How a modest 19th century West Virginia shop owner acquired St. Johns County farmland now slated for 3,300 new homes

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A resort-style pool at Arden development in South Florida.
Freehold Communities announced plans to turn St. Johns County farmland into 3,300 homes like the group's Arden master-planned development in South Florida pictured here. They've dubbed these communities 'agrihoods' for incorporating agricultural elements into a residential setting. (Freehold Communities)

The far flung heirs to a St. Johns County land empire are in talks to sell 2,637 acres of St. Augustine farmland to a Boston-based developer who wants to turn it into a massive residential community, according to a report.

Freehold Communities aims to build more than 3,300 homes in their signature “Agrihood” style that incorporates rural themes — including farms and “event barns” — into sprawling new developments, the Jacksonville Daily Record reported.

The farmland — situated south of the St. Augustine Outlets — has been owned by the Robinson Improvement Company since 1906, when the firm was first incorporated by patriarch John Robinson of Jacksonville.

According to family lore, Robinson was a West Virginia general store owner at the turn of the century who extended credit to some of his financially strapped customers.

A red barn in Palm Beach County, Florida.
A red barn which is part of Freehold Communities ‘Agrihood’ Arden development in Palm Beach County, Florida. A similar project is slated for St. Johns County. (Freehold Communities)

Some were unable to repay their debts, and Robinson gained control of their mountain farms.

Newly flush with cash, Robinson was traveling by train one day when he overheard a conversation about the rising value of Florida land.

He investigated St. Johns County and bought tens of thousands of acres that his heirs continue to control to this day.

They joked in a 2004 interview that “Pa” paid somewhere near a dollar an acre for the miles of wild acreage at the time — and that the land was difficult to unload for decades.

Red barn surrounded by plots of farm.
Freehold Communities Arden master-planned development in South Florida. The group is planning a similar ‘Agrihood’ in St. Johns County. (Freehold Communities)

Andrew Smith, vice president of Freehold Capital Management, told The Record that his current heirs wanted to develop the farmland to honor Robinson’s legacy in St. Johns County.

“The Robinson family has owned the land for more than 100 years and they will stay involved until the last home is sold,” Smith said. “We feel it’s a great partnership.”

The same company that developed Shearwater, Freehold conducted a national search for suitable land for a new Agrihood before targeting the Robinson family tracts.

The company has established similar Agrihoods in Palm Beach and Orlando.

Arden shop that looks like the interior of a barn.
A country style shop at Freehold Communities Arden master-planned development in South Florida. A similar project is planned on more than 2,500 acres of St. Johns County farmland. (Freehold Communities)

All told, the proposed development would house more than 9,000 residents and be developed over the course of a decade. While they accent their developments with agricultural aspects, the communities also feature modern amenities including pools and clubhouses.

The plan would also establish 250,000 square feet of commercial and retail space.

According to incorporation documents, Robinson’s heirs reside in Georgia, Connecticut, New York City and elsewhere.

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One Response

  1. Where this property is located, between 208/214, has the future CR2209 run almost down the middle. A development called Honey Branch Farms got approved by BCC near intersection of 208 and Joe Aston Rd. Property is farmland and portions will still be used. Will have 55 homes on 1 acre each and have similar community gardens.

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