A 22.2-acre stretch of land near State Road 46 in Sanford is set to become home to 360 new apartments, after the Sanford City Commission gave final unanimous approval to the annexation, land-use change and rezoning needed for The Royal Palm at Crosswood. The project, planned for 100 Crosswood Loop, calls for six four-story buildings, a 9,000-square-foot clubhouse, and nearly 41,600 square feet of retail space fronting one of Seminole County's busiest commercial corridors.
The commission voted on first reading July 13, 2026, then granted final approval two weeks later on July 27, 2026, following questions to the developers about code deviations, wetlands mitigation and an active bald eagle nest near the site, according to Citizen Portal. The approval covered seven parcels and a 3.02-acre annexation, clearing the way for Miami-based Royal Palm Companies and its partner, Mattoni Group, to move forward. Construction is slated to begin in early 2027, according to Florida YIMBY.
Each of the six buildings is planned to hold 60 units, topping out at no more than 70 feet above grade, per the same outlet's reporting. The residences are set to include quartz countertops and upscale finishes, while the development overall will offer a swimming pool, fitness center and dog spa alongside the retail outparcels.
A Clubhouse Built for Aviation Professionals
The project's amenity package leans into its location just minutes from Orlando Sanford International Airport. The 9,000-square-foot clubhouse will include a flight simulator aimed at local aviation professionals, along with a padel court, a resort-style pool with cabanas, a coworking business center and electric vehicle charging stations, according to the Orlando Business Journal.
The roughly 41,600 square feet of commercial space will be split across three outparcels facing State Road 46 near its intersection with State Road 17, according to Mattoni Group. That corridor serves as a key commercial artery for Seminole County, positioning the retail component to draw traffic well beyond the residential community itself.
Developers Building on a Local Track Record
This marks the second joint venture in Sanford for Royal Palm Companies and Mattoni Group, who previously secured an $86 million construction financing package in April 2024 for Tuscany Village, their first local partnership. That project opened in early 2026 as the 420-unit Northhaven community at 4200 Symphony Circle, with financing backed by City National Bank, Abanca USA and Origin Investments, according to The Real Deal.
Royal Palm Companies, founded in 1978 and led by CEO Dan Kodsi, has developed more than $4.7 billion in real estate projects and delivered over 9,500 residential units, including Miami's 60-story PARAMOUNT Miami Worldcenter, per Participant Capital, the firm's primary capital investment vehicle. Mattoni Group, a Coral Gables-based private real estate investment firm founded by President Ricardo Caporal, specializes in equity placement and joint-venture developments across Central and South Florida. Royal Palm at Crosswood is a planned multifamily project in Central Florida.
A Tightening Submarket Amid a Building Boom
The project adds to Sanford's planned multifamily development.
Royal Palm at Crosswood isn't the only major residential proposal reshaping Sanford this year. Kolter's 510-unit apartment plan is in local administrative review after plans were submitted, with site-plan approval and permits still needed. The proposal is planned for 22 acres along the city's growth corridors and would use Florida's Live Local Act to incorporate workforce housing, as Hoodline has reported.
With Crosswood approved and Kolter's proposal in local administrative review, Sanford has additional housing development in its pipeline as 2027 approaches.
