Jerome Henin, a Winter Park-based developer, is planning Seaport Village, a 146-home subdivision in Tavares located near Slim Haywood Avenue and State Road 19. Despite being landlocked, the 37-acre project takes its name as a tribute to Tavares’ designation as “America’s Seaport City.”
The developer has also identified 20 adjacent acres for a future apartment complex as phase two. Henin noted he hasn’t finalized unit counts for the apartments, estimating “somewhere between 300 and 400 units.” He characterized his vision for the complex as a place where “people don’t pay rent as an obligation, but as a choice.”
While the apartment complex would feature gates and amenities, the single-family homes will remain ungated. Henin indicated he would decide on phase two’s design—whether single-family, rental properties, or “the entire subdivision for rent”—by February.
Housing demand in Tavares remains particularly strong. Henin observed that initial pricing projections have shifted upward, with homes originally planned for the lower $300,000s now approaching $400,000s. He credited Tavares’ community-building efforts, stating the city offers “social life with markets and shops and a nice downtown.”
Construction was expected to conclude by late 2022 or early 2023. Gary Beverly (Civil Design Solutions) serves as engineer and project manager, while Rob Bock (BBA Architects) designed the apartment development. Henin previously developed Elmwood, a 115-home community also in Tavares.
