Canadian company makes huge land deal near Plant City
By Mark Holan
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Oct 7, 2013

A multinational real estate investment and development firm headquartered in Calgary, Canada has purchased 1,000 acres near Plant City for slightly more than $18.1 million.

Walton International Group bought the land Oct. 4 from the Robert G. Graham Family LP and David J. Tozlosky Family LP.

Ken Wenhold, senior vice president of land acquisitions for Walton, said the company will develop a "highly amenitized upscale community" with the first signs of development coming in two to three years.

He said the mixed-use, master-planned development would consist of up to 2,500 single-family homes, with some multifamily and retail development. He said there would be a school as well as open spaces and hike-and-bike trails.

Walton has more than 78,000 acres under management in North America, most of it acquired since 2007, according to the company website. The company says it is undertaking more than $2 billion (Canadian) in development projects between last year and 2015.

The company has U.S. headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Mark Holan's beats include commercial real estate and residential real estate.