Groveland News: David Jones, Groveland Communications Director
This week, the Groveland City Council was presented with a potential land swap deal by the Avalon Park Group and development partner Carabao International. The two entities, who had agreed to an existing project called Carabao Commons originally approved in 2024, are now presenting a deal the groups said could result in a $25 million savings for the City of Groveland.
The original deal would have included approximately 530 residential units, 45,000 sq. ft. of commercial space and a 25,000 sq. ft. community center in the City’s historic downtown. Now, a new reworked deal is asking the City to consider approving a lower-density project with 94 single family lots outside the downtown corridor with dedicated space for an urgent care facility and freestanding emergency department building, a hotel and mixed-use building, as well as a school and career-training center.
In exchange, the original Carabao Commons land in the historic downtown would be deeded to the City and the developers would forego $25 million in previously approved economic incentives.
“Groveland is at an inflection point,” said Beat Kahli, president and CEO of Avalon Park Group. “When a town is built the right way, essential services grow right alongside the rooftops from the very beginning. This is exactly the kind of public-private partnership that creates lasting value for a community.”
The new project would be located on Sampey Road on 34 usable acres currently being used as a spray field. The swap would occur only after Sampey Road receives the necessary zoning and entitlements, giving both parties certainty before finalizing. At the center of the $200 million proposed project is an Academic Village, envisioned as offering K-12 education, secondary education, technical training and workforce certification, developed with educational institutions, employers and nonprofits.
“When formalized, this agreement represents a positive step forward for Groveland and the surrounding area,” said Groveland Mayor Keith Keogh. “By working together, we are able to look beyond individual parcels and focus on the larger opportunity: creating a stronger, more connected and more sustainable future for our residents.”
Now that the framework for a land swap deal has been presented to Groveland City Council, next steps could include a working session with City leadership, due diligence on Sampey Road and a non-binding term sheet outlining exchange terms and infrastructure responsibilities.
“Staff views this proposal as a major step toward achieving several strategic plan objectives. It would create two major anchors, both west of our downtown and east of our downtown, with mixed-use hospitality and academic and medical villages,” said Interim City Manager Tim Maslow. “These types of businesses are recession-proof and will attract many other businesses and investment to the City while providing much needed services to our growing population.”
Both anchor opportunities, one along Sampey Road and the other in the western portion of the City’s historic core, sit along the planned Coast to Coast Trail that will commence construction this year in tandem with the realignment of State Road 50.
The City will be evaluating alternatives to retire the spray field and remediate prior to development.
