Babcock Ranch: Building the Future of Sustainable Communities
In Zonda’s Inspirational Leadership Series, Mollie Carmichael sat down with Syd Kitson, CEO of Kitson & Partners, and Tom Hoban, President and Chief Investment Officer, to discuss their groundbreaking work at Babcock Ranch — a community redefining what it means to live sustainably.
Babcock Ranch began with a bold vision: to create a city built on sustainability, resilience, and innovation. On a sprawling 91,000-acre property near Fort Myers, Kitson and Hoban preserved roughly 90% of the land, selling 73,000 acres to the state of Florida in the largest land purchase in state history. The remaining 18,000 acres became home to a solar-powered city designed for 22,000 residences and more than 6 million square feet of commercial space.
Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush played a pivotal role in shaping the community by insisting it begin with a school. Despite early doubts, the first charter school opened with 156 students and quickly expanded into a full K–12 system now serving more than 2,000 children. Education, alongside clean energy, transportation, health and wellness, storm safety, and resilience, has remained central to Babcock’s identity.
Hoban reflected on the early challenges, noting that while the mid-2000s real estate market was highly competitive, the team’s environmentally driven approach — including collaboration with conservation groups — established credibility and trust. That foundation has been essential not only for securing entitlements but also for ensuring long-term success.
With solar power, autonomous shuttles, and a strong commitment to education, Babcock Ranch stands as a model for how communities can thrive while honoring the environment.
Kitson and his team were named the 2025 recipients of the master-planned communities Legends Award, presented by BUILDER, which will be awarded at the Future Place conference at the Ritz-Carlton Resort in Irving, Texas, on Oct. 27-29.
Listen here: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-4qsgw-19671fa
