Life Under The Tuscan Sun
MuraBella Brings Italian Splendor to Florida's First Coast

MURABELLA, ST. JOHNS COUNTY, FL -

There are places in the world that feel as if they were always meant for us. Places that welcome us, no matter how long we’ve been away. Places that comfort us with their gracious way of life and strong sense of home.

MuraBella is just such a place - a beautiful 740-home master-planned community from The Wood Development Company, nestled in highly desirable northern St. Johns County.

Highlighted by sixty-five, seventy-five, and eighty-five foot wide homesites, MuraBella offers potential homebuyers all the benefits of living on Florida's First Coast while basking in a stunning setting inspired by the beauty of Italy's Tuscany region.

The inspiration for MuraBella’s splendor can be found on any summer evening at any country estate in Tuscany. The light of the setting sun floods a landscape that unfolds before your eyes in a striking palette of colors ranging from straw yellow, ochre, dark violet, silvery green to deepest black. The ridge of the soft, rolling hills melts into a wonderful background dotted by ancient stone walls, centuries old villas and hilltop villages

"As we traveled through Tuscany, we were struck by the beauty of the countryside, the art, architecture, and warm friendly atmosphere of the region,” said Rick Wood, President of The Wood Development Company and managing member of MuraBella, L.L.C. "MuraBella will embody this same sense of comfort, hearth, and home we experienced in Italy. It is truly going to be a first-rate, family-oriented community."

MuraBella's four preferred builders, Classic American Homes - a Lennar Company, CornerStone Homes, Standard Pacific Homes - Coppenbarger Homes, and Woodside Homes - North Florida Builders, were chosen to represent the relaxed, Italian-flavored lifestyle envisioned by the community's developer.

"After careful thought and consideration, we came to the conclusion that these four builders were best suited to make our vision of MuraBella a reality," said Wood. "With nearly ninety-five years of collective experience, the MuraBella team will undoubtedly create a community of enduring beauty and value."

Apparently, homebuyers agree with those sentiments. MuraBella's builders are all receiving fantastic response and experiencing tremendous sales of its Phase I homesites in the stellar community with demand expected to accelerate even faster with the opening of builder models.

Currently, MuraBella's preferred builders have 139 total homesites reserved, under contact, or sold. The developer will offer a total 740 spacious homesites throughout the community, including cul-de-sac, wooded, and lakefront lots.

"We are so excited about the strength of sales in Phase I and the demand for Phase II," said Susan Wood, Vice President for The Wood Development Company. "MuraBella is situated in one of the most ideal areas of St. Johns County with nearby beaches, dinning, entertainment, and wonderful schools; this is the perfect place to call home."

Classic American Homes is offering nine floor plans between 1,811 and 3,000 square feet of living space, priced starting in the mid-$200's, that will appeal to MuraBella's customers with a new “Everything’s Included” concept. So far, Classic American has sold forty-four of their homesites in Phase I. The builder plans to release fourteen more homesites at the beginning and fifty-nine at the end of August. Classic American has recently opened two models within MuraBella - the 2,379-square-foot Tuscany, which is furnished, and the Campania, a 2,563-square-foot unfurnished model.

With prices starting in the high-$200's, CornerStone Homes is offering eight innovative and luxurious floor plans ranging between 1,795 and 3,230 square feet. For Phase I, CornerStone has sold twenty-four of their homesites in addition to constructing six spec homes and a model. The builder has already open sales for their Phase II homesites as of the first week in July. CornerStone has also teamed with the Donna Hicken Foundation to build the 2005 "Give Hope a Home" house in MuraBella with proceeds from the sale going to the local breast cancer organization.

Standard Pacific Homes is offering some of their most popular floor plans at MuraBella with homes starting in the mid-$290's and ranging from 2,007 to 3,331 square feet. Standard Pacific began sales of their homesites this March and currently has forty homesites in Phase I reserved with twenty of those under contract. The builder is set to release another group of wonderful homesites in Phase II early this summer. Standard Pacific is nearing completion of their first model at MuraBella, a beautiful San Marco, which is slated to open by the end of summer.

Woodside Homes - North Florida Builders is offering fourteen of their newest floor plans in MuraBella. The homes range in size from 1,704 to 3,381 square feet with prices starting in the $270’s. Currently, the builder has sold twenty-seven of their available homesites in Phase I and is very optimistic about an expected sellout within five months. Sales for Phase II are expected to begin late this summer or early this fall when Woodside Homes - North Florida Builders will release fifteen eighty-five foot lots. Four beautifully decorated model homes are scheduled to open in September.

In addition to the wonderful offerings from MuraBella's preferred builders, a wonderful 3,842-square-foot clubhouse designed by Basham & Lucas Design Group will feature the most modern conveniences, including a spacious party room, kitchen, and a state-of-the-art fitness center. A tremendous super pool with waterslide tower will also be available for families to enjoy. MuraBella will also feature a soccer field, softball diamond, tennis courts, a sand volleyball court, playground, multi-purpose court and amphitheater.

Located just three miles west of I-95 off of International Golf Parkway, MuraBella is perfectly situated to enjoy some of the best golf courses, beaches, boating, entertainment, shopping, and schools found on the First Coast.

Nearby is the beautiful World Golf Village, home of The King & Bear golf course, the first Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus collaboration, as well as The Slammer & Squire, a Bobby Weed designed course inspired by the expert input of Sam Snead and Gene Sarazen.

MuraBella is conveniently located and just a short drive to Jacksonville's two regional malls, and only minutes away from the St. Augustine Outlet Center which hosts over 150 specialty stores. Residents are never far from the First Coast's beautiful sun-drenched beaches, numerous parks and recreation areas, dining, entertainment, the sights and sounds of music, food, and culture festivals, and America's oldest city, Saint Augustine.

Old-city St. Augustine is a mixture of Old World charm, historical monuments, unique attractions, and world-class shopping with boutiques, unique gift shops, antique stores, fascinating museums, and ethnic restaurants. Only fifteen minutes from MuraBella, St. Augustine, the " Ancient City" with its picturesque cobblestone streets and quiet courtyards, is a dream getaway.

The St. Johns County school district regularly ranks among the top school districts in Florida. Earning its reputation as an educational mecca for families relocating to North Florida, St. Johns County ranked fourth out of sixty-seven in the 2004 Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. Family members in pursuit of higher education can easily commute to Flagler College, Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida.

As co-founders of The Wood Development Company of Jacksonville, Rick Wood and his wife, Susan, have a proven track record of creating highly desirable, family-friendly communities. Among the company's best-known projects are MuraBella, WaterMill, Whisper Ridge, Waterleaf, Stonehurst Plantation, Kernan Forest, Espanita, and the brand new Sevilla at World Commerce Center.

To reserve your place in the sun, contact one of the prestigious MuraBella builders – Classic American Homes, A Lennar Company at (904) 940-1016, CornerStone Homes at (904) 545-1587 or (904) 545-8818, North Florida Builders, A Woodside Company at (904) 642-1344, or Standard Pacific Homes at (904) 737-5005.

Experience life's best everyday. Experience life at MuraBella.