Metro Development Group Breaks Ground on 1,100-Acre Sunrise Hills Community in Brooksville

Planned community will include nearly 4,000 homes, a 2.5-acre lagoon and miles of trails

HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla., October 20, 2026--Metro Development Group broke ground on Sunrise Hills, a 1,100-acre planned community along Cortez Boulevard in Brooksville that is expected to include nearly 4,000 homes, a 2.5-acre lagoon and miles of trails.

Located near Sherman Hills Golf Course and the Withlacoochee State Trail, Sunrise Hills offers access to the Nature Coast's outdoor attractions, along with nearby shopping, dining and everyday services. Its location near Interstate 75 connects residents to Brooksville and the broader Tampa Bay region.

The community's design will reflect the character of Brooksville, including a redesigned entry monument with silo-style features inspired by the Brooksville Silo Project. The design serves as a nod to the local community and connects Sunrise Hills to its surroundings from the moment residents and visitors arrive.

The name Sunrise Hills was inspired by the area's reputation as the first place where one can see the sun rise in Hernando, tying the community's identity to the land itself.

"Sunrise Hills represents a significant expansion of our investment in Hernando County," said Lisa Gibbings, vice president of corporate affairs at Metro Development Group. "We've listened to buyers and builders who want more than homes. They want communities with places to gather, stay active and enjoy the outdoors. Sunrise Hills answers that demand, bringing our inland coastal lifestyle to a 1,100-acre site with three national homebuilders."

Three national homebuilders will be featured in Sunrise Hills including: DRB Homes, D.R. Horton and Lennar.

Sunrise Hills expands Metro's investment in Hernando County, where the company is also developing Sandal Key. That 872-acre community is planned for more than 3,000 homes and will feature Metro's first lazy river integrated into a lagoon setting which will break ground in December 2026. Together, the two communities encompass nearly 2,000 acres and are planned for more than 7,200 homes at full buildout.

Metro's newest community is situated along Cortez Boulevard, with nearby shopping, dining and other everyday conveniences. The location also provides access to Brooksville and is 50 miles from downtown Tampa.

Metro Development Group adds Sunrise Hills to its growing portfolio of master-planned communities in Florida, including Sandal Key, Mirada, Epperson, Angeline, Southshore Bay, and Seaire in the Tampa Bay area.