OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The Colen Built Development team took center stage at the Ocala Metro CEP’s ExCEPtional Breakfast on Jan. 15, 2025, at the Reilly Arts Center.
Reflecting on milestones achieved and the future of development in southwest Marion County, the panel shared insights into their journey of transforming a vision into reality.
A Community Vision Born from a Cattle Pasture
Nearly 50 years ago, in 1975, Sidney Colen purchased 13,000 acres of Circle Square Ranch from the Norris Cattle Co. with plans to create a new community. His son, Kenneth Colen, now president of Colen Built Development, recalls the ambition of that vision.
“I think it was actually pretty inspired,” said Colen. “When I was a kid, probably 12 or 13, dad was talking about building a new community,” said Kenneth Colen, President of Colen Built Development. “And he wanted at least 40,000 acres of land because he wanted to be in the middle of it. He didn’t want people around him. He pretty much wanted to control the show in terms of the development and the planning of it.”
The deal, finalized on Dec. 30, 1975, came together quickly, sketched out on the back of an envelope. Today, the Colen family’s developments include two master-planned communities—On Top of the World, founded in 1947, and Calesa Township, established in 2020—as well as numerous commercial properties and nonprofit initiatives such as Shalom Park and the Ina A. Colen Academy.
A Decade of Growth
In the past decade, Colen Built Development has delivered 31,000 new homes to the area, supporting 60,000 residents and creating a $1 million weekly payroll for over 40 local contractors. Beyond housing, the developments have spurred growth for businesses and services throughout Marion County.
On Top of the World is home to a lot of interesting people and has a dynamic resident base, said Colen.
Colen called the “multiplier effect” critical. “Not just to our success, but the success of the community at large. It’s great to be a facilitator behind all of that.”
Calesa Township: A Pedestrian-Friendly Vision
Calesa Township, designed with walkability and green spaces in mind, continues to expand. The Groves, a neighborhood with a variety of home styles, and NEST, an upcoming entertainment hub, represent the next phases of growth.
NEST will feature food trucks, a playground, a beer garden, a brewpub, and an outdoor amphitheater that can accommodate nearly 2,000 people.
“You’ve been to On Top of the World, so you know that we have a high number of amenities, and we have lots of activities,” said Robert “Bo” Stepp, vice president of land entitlements, acquisitions, and development. “We’re bringing what we learned here on the retirement side across the street to the family community.”
He adds that this space will serve as the “heart of Calesa Township.”
Education at the Core
The Ina A. Colen Academy, a public charter school established as part of Calesa Township, emphasizes project-based learning and social-emotional development. Now in its third year, the school serves 546 students and has consistently earned an A rating.
“It’s very exciting to be in the opening phase of a school; you’re building everything, you’re creating everything,” said Ina A. Colen Academy principal Vanessa Baxley. “In year one, Kindergarten through sixth grade, we had 214 students. It was very sweet and very special. We quickly grew year two, up through seventh grade, with 436 students, and this year, year three, we maxed out our grade level up to eighth grade, with 546 students.”
Making Waves with FAST
The Florida Aquatics Swimming and Training (FAST) facility, which opened in 2022, has already made a splash in the local economy, generating over $21 million in economic impact from events in the past year. FAST also provides swim lessons, competitive training, and community outreach programs.
“It’s everything throughout the community,” said Kevin Milak, FAST general manager. “It’s the lessons, it’s the programming, it’s the competitive teams, the teams that are coming in from out of town to train, and people from around the world that are coming to train.”
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He adds that FAST is grass roots all the way through the elite levels. “Ever since we’ve started, we’ve had kids competing at the national level. We have kids going for the national team this summer. We have kids that are going for the first international competition. These are all kids that live in the neighborhood.”
Looking Ahead
With plans for a town center, commercial hubs, and continued recreational enhancements, the Colen Built team remains committed to shaping Marion County’s future.