The Flatwoods at Babcock Ranch, a new single-family home rental project developed within America's first solar-powered town, Babcock Ranch, prioritizes walkability and access to nature, with greenways, walking trails and shaded pocket parks connecting residents to the Greater Babcock Ranch trail network.
Wellness is central to the development's design philosophy. Homes are equipped with superior indoor air-quality systems, low-VOC, or volatile organic compounds, materials and advanced insulation. Residents also enjoy access to the greater Babcock Ranch amenity network, including resort-style pools, fitness centers, community gardens and recreational lakes.
As part of Babcock Ranch, The Flatwoods also benefits from a renewable energy infrastructure that dramatically reduces its carbon footprint. The homes are built to meet rigorous energy-efficiency standards, integrating Energy Star appliances, LED lighting, high-performance windows and smart thermostats that optimize energy use in real time.
Beyond the well-appointed units, the development also embraces sustainable landscaping and water-conservation practices. Native and drought-tolerant plantings minimize irrigation demands, while stormwater management systems naturally filter runoff and support the surrounding ecosystem.
As a purpose-built rental neighborhood, The Flatwoods fills a growing demand for single-family rental options that blend the benefits of homeownership with the convenience of maintenance-free living. It is for these reasons that the development earned a 2026 CoStar Impact Award, as judged by a panel of real estate professionals familiar with the market.
About the project: Owned by Kitson & Partners, a private residential and commercial real estate investment and development company based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, The Flatwoods at Babcock Ranch includes 246 rental houses on about 7 acres. The development is a little less than 40% vacant currently, according to CoStar data. The average asking rent is about $3,100.
What the judges said: "Maintaining ecological balance with development assures future sustainability and higher quality of life for generations to come," said Gary Tasman of Cushman & Wakefield|Commercial Property Southwest Florida.
They made it happen: Vice President of Multifamily Development Adriana Nelson with Kitson & Partners; Laura Rodriguez, Realtor at The Flatwoods at Babcock Ranch; Mady Maribona, property manager with Avenue5-The Flatwoods at Babcock Ranch.