But for the south Lake County city of 16,750 permanent residents, best known for its citrus groves and cattle ranches, the project will be the area's first urban village development, a concept that is growing rapidly throughout the state.

The project is expected to break ground by year end on a four-acre parcel housing the former three-story, 60,000-sf, 68-bed South Lake Hospital complex. The hospital moved in February 2000 to a $33 million, 146-acre site off State Road 50 and has been trying to sell the old building since then.

After numerous offers, the hospital board accepted a $700,000 bid for the old building and an adjacent one-story building from developer Dale Ladd's Highland Real Estate Co. His partners in the project are his brother Darryl; Frank Gammon, vice president, Banyan Construction and Development Co., Clermont; and Judson Stringfellow, a North Carolina developer.