Florida Tile redevelopment in Lakeland begins construction
By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Feb 17, 2023

The mixed-use redevelopment of the Florida Tile property near downtown Lakeland is underway.

Atlanta-based Carter and Hunt Companies Inc. have started construction on Lake Wire, which is adjacent to the 168-acre Bonnet Springs Park. Lake Wire is 22 acres and was previously home to the headquarters of Florida Tile.

The first phase of Lake Wire will consist of 300 apartments and 15,000 square feet of retail; at completion, it will have 630 residential units and 30,000 square feet of retail space. The retail will front Kathleen Boulevard.

The developers closed on the land in October 2022. It is the first redevelopment project in Lakeland’s Downtown West corridor. Jack Murphy, Carter vice president, called the project “a complete reimagining of a former industrial center to create a new space for the entire Lakeland community.”

“Carter and Hunt have chosen an optimal time in Lakeland’s growth to bridge downtown Lakeland with Bonnet Springs Park,” Lakeland Mayor Bill Mutz said in a statement. “Their soon-to-be-built mixed-use development will extend Downtown West brilliantly. I join many others as we witness the work transforming the Lake Wire area.”