Manatee Fruit Co. has transferred 1,640 acres in western Manatee County to three entities it owns for a total of $40.18 million ($24,495 per acre). It revealed that it will develop much of the farmland into a mixed use development called Lake Flores, a community of 6,500 residences, split into single family homes, condominiums and apartments. Also included in the plan will be 3 million square feet of retail and office space along with two hotels. The land is located along El Conquistador parkway between Cortez Road and 53rd Avenue West in Bradenton. The three affiliates, Lake Flores I LLC. Lake Forest East LLC, and Pen Bay I LLC, mortgaged the land back to Manatee Fruit Co. for a combined $38.17 million.
