restaurants and theaters, and dozens of upscale shops to Lakewood Ranch.

The $9.5 million San Marco Plaza will have the architectural feel of Venice, Italy, and will feature a dinner theater and have a seven-story clock tower as its focal point.A grassy area will slope to a pond. Canopies, patios and open balconies will create a courtyard.

"It's much more than just a shopping environment," said Karen Cook, a leasing and sales agent at Michael Saunders & Co. "People can walk their dogs, get a cup of coffee and sit out in the grassy area.

"The two complexes are expected to draw customers from well beyond Lakewood Ranch, where 5,500 homes have been built since its opening 10 years ago.

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