In a few decades from now, the single-family residences of Summerfield will be eligible to enter the National Register of Historical Places. Summerfield has the distinction of being the first completed village of Lakewood Ranch, the master-planned development that has already made history in Florida.

The first 200 homes at Summerfield were developed at the end of the 20th century, and they mark the transition in architectural styles from the Florida ranch homes to the Mediterranean revival. Summerfield is a pioneering village insofar as it was the first to practice strict adherence to the Florida green building standards; to this effect, the developers set aside several acres of mature forest land as nature preserves.

Home builders at Summerfield chose three and four-bedroom floor plans to start development of Lakewood Ranch. The range of interior square footage in this village is between 1,400 and 2,100. Although more recent floor plans across the Lakewood Ranch villages offer more interior space, the home sites at Summerfield tend to be larger.

Many of the listings at Summerfield were completed more than 15 years ago, and thus many homeowners have added extra features. It is not unusual to find Summerfield homes with Roman showers, media rooms, outdoor kitchens, gas stoves, gourmet kitchens, swimming pools heated by solar panels, and even surround sound in every room.

Summerfield also set the standard in terms of the amenities that can be found at many Lakewood Ranch villages. Tennis courts, playgrounds and athletic fields are great for families, and so is Heron’s Nest Park.

Another major advantage of living in this pioneering neighborhood is that the first commercial district of Lakewood Ranch is located just a stone’s throw away, and the same goes for public schools.