Riviera Bella was named the Top Single-Family Home Project in OBJ’s 2017 Residential Real Estate Awards. It’s a 208-acre, 414-lot residential community in a previously ignored market in Volusia County that features Mediterranean-style homes by Henin Homes and M/I Homes. The original project prompted two new additions: The 300-home Riviera Bella East subdivision and the 200-home Springview Heights subdivision.
Address: 660 Riviera Bella Dr., DeBary 32713
Timing: Riveria Bella was built out in October 2016
Why it’s significant: The project, which took about a decade to secure permits for sites along the St. Johns River, now accounts for the highest home price averages in west Volusia County and double the average price per home in the city of DeBary. Its values have set nearly 18 percent of the city’s total tax revenue and it’s giving west Volusia County — a previously undesirable area — the recognition that it can be successful for homebuilders.
Involved parties: Henin Group Inc., owner/homebuilder; M/I Homes, homebuilder; Briar Team, WLW Construction, site contractors; CDS Engineering, project engineer; Axiom Bank, financial partner
Project cost: $27 million