Trees have been bulldozed at a formerly forested patch of land on U.S. Hwy. 27/441 in Lady Lake to make way for a new 80,750-square-foot retail center.
Crews worked rapidly this week to take down all of the trees at U.S. Hwy. 27/441 and Fennell Boulevard, next to Lady Lake Town Hall.
Most are being burned onsite. The work is in compliance with the Town of Lady Lake’s tree ordinances.
Construction of the Lady Lake Commons retail center is expected to begin in the third quarter of this year.
In 2016, Martin Dellebovi with The Benchmark Group unveiled a conceptual presentation of the development to be built on an 18-acre parcel of land.
Dellebovi said he would be targeting national retailers who have “medium-sized boxes,” for the development.
Benchmark has thus far brought in Best Buy at Villages Crossroads, Stein Mart at Lady Lake Crossing and numerous other retailers. The group also brought in the Texas Roadhouse restaurant next door to Lady Lake Town Hall.
Benchmark purchased the property from the Fennell family.
The Fennells made the land available for Lady Lake to build its town hall more than 20 years ago. The street that runs beside town hall is named Fennell Boulevard.
You can read Joseph Fennell’s obituary HERE
