MetroWest (Orlando) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
MetroWest
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Master-planned community
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 MetroWest
Location in Florida
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| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Orange |
| City | Orlando |
| MetroWest Development | 1982 |
| Founded by | Aaron Dowd |
| Developer | Debra Inc. |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,805 acre (730 ha) |
| Elevation | 198 ft (60 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Zip code |
32835
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| Area codes | 407 and 321 |
| Website | MetroWest Master Association |
MetroWest is a special neighborhood in Orlando, a city in the middle of Florida, U.S.. It's a "master-planned community," which means it was carefully designed and built from scratch. This big area, about 1,805 acres, has homes, businesses, and places to shop and play.
MetroWest was started in the 1980s by a company called Debra, Inc. The idea was to create a place where people could live, work, and have fun all in one spot. As of 2013, there are over 9,600 homes here, including single-family houses, apartments, townhomes, and condos.
A group called the MetroWest Master Association (MWMA) helps keep everything nice. They make sure the common areas are well-maintained. Any new buildings or changes in MetroWest must be approved by their Design Review Board. This helps keep the area looking beautiful and matching the original plan. MetroWest is known for its amazing landscaping and clean environment. It has even won awards for being one of Orlando's most beautiful places to live.
Contents
What is MetroWest Like?
MetroWest is a large community in western Orlando, covering 1,805 acres. It has clear boundaries like Kirkman Road to the east and Turkey Lake to the southeast. Other areas like Florida's Turnpike and Apopka-Vineland Road also border it.
South Hiawassee Road runs through the middle of MetroWest. It's a main road for getting in and out of the community. You can also enter from other roads like Westgate Drive and MetroWest Boulevard. The main entrance of MetroWest is only about 2.5 miles north of Universal Studios Orlando, a famous theme park!
How MetroWest Was Built
It took about five years and $50 million to get the land ready for building. After that, companies bought parts of the land to build homes and businesses. The MetroWest Master Association (MWMA) was officially started in 1986. They make sure all new construction follows strict rules for quality and design.
The first plan for MetroWest included thousands of homes. It also planned for millions of square feet of office space, shops, restaurants, and hotels. The goal was to create a place where people could truly live, work, and play. A large part of the development, about 350 acres, was set aside for shops and businesses. This area is near Turkey Lake.
The MetroWest Golf clubhouse started being built in 1986 and opened the next year. Homes near the 18-hole golf course began to be built in 1987. By 1989, hundreds of homes and apartments were built or planned. One of the most special areas is Palma Vista. It has about 200 homes around the golf course. This area is one of the highest points in Orange County, at 198 feet above sea level. From here, you can see the skyline of downtown Orlando! The first shopping center, MetroWest Village, opened in 1990.
Where Do People Live in MetroWest?
MetroWest has many different types of homes. This includes single-family houses, townhomes, condos, and apartments.
Single-Family Homes
There are nine areas with single-family homes and one townhome complex. Together, they have 1,259 homes.
| No. | Neighborhood | Street | Number of homes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairway Cove | S. Hiawassee Rd. | 140 |
| 2 | Hawksnest | S. Hiawassee Rd. | 91 |
| 3 | MetroWest Unit 5: a) Abingdon Hill b) Bardmoor c) St. Andrews |
Westpointe Blvd. | 367 Total |
| 4 | Palma Vista | Westpointe Blvd. | 189 |
| 5 | Stonebridge Lakes | Shallot Dr. | 103 |
| 6 | Villa Capri (townhomes) |
Arnold Palmer Dr. | 141 |
| 7 | Vista Royale | Vista Royale Blvd. | 70 |
| 8 | Westchester | Piccadilly Lane | 160 |
| 9 | Ridgemoore | Bridgestone Dr |
Condominiums
MetroWest has fourteen condominium complexes with over 4,851 homes. Some of these used to be apartments that were changed into condos.
| No. | Condo Complex | Location | Number of units |
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| 1 | Azur at MetroWest (formerly Colonial Grand at MetroWest and Centergate MetroWest) |
Raleigh St. | 311 |
| 2 | Bermuda Dunes | Westpointe Blvd. | 336 |
| 3 | Central Park at MetroWest (formerly Victoria Point Apts.) |
Westgate Dr. | 400 |
| 4 | Fountains at MetroWest (formerly Toscana at MetroWest) |
Westgate Dr. | 238 |
| 5 | The Hamptons at MetroWest | Times Square Ave. | 766 |
| 6 | Madison at MetroWest (formerly Worthing at MetroWest) |
Robert Trent Jones Dr. | 364 |
| 7 | Promenade | Buford St. | 124 |
| 8 | Residences at Veranda | Grande Ave. | 142 |
| 9 | Serenata (formerly Douglas Grand at MetroWest) |
MetroWest Blvd. | 398 |
| 10 | Stonebridge Commons: a) Carriage Homes b) Mandalay c) Ventura d) Vistas |
Ducados Pointe | 622 Total a) 172 b) 104 c) 200 d) 146 |
| 11 | Stonebridge Lakes | Shallot Dr. | 208 |
| 12 | Stonebridge Place a)Horizons b) Vistas |
Tolstoy Lane | 310 Total a) 180 b)130 |
| 13 | Stonebridge Reserve | Robert Trent Jones Dr. | 296 |
| 14 | What remains of Tradewinds | S. Hiawassee Rd. | 544 |
Apartments
There are ten apartment complexes in MetroWest, with a total of 3,557 units.
| No. | Apartment Complex | Location | Number of units |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amara at MetroWest (formerly Vinings Club at MetroWest) |
Raleigh St. | 456 |
| 2 | The Estates at Park Avenue | Biltmore Park Dr. | 432 |
| 3 | Harbortown (aka Gates of Harbortown) |
Lake Debra Dr. | 428 |
| 4 | La Palazza (formerly Alexan Club at MetroWest) |
Lake Debra Dr. | 510 |
| 5 | Landmark at Siena Springs (formerly Lexington Park) |
Westgate Dr. | 252 |
| 6 | Marina Landing | Westgate Dr. | 260 |
| 7 | Indigo West (formerly Sabal Palm at MetroWest) |
Raleigh St. | 411 |
| 8 | The Summit | MetroWest Blvd. | 280 |
| 9 | Vista Verde | S. Hiawassee Rd. | 200 |
| 10 | Alvista at MetroWest (formerly The Element at MetroWest) |
Lake Debra Dr. | 328 |
Other Homes
- Golf Ridge is a condo complex with 59 units. It's surrounded by MetroWest but isn't officially part of it.
Schools in MetroWest
MetroWest has great schools for students of all ages.
Schools Inside MetroWest
- MetroWest Elementary School is a public school on Lake Vilma Road. It opened in 1986 and teaches kids from pre-kindergarten to 5th grade.
- Valencia College West Campus is a college on Kirkman Road. It was named the best community college in the country in 2011!
Middle Schools
- Students living west of South Hiawassee Drive go to Gotha Middle School in Windermere, Florida.
- Students living east of South Hiawassee Drive go to Chain of Lakes Middle School, also in Windermere.
High School
- High school students in MetroWest attend Olympia High School. It's on Apopka-Vineland Road in Orlando and opened in 2001.
Awards MetroWest Has Won
MetroWest has been recognized for its beauty and safety.
- It won Orlando's City Beautiful Award for District 6 in 2012. This was for its well-kept grounds and clean environment.
- MetroWest also won the statewide Safety and Security Award from the Florida Communities of Excellence in 2013.
