Murdock Village residents ready for change, one step closer to redevelopment

Reporter: Erika Jackson
Published: Updated:
Rendering of planned entertainment district for Murdock Village area (Charlotte County)

Changes are in the works in Port Charlotte Tuesday as part of the transformation project years in the making.

It’s the light at the end of the tunnel for Murdock Village after a long 15 years.

Plans for hundreds of homes, businesses and an entertainment district are one step closer to reality.

“I am definitely happy to see it get out of the state coffers for sure because now we can generate some revenue,” said Russell Clouden who lives in North Port.

Two developers now own half of Murdock Village’s nearly 900 acres between US 41 and El Jobean Road.

They plan to build 2,400 single and multi-family homes starting at $200,000, with some rentals and commercial space as well. The area would be called “West Port.”

Kolter Land Partners says it plans to start building its first homes next year with the first homeowners moving in sometime in 2021.

“For a lot of folks, [they] want more of a planned community with a mixture of uses including commercial and residential,” said president of Kolter Land Partners, Jim Harvey.

The county is working with Lost Lagoon Development to build an entertainment district with 160 acres, which would include a water park, indoor skydiving, Top Golf and a concert venue.

The county hopes to finalize its partnership with the development company within the next seven months.

Murdock Village Aerial with Developments (Charlotte County Government)

Neighbors are happy to see the plans moving forward, but aren’t holding their collective breath as they wait for results.

“Let’s see what the bulldozers produce, houses are going up. I’m a wait and see kind of guy,” said Clouden.

They’ll just have to remember, good things come to those who wait.

For more information on the project, click here.

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