The Progress District is a mixed-use project being master planned by Concept Companies in collaboration with the Roberts Companies on 800 acres in Alachua, just north of Gainesville. The development includes Momentum Labs (center-right), which is slated to open next year with 55,000 square feet of collaborative laboratory space for science businesses. The building is 60% pre-leased, says Concept CEO Brian Crawford, a member of the advisory board of the UF Bergstrom Real Estate Center.

Overall, the Progress District will feature 1,000 new residential units and 3 million square feet of commercial space, including retail stores and restaurants. Lennar Corp. recently broke ground on single-family homes and Concept Companies plans to break ground on “Split Oak Cottages” build-to-rent homes in early 2024.

Crawford says it will take five to 10 years to fulfill the vision for the project, which has required zoning and entitlements in place.