Lakefront Estates in Glades County is planned for as many as 1,000 single-family homes and 300 rental units, with a synagogue, a private Jewish school and a grocery store expected to carry kosher food, according to WGCU News. WGCU reported that investors bought 550 acres for the project; Kevin Deutsch’s newsletter described the community as roughly 525 acres near Lake Okeechobee.
Reported move-in figures differ
Accounts of how many families have arrived are not consistent. Deutsch’s newsletter reported about 80 families. 5 Towns Central reported that more than 80 Orthodox families from New York had moved in and that schools had opened. VINnews, citing community representatives, reported more than 100 families settled there and said more were expected.
Plans, prices and eligibility
WGCU reported planned starting prices of $460,000 for three-bedroom homes and $585,000 for five-bedroom homes. The outlet also reported that Lakefront Estates operations director Yidel Perlstein said people of any religion, or no religion, could buy or rent there, and that marketing the development otherwise would be illegal.
The New York Post reported that families it interviewed cited rising antisemitism and New York housing costs as reasons for moving to Florida. It also reported that one family considered Florida’s school tuition vouchers in making its decision. These reasons are included here as the Post’s reporting; no independent interviews or confirmation of those accounts are available in the material used for this revision.
Online backlash and an official visit
The development has also drawn hostile online attention. 5 Towns Central reported social media criticism of the Orthodox community, while VINnews reported that Florida law-enforcement and local-government officials visited Lakefront Estates after an online campaign targeting the development. These accounts describe the backlash and visit; they do not establish how broadly local residents support or oppose the new community.
