A new co-housing community is coming to Lakeland. Harwood Village, a small collection of condominiums with options for independent and communal housing, is in the works across from the Southgate Publix shopping center.
Lakeland residents Gail Bagley, Susan Harding, and David Wood co-founded the non-profit Harwood Village Inc. in July of 2021 to serve older adults and adults living with intellectual, developmental, or acquired disabilities. Individuals caring for elderly parents are also invited to inquire.
Residents will participate in weekly community meals as well as shared chores, such as tending the complex’s shared garden. With other activities such as movies, workshop projects, and leisurely conversations in the gazebo, the idea is to provide a living space that provides both privacy and social interaction.
Sitting on half an acre of land at 211 W. Oak Dr., just across the street from Publix, Starbucks, Tuesday Morning, Ace Hardware, Five Guys, and Lakeland Regional Health’s Pablo Campus Urgent Care, the property has been approved for 11 units in phase 1.
Units will be housed within a 15,238-sqft, 3-story building equipped with 1 and 2-bedroom options, a common house for dining + socializing, plus other amenities. The community will feature design elements helpful to both older adults and adults with disabilities, such as widened sidewalks, minimal stairs, elevators, and covered pathways. While there’s no construction date set yet, it will likely begin within the year, according to Gail.