Plus, two Polk State baseball players go pro.
 
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Today’s Forecast

77º | Light thunderstorms and rain | 90% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:20 a.m. | Sunset 5:49 p.m.
 
 

Building homes the Wright way

Look inside three new modern homes in Lakeland
A rendering showing a black and white home with a modern butterfly roof design
Would you live in a house with this unique design? | Rendering provided by Elon Wright
Who says all homes have to look the same? That’s what home builder Franklin Cruz asked when designing three houses in Lakeland’s Paul A. Diggs neighborhood. We stopped by the construction site for an inside look at the homes and to learn what inspired them.

Each one is topped with a butterfly roof, meaning the roof slopes downward to a point in the center (a design popular in midcentury modern architecture). These two-story houses will have three bedrooms and three bathrooms, plus a one-car garage. The inside of the houses will be expansive, with soaring ceilings up to 17 feet high. Coming in at 1,280 sqft, the starting cost for the first complete home will be $320,000.

A home under construction with crews working on the roof

Elon Wright crews were hard at work on the signature butterfly roof.

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Photo by LALtoday

Franklin is no stranger to the real estate investment business. After years in the field, he decided to get into construction with his own company, Elon Wright (named after two of his inspirations: Elon Musk and Frank Lloyd Wright). He built his first home for Habitat for Humanity on Vermont Avenue before working on these homes on West 13th and 14th streets.

The inspiration behind the unique design of the homes comes from Franklin’s desire to change up the construction scene — and these homes are anything but cookie-cutter. You can see the impact of Frank Lloyd Wright’s unique architecture style infused in each home he’s designed.

A builder's hand pointing at the blueprints for two homes under construction

Franklin’s inspired ideas can be found in the blueprints for the homes.

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Photo by LALtoday

The first of these three homes at 720 W. 14th Ave. is expected to be complete in the next few weeks. Franklin’s crew will then start on the second and third homes at 716 W. 14th Ave. and 717 W. 13th Ave., respectively.

What’s next for Elon Wright? Franklin teased a full neighborhood he wants to construct elsewhere in Lakeland. We can feel the anticipation building.
See inside the house
Lakeland Economic Development Council
 
Events
Thursday, July 13
  • Modern Monstera | Thursday, July 13 | 7-9 p.m. | Painting with a Twist, 3670 Harden Blvd., Lakeland | $39 | Bring your friends and refreshments to create this bright foliage painting step by step.
  • Stargazing at the Rooftop | Thursday, July 13 | 8-10 p.m. | Bonnet Springs Park, 400 Bonnet Springs Blvd., Lakeland | Free entry | Enjoy telescope viewing and themed cocktails at the Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits Rooftop Bar — this event is most appropriate for adults.
Friday, July 14
Saturday, July 15
  • Kids’ DIY-U Workshop | Saturday, July 15 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Lowe’s Home Improvement, 3525 Lakeland Highlands Rd., Lakeland | Free | Young DIY-ers can learn how to build a grill toy that doubles as a tic-tac-toe board.
  • Rumba Fest | Saturday, July 15 | 1 p.m.-12 a.m. | Union Hall, 1023 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland | $20-$55 | Put on your dancing shoes and head to Lakeland’s first Rumba Fest for dancing, workshops, and live music — view the event schedule for the full lineup.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
Orlando International Airport
 
Edu

Building community is key at this local private school
A school-wide assembly at Lakeland Christian School
Students at LCS collaborate in academics, fine arts, athletics, and extracurricular activities. | Courtesy of Lakeland Christian School
At Lakeland Christian School, students from grades K4 to 12 interact closely to create a collaborative + community-building learning environment. Kids of all ages and grade levels participate in educational opportunities together, such as:
  • “Portrait Projects,” where students draw each other
  • Annual musicals with 4-12 grade students
  • Sports camps (think: elementary school kids paired with varsity athletes)
  • School-wide assemblies and chapels
Tour the campus to discover how your child can benefit from being part of a family-focused, community-minded private school.
Tour the unique campus
News Notes
Community
  • The Polk Transportation Planning Organization is seeking community input on three plans: The Public Participation Plan, Limited English Proficiency, and Non-discrimination — Title VI & ADA. Call 863-534-6529 to request the plan drafts, and leave your comments by Thursday, August 24.
Number
  • 17,177. That’s how many insurance policies Citizens Property Insurance Corp had in Polk County last month, up from 2,040 three years ago. Many local homeowners are switching to the state-created provider after their insurers hiked rates or ended coverage for Floridians. (LkldNow)
Sports
  • Polk State College baseball players Nelson Taylor and Dakota Harris were selected in the 2023 Major League Baseball Draft. Nelson, a centerfielder, was chosen by the Boston Red Sox in the 11th round. Dakota, a shortstop, was also picked in the 11th round by the St. Louis Cardinals.
Edu
  • Florida Southern College was included in the “Fiske Guide to Colleges” for its 15th consecutive year. The guide includes less than 350 schools from around the world. FSC was selected based on its liberal arts education, inclusive community, and career development.
Lakelander
  • McCoy Moore is making a name for himself in the country music songwriting scene. After moving from Lakeland to Nashville in 2020, he started working at a music publishing company and selling his songs to the stars. McCoy plans to visit and perform in Lakeland this fall. (The Ledger)
Award
  • Bill Castle, former Lakeland High School head football coach, will be inducted into the Florida Athletic Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame. Bill coached the team to a state record 473 wins over his 52-year career at LHS before retiring this year.
Health
  • Looking for a solution to weight-related health concerns like joint pain, fatigue, and hypertension? Lakeland Regional Health’s bariatric surgery program may be your answer. Learn about real patients and their results — like Hayley who lost 142 pounds with bariatric surgery. Your after can start now.*
Finance
  • Everyday investors profit from a $45 million Banksy collection (yes, the Banksy) thanks to Masterworks, who last sold one of the artist’s works at a 32% net gain. Masterworks has completed 13 exits (all profitable), with three recent sales delivering net annualized returns of 17.8%, 21.5%, and 35%. LALtoday readers can skip the waitlist to join.†*
Shop
  • Parking your car on sunny streets while running errands around town? This No. 1 bestselling sunshade keeps your car’s interior cool and minimizes rays.*
† See important Masterworks disclosures.
Indiana University
 
Try This

Consider us your tour guide

Forests, swans, and architecture: 11 can’t-miss tours of Lakeland
A sculpture of Frank Lloyd Wright wearing a wide-brimmed hat stands in front of the Sharp Family Tourism and Education Center
Keep an eye out for Frank Lloyd Wright as you tour FSC. | Photo via Florida Southern College
One of the best ways to learn about Lakeland is by playing tourist in your own city. Get out and try one of these tours in and around Swan City to learn something new.

Frank Lloyd Wright Tours | Year-round
Tour Florida Southern College, home to the world’s largest concentration of structures designed by world-renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Choose a self-guided tour or an in-depth tour led by a docent — both are available daily for reservations.

Wonder House | Year-round
This Bartow home has four stories full of history and interesting architecture. See it for yourself on a tour of the house — look out for the taxidermied animals and other oddities found inside.
Explore Swan City
Asked

If you could design your dream city tour, which of the following features would you include?
A. Historic landmarks and iconic buildings
B. Local cuisine tastings
C. Street art and vibrant murals
D. Other
Create your tour
 
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The Wrap
 
Connor-Keith-Headshot-LAL

Today’s edition by:
Connor
From the editor
I scream, you scream, we all scream because the Publix ice cream truck will be serving up free treats in Lakeland today. Don’t miss it from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Barnett Family Park (730 E. Orange St.).
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