Three Oaks is a pleasant, family-oriented neighborhood just west of Interstate 75 with considerable natural beauty.
Occupying both sides of Proctor Road, it has mature, lush landscaping throughout and a small community park with a playground for children. Three ponds and a preserve — a fresh-water habitat — attract hawks, herons, cranes, storks, ibis and a variety of ducks.
Before the area was developed in the 1990s, it was still covered with orange groves. Albritton Fruit Co. sold the property to Billy Springer of Ridgewood Building and Development Co., keeping only a 5-acre parcel with a 1950s Florida-style cottage. The house is still occupied by a member of the family, and Albritton maintains has a farm stand and gift shop nearby on Proctor Road.
Springer put in the infrastructure and created a builder program, inviting local custom builders to put up model homes. The community probably got its name from a building provision he instituted — that the builders plant three live oak trees for every house they put up.
Most of the 276 residences were constructed by Vision Homes, Gulfpointe Homes, Tivoli Homes and Coachman Homes. As a result, there is considerable visual and architectural diversity, although most of the houses are Florida ranch and Mediterranean revival with cathedral ceilings and red, white or gray barrel-tile roofs. About half of the houses border the lakes or preserve.
Development occurred in two phases. The southern portion, with entrances on Proctor and Gantt roads, was built first, from 1998 to 2000. Then the northern section, with two access points on Proctor Road, followed from 2002 to 2003.
Gary Johnson, president of Tivoli Homes, remembers the project fondly. “The developer had a respect for the environment and preservation of native trees and vegetation,” he says. “We came in for the second phase. We had a model and four different floor plans. It was a very successful community for us.”
He continues, “Every once in a while I drive through an area we built to see how it’s doing, and this community has matured well. I credit Billy Springer for it looking as good as it does today.”
Michael Klanot, of Realty Executive Solutions, is the top-selling Realtor in Three Oaks. He used to live there and currently has three listings.
“It’s a great neighborhood for walking your dog, and has a nice mix of young and established families, empty nesters, some retirees and handful of snowbirds,” he says. “It’s a friendly community, where neighbors all know one another.”
He also likes the central location — close to the highway and to a number of amenities. Doctors Hospital, banks, stores and restaurants along Cattlemen Road are just minutes away, as is Urfer Family Park on Honore Avenue. As a through street, Proctor Road goes all the way to the Tamiami Trail, providing quick access to Siesta Key’s beaches, big shopping malls and downtown Sarasota.
At the same time, the traffic is not as heavy as on Clark and Bee Ridge Roads.
The nearby public schools are Ashton Elementary and Sarasota Middle. But as Proctor is a school district border, high school students in the southern section of Three Oaks attend Riverview, while those north of Proctor go to Sarasota High.
Jim Hirschman, broker and owner of Sarasota Land and Homes, who has a home on the market at 5530 Eastwind Drive, likes the family atmosphere, too. He mentions the close proximity of Three Oaks to Twin Lakes Park off Clark Road, with its baseball, football and soccer fields, and points out, “The house has a great backyard, big enough for kids to throw or kick the ball around.”
He also appreciates the values of the homes. “It’s tough to find a 3-car garage for under $400,000,” he explains. “Some families form up north are worried they won’t have enough storage space, and here there’s plenty of extra room.”
Johnson agrees. “Three Oaks is a sweet spot in the market — decent-sized lots at a good price point. It’s what people like.”
The HOA fee of $475 a year is considered quite reasonable, too, and goes toward repair and upkeep of the common areas.
In the past 12 months, eight sales have ranged in price from $345,000 to $490,000. Currently, 11 homes are on the market, ranging in asking price from $347,900 to $485,000.
“It’s a very nice community and great location,” says Johnson
