A Central Florida phosphate producer is breaking ground in more ways than one.
The Mosaic Company announced plans to build a resort in
Polk County that will include two 18-hole golf courses, 140 guest rooms, five villas, a full-service spa, conference center, three restaurants, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, bass fishing, a sporting clays range and hiking and nature trails. It is Mosaic's first official real estate undertaking.
Dubbed
Streamsong Resort, the vacation destination is to be built on 16,000 acres of reclaimed land that was formerly used to mine phosphate.
"Reclamation is an ongoing effort for the Mosaic footprint," says David Townsend, assistant VP of public affairs for Mosaic in making the announcement on Wednesday, Nov. 17. "It's an ongoing way of life for us."
Townsend says much of the
Lakeland area is formerly mined land, reclaimed and redeveloped as part of the
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 that requires all mining projects submit a reclamation plan before mining the land.
"Much of Lakeland is reclaimed land," continues Townsend. "Its housing communities, golf courses, commercial areas, shopping centers, parks such as
Alafia River State Park. Vast areas of Polk County are located on reclaimed land."
Although
Renaissance Golf Design has already begun work on the two golf courses, completion of the resort itself is planned for 2013. Alberto Alfonso of
Alfonso Architects is the lead architect for the resort, which is expected to provide 200 permanent jobs to area residents and help fuel Polk County's economy through bed taxes and other tourism opportunities.
Writer:
Missy KavanaughSource: David Townsend, Mosaic
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