Located just east of Interstate 75 near the celery fields, The Paddocks is a pleasant, deed-restricted neighborhood. Quiet and secluded, it offers family friendly living off the beaten track, yet has convenient access to many of Sarasota’s amenities and favorite haunts.
Developed in the 1980s and ‘90s, the community consists of several subdivisions. Entrances off Porter Road with “Paddock East” and “Paddocks West” signage on low adobe walls lead into two, interconnected sections. Paddocks North, adjacent to the west, is a self-contained neighborhood. The interior roadways bear the names of famous race horses: Seattle Slew Drive, Man of War Circle, Secretariat Way, Alesheba Lane, Icecapade Drive.
A bucolic landscape in The Paddocks, Sarasota. Staff photo / Harold Bubil; 2-22-2016.
The several Paddocks subdivisions total 227 residences, most of them houses in Florida contemporary architecture with vaulted ceilings and columned entrances. A few sport two stories.
There is also a small enclave of attached villas accessible only from Porter Road. That is the original Paddocks, which dates to the early 1980s. At that time, plans were drawn to convert a horse ranch into a housing development with a shared paddock and stables for the use of the residents. Equestrian events, focusing on the precise sport of dressage, were held to promote the project. But after the few villas were built, it took another decade before The Paddocks took off — without the horses.
Many of the homes surround attractive lakes and ponds or back up to nature preserves and easements. Vegetation is mature Florida subtropical. You can see a variety of palm trees — royal, pineapple and Bismarck — gracing the properties alongside other lush trees and shrubbery. The neighborhood looks well-maintained and cared for.
“It’s a great community,” says Mike Bridges of Re/Max Alliance Group, who has sold a number of homes in The Paddocks during his 26-year real estate career. “The homes are average in size and have good value in a good location.”
This house at 2622 Man of War Circle in The Paddocks East is listed at $319,900 by Mike Bridges of RE/MAX Properties. Built in 1993, it has three bedrooms and three baths in 2,218 square feet, and a pool. Staff photo / Harold Bubil; 2-22-2016.
His listing at 2622 Man of War Circle, for example, is a three-bedroom home occupying a corner lot, with 2,218 square feet under air and priced at $319,900. Built in 1993, it offers a two-garage, private swimming pool and second story with a bonus room, two additional bedrooms and a bathroom.
With no through traffic, The Paddocks appeals to working professionals with children. Nearly 60 percent of the residents are younger than retirement age. At the same time, nearly 27 percent are 20 or younger — a high percentage for Florida communities.
“It is definitely a family-oriented neighborhood,” says Bridges. “People stay a long time.”
Nancy Maguire of Rose Bay Realty agrees. “It’s a big family neighborhood. People love to raise their children there.”
She adds, “They like the district schools — Tatum Ridge Elementary, McIntosh Middle and Sarasota High.”
Her listing at 2640 Man of War Circle, with five bedrooms and 2,428 square feet under air, is the largest home in the subdivision. Built in 1992, it backs onto one of the ponds and has an attached in-law suite with its own separate kitchen.
According to Maguire, another factor makes The Paddocks so attractive. “Location is a big plus,” she explains.
Nearby amenities include the Celery Fields park with the new Audubon Center, a high observation mound and miles of nature trails among wetlands, as well as the Big Cat Habitat.
While nearby Palmer Boulevard is not a main county artery, it’s just a short jog from there to Fruitville Road, UTC mall and Lakewood Ranch’s shopping and restaurant opportunities. To the south, canopy-covered streets through Shadow Oaks lead to Bee Ridge Road, Doctors Hospital, Wal-Mart, Lowe’s and other stores. Even downtown Sarasota is just a 20-minute drive.
Considering the good value, location and reasonable upkeep — HOA fees are only $200 a year — it is no wonder that sales in The Paddocks have been steady. Over the past 12 months there have been 14 real estate transactions, ranging in price from $209,000 to $310,000.
Currently, three homes on the market from $290,000 to $379,998, and one is active with contract.
