Article authored by:
Holly Elmore - LAI At-Large Member & LAI Global Water-Land Series Group Co-Chair
Holly's eclectic career path includes multiple facets ranging from the corporate arena (Arthur Andersen Auditor & Trammell Crow Controller) to the foodservice industry (owner of a corporate catering business & restaurants) to sustainability-industry leader (Zero Waste Zones & Elemental Impact Founder). In addition, Holly is an avid nature & documentary photographer and respected journalist with prominent articles and photographs featured in national publications.
On Thursday, April 25, 2024, the LAI Suncoast Chapter underdevelopment hosted its second official event at Grove Restaurant located in one of Lakewood Ranch’s (LWR) three town centers. LAI VP Craig Binning traveled from Toronto to attend the meeting, educate on the value of LAI membership, and induct four new members.
Since 2018 LWR consistently ranks the top performing multi-generational community in the nation; thus, LWC was a perfect location for the LAI Suncoast meeting.
LWR SVP Laura Cole gave an excellent presentation, Lakewood Ranch: past, present, and future. The referenced link is a pdf of Laura’s presentation.
With 48,849 total residential units (for-sale and rental) 60% occupied, LWR is 60% through the build out of the residential program. The 2,885 businesses and 20,076 employed individuals constitute LWR as the largest job center in the region. LWR boasts nearly 6-million square feet of commercial, mixed-use space via its five business parks and three town centers. In the next decade, LWR's current 70,820 population is projected to exceed 115,000.
Within the LWR development, 40% of the land is dedicated to open space with parks and trails forming the connective tissue of the master plan.
After the presentation, Craig formally inducted Jay Brady, Sylwia Majewski, Steve Majewski, and Jim Paulmann as LAI At-Large Members and future LAI Suncoast Chapter members, if and when the chapter is chartered.
Post meeting, the attendees enjoyed a reception sponsored by LAI New Chapter Development.
The IMPACT magazine article, Shining Stars: Lakewood Ranch and LAI Suncoast!, published with an LAI introduction, LAI Suncoast history, LAI member inductions, and an overview of Laura’s impressive presentation; the HEI album, LAI Suncoast 04-25-24 Event, chronicles the meeting as well as Craig on his Holly’s SRQ Tour.
 LWR Town Center Aerial View. Courtesy of LWR |
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New LAI At-Large-Member Inductees, picture from left to right: Sylwia Majewski, Steve Majewski, Jay Brady, Jim Paulmann, and Craig Binning. Photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images
 Laura Cole at the podium during her presentation. Photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images |
 LAI Suncoast member Steve Suau speaks on the LWR wetlands-management plans and the sewer treatment plant. Photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images |
 Craig educating on the value of LAI to individuals and communities. Photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images |
 Craig at the “Siesta #1 Beach in USA” sign, an obligatory photo on Holly’s SRQ Tour. Photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images |
 LWR Aerial View. Courtesy of LWR |
