Brandon's suburban landscape is set to transform with the advancement of Brandon Town Center, a mixed-use, walkable downtown environment planned for Brandon, a primarily suburban community located east of Tampa in Hillsborough County. The development, led by Atlanta-based Rotunda Land Development, represents one of the largest mixed-use projects planned for the Brandon submarket.

The undeveloped property at the northeast corner of South Lakewood Drive and Brandon Parkway will have 600 multifamily units and 75,000 sq. ft. of mixed-use buildings and stores on 55 acres, one of the largest remaining undeveloped parcels in Brandon. The development has since been refined to include 660 units and will feature a design that integrates housing, retail, dining, and public spaces within a cohesive neighborhood framework.

Brandon Town Center represents a growing trend in the Tampa Bay real estate market: the build-to-rent (BTR) housing model. Recently, a $71.5M loan was secured for the purpose of developing 360 built-to-rent townhome units in the new Brandon Town Center project. Unlike traditional multifamily apartments, build-to-rent housing is a type of housing where the developer builds all products specifically as rental units, with upgraded finishes designed to appeal to younger renters seeking community-oriented living.

The townhomes will be constructed in two phases with 421 in phase one and 239 in phase two. The development will include 75,000 square feet of commercial space along with a dog park, fire pits, walking trails, swimming pool and fitness center. The plan features a main street with mixed-use buildings flanked on either side by attached single-family houses (row houses).

The project's mixed-use design addresses a critical shift in how suburban communities are developing. Rather than separating housing, retail, and services into isolated zones, Brandon Town Center concentrates these uses within walkable corridors, reducing reliance on automobiles for daily activities. This approach supports higher-density housing on limited land while creating a more vibrant neighborhood feel.

Estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show 65 percent of Americans under the age of 35 currently rent, with research showing they are looking for more desirable rental options along with longing for a true sense of community. The Brandon Town Center design directly addresses this demographic demand by combining housing, dining, retail, and public gathering spaces in one developed district.

The site's proximity to major employment centers, interstate access, and the nearby Westfield Brandon shopping center positions it as an attractive location for renters and developers alike. The timing also aligns with Brandon's rapid growth trajectory and strong multifamily market fundamentals across the Tampa Bay region.