Metro Development Group Begins Construction on 1,100-Acre Sunrise Hills Community in Brooksville
Metro Development Group has broken ground on Sunrise Hills, a 1,100-acre master-planned residential community along Cortez Boulevard in Brooksville, Florida. The development is expected to feature nearly 4,000 homes, a 2.5-acre lagoon and miles of walking and recreational trails, expanding the company’s residential development portfolio in Hernando County.
The project is designed to combine residential living with outdoor recreation, community gathering spaces and access to nearby amenities. Its location near Sherman Hills Golf Course and the Withlacoochee State Trail provides residents with opportunities to enjoy the Nature Coast’s outdoor attractions. The community will also offer convenient access to shopping, dining and everyday services, while its proximity to Interstate 75 connects residents with Brooksville and the wider Tampa Bay region.
Sunrise Hills represents another major investment by Metro Development Group in Florida’s growing residential market. The company plans to create a community that reflects the character of Brooksville while offering modern housing options and amenities for a range of homebuyers.
Community Design Inspired by Brooksville
The design of Sunrise Hills will incorporate elements that recognize the area’s local identity and surroundings. A redesigned entrance monument featuring silo-style architectural elements will draw inspiration from the Brooksville Silo Project, a local initiative that highlights the region’s character.
The entrance is intended to provide a distinctive introduction to the development while establishing a visual connection between the new residential community and the broader Brooksville area. By incorporating locally inspired design features, Metro Development Group aims to create a recognizable identity for Sunrise Hills.
The community’s name also reflects its connection to the local landscape. Sunrise Hills was inspired by the area’s reputation as the first place in Hernando County where the sun can be seen rising. This connection to the natural environment forms part of the development’s identity and reinforces its emphasis on outdoor living.
Beyond its visual design, the planned community will include recreational features intended to encourage residents to spend time outdoors and interact with their neighbors. The proposed 2.5-acre lagoon and miles of trails are expected to serve as central elements of the community’s lifestyle offering.
“Sunrise Hills represents a significant expansion of our investment in Hernando County,” said Lisa Gibbings, vice president of corporate affairs at Metro Development Group. She explained that the company has heard from homebuyers and builders seeking more than residential properties, including places where residents can gather, stay active and enjoy outdoor activities.
Gibbings added that Sunrise Hills brings the company’s inland coastal lifestyle concept to a 1,100-acre site and will feature three national homebuilders.
Three National Homebuilders to Participate
Sunrise Hills will include homes from DRB Homes, D.R. Horton and Lennar. The participation of these three national homebuilders is expected to provide prospective buyers with residential options within the master-planned development.
The project’s planned capacity of nearly 4,000 homes positions it as a significant addition to the local housing supply. Its scale also creates opportunities to integrate residential areas with shared recreational facilities, walking trails and other community features.
The master-planned approach is intended to bring together housing and amenities within a coordinated development. Rather than focusing solely on individual homes, Sunrise Hills is being designed around a broader residential environment that incorporates outdoor spaces and convenient access to nearby services.
Its location along Cortez Boulevard places the development within reach of Brooksville’s existing amenities and transportation connections. Interstate 75 provides a regional link to other parts of the Tampa Bay area, while downtown Tampa is approximately 50 miles away.
The combination of residential options, outdoor recreation and regional connectivity is expected to make the development an important part of Metro Development Group’s expanding presence in Hernando County.
Expanding Investment Across Hernando County
Sunrise Hills is not Metro Development Group’s only major project in the county. The company is also developing Sandal Key, an 872-acre master-planned community planned to accommodate more than 3,000 homes.
Sandal Key is expected to feature a lagoon-based recreational setting that will include Metro Development Group’s first lazy river integrated into a lagoon environment. Groundbreaking for that project is planned for December 2026.
Together, Sunrise Hills and Sandal Key represent nearly 2,000 acres of planned residential development, with more than 7,200 homes anticipated at full buildout. The combined scale highlights the company’s long-term commitment to Hernando County and its strategy of creating large communities with integrated lifestyle amenities.
Both developments reflect an approach that combines housing with recreational facilities and outdoor spaces. As the communities progress, their planned amenities are intended to support a residential experience that extends beyond individual properties.
The projects also broaden Metro Development Group’s activity outside its existing developments in the Tampa Bay region, where the company has established a portfolio of master-planned communities.
Strengthening Metro Development Group’s Florida Portfolio
Sunrise Hills joins Metro Development Group’s growing collection of Florida residential developments, including Sandal Key, Mirada, Epperson, Angeline, Southshore Bay and Seaire in the Tampa Bay area.
These projects form part of the company’s broader strategy of developing master-planned communities that integrate homes with shared amenities and outdoor recreation. Sunrise Hills continues that approach on a substantial site in Brooksville, combining a large residential program with a lagoon, trails and design features inspired by the surrounding area.
The development’s scale, participation by three national homebuilders and connection to regional transportation routes are central elements of its planned offering. Its design also seeks to preserve a sense of local identity through the use of Brooksville-inspired architectural features and a name tied to the area’s natural setting.
With construction now underway, Sunrise Hills marks a new phase in Metro Development Group’s investment in Hernando County. The planned community is expected to add nearly 4,000 homes while introducing recreational and gathering spaces designed to serve future residents.
As the company advances Sunrise Hills alongside Sandal Key, its combined developments are planned to deliver more than 7,200 homes across nearly 2,000 acres, further expanding Metro Development Group’s presence in Florida’s master-planned residential market.
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