By Amanda Rabines
Land deals typically require extended periods to complete due to paperwork, mortgage approvals, and due diligence. However, one Apopka property transaction moved at an unusually rapid pace.
Jerome Henin, principal at Winter Park-based Henin Group, closed on a 28-acre infill development site located at 1401 and 1433 Votaw Rd. in approximately one week. “Henin made an offer on a Friday, signed a contract on Tuesday and closed the deal the following Friday.”
The accelerated timeline was driven by the seller’s circumstances. The property owner, Claude A. Etty Jr. (known as Sonny), was experiencing terminal cancer. He died the day after signing the paperwork.
Henin, a French native, founded multiple real estate companies operating across Europe, Florida, and Virginia. His major Central Florida project is Riviera Bella in DeBary.
The Votaw Road property, situated near Wekiva Reserve, had belonged to the Etty family for decades. Henin Group plans to rezone it for approximately 95 single-family lots, with an estimated development value of $40 million upon completion.
