Living in Florida's Space Coast
The Preserve at Heritage Oaks
The Preserve is the final gate at the end of Heritage Oaks Boulevard, and it holds the biggest houses and the biggest lots in the development. Botanica Circle wraps a community lake, three car garages are standard rather than an upgrade, and solar arrays on these roofs are common enough to be worth asking about.
The Preserve at Heritage Oaks In West Melbourne, Florida
Heritage Oaks Boulevard runs south off Minton Road and passes several gated subdivisions before it ends. The Preserve is the last one, which is exactly why people who live here like it: there is nothing beyond you, and no reason for anyone to drive past who is not going home. Every parcel sits inside the City of West Melbourne, so city police, city permitting and city utilities apply, and the county is not in the picture for day to day matters.
Preserve at Heritage Oaks Development Company registered with the state in 2003, and a second entity took over the remaining lots in 2008. The houses themselves date from 2007 through 2013, which makes this the last of the Heritage Oaks subdivisions to fill in and the only one that built straight through the downturn and out the other side. The practical result is that these are the newest houses on the boulevard by several years, and they were built to a noticeably larger program than the plats nearer the entrance.
The scale is the difference. Living area runs about 2,225 to 4,136 square feet, four to six bedrooms, two to four baths, and lots from roughly 0.21 acre up to about 0.73. Three car garages are the norm. Plans include six bedroom two story layouts with upstairs suites, ground floor primary suites with double bathroom arrangements, formal dining rooms and flex space. Homes here have been trading between $440,000 and $925,000, though the everyday number sits nearer $480,000.
Water is built into the layout. Botanica Circle bends around a community lake and a run of homes look out at it from screened lanais, and there is a non navigable canal along part of the boundary. The community pool sits beside an oversized open lawn suited to a picnic, and it is a short walk from most of the circle. Private pools are here too, several with spas, summer kitchens, paver decks and cut stone work.
Two specifics worth raising early. Solar photovoltaic arrays are unusually common on these roofs, including systems large enough to hold an electric bill near nothing, so establish whether an array is owned outright, financed or leased, and get the paperwork before closing. And Preserve at Heritage Oaks Subdivision Homeowners Association, Inc. is active with the Florida Division of Corporations, administered through an outside management company, with the gate and the pool among the things it maintains. Dues apply.
The Preserve at Heritage Oaks At A Glance
The Preserve at a glance, at the end of the boulevard.
| Detail | What you get |
|---|---|
| Detail | Value |
| Location | Botanica Circle and Lylewood, at the far end of Heritage Oaks Boulevard off Minton Road, West Melbourne 32904 |
| Jurisdiction | City of West Melbourne. Incorporated separately from Melbourne, with its own police department, permitting counter and utility service |
| Recorded plat | One, Preserve at Heritage Oaks, the last subdivision on Heritage Oaks Boulevard |
| Streets | Botanica Circle, plus Lylewood |
| Gated | Yes, coded gate, and the community is the terminus of the boulevard so there is no through traffic |
| Built | 2007 to 2013, mostly on the current side of the 2007 building code updates |
| Home size | About 2,225 to 4,136 square feet under air |
| Bedrooms | Four to six, with two to four baths |
| Lot size | Roughly 0.21 to 0.73 acre |
| Construction | Concrete block, tile and wood look flooring, granite counters, maple cabinetry, paver lanais, storm shutters or roll down shutters, some with gas appliances |
| Association | Yes. Preserve at Heritage Oaks Subdivision Homeowners Association, Inc., active with the Florida Division of Corporations and administered through an outside management company. Dues apply |
| Amenities | Community pool with a large adjoining open lawn and picnic area |
| Garage | Three car is the norm, with two car on the smaller plans |
| Water | A community lake inside the circle with homes fronting it, plus a non navigable canal along part of the boundary |
| Solar | Rooftop photovoltaic systems are common here, several of them large. Confirm ownership and any financing on the array |
| Utilities | City of West Melbourne services. Confirm the sewer connection, whether gas is run to the house, and how any solar array is metered |
| Price range | $440,000 to $925,000, with the everyday number nearer $480,000 |
The Preserve at Heritage Oaks Details
End Of The Line, On Purpose
This is the last gate on Heritage Oaks Boulevard. Nothing continues past it. Combined with the coded entry, that produces a street where the only vehicles belong to residents, guests and delivery drivers, which is unusual this close to the Minton Road corridor.
Three Car Garages As Standard
Most houses here were built with three bays. On a street where lots run up to three quarters of an acre, that means room for a work vehicle, a boat trailer or a project without eating into the driveway. Verify the depth if you are bringing something long.
A Lake Inside The Circle
Botanica Circle wraps a community lake, and a run of homes face it from screened lanais with west light in the evening. There is also a non navigable canal on part of the boundary. Ask which body of water a listing actually fronts, because they are not the same view.
Solar Is Common Here
Rooftop photovoltaic systems show up on these houses more than in most Brevard neighborhoods, including arrays sized to cover nearly all of a household's usage. Before you fall in love with a low utility bill, get the array's ownership, warranty and any financing documents in hand.
Outdoor Rooms, Not Just Patios
The back yards here were built out rather than left blank. Pebble finish pools with spas, paver and cut stone decks, water features, extended screened lanais and custom summer kitchens with sinks and refrigeration all turn up. Budget your inspection time for the equipment behind the house, not only inside it.
Fast, But Not Cheap
Houses here go under contract quickly, sometimes within a few days, and the range runs high because the plans are large and the lots are generous. Be ready with your financing and your showing schedule before you start looking, not after you find something.
Homes For Sale In The Preserve at Heritage Oaks
Anything currently listed inside The Preserve appears below. This is a small gated plat and homes here have gone under contract in days, so treat a new listing as a same week decision.
The Preserve at Heritage Oaks Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Preserve in Melbourne or West Melbourne?
West Melbourne. The parcels sit inside the city limits of a separate incorporated municipality, with its own police department, council and building department. The 32904 ZIP is shared with unincorporated pockets and with Melbourne addresses, which is where the confusion comes from.
Is it gated?
Yes, with coded entry, and it sits at the very end of Heritage Oaks Boulevard, so there is no through traffic even inside the larger development. Arrange gate access ahead of any showing.
Is there a homeowners association?
Yes. Preserve at Heritage Oaks Subdivision Homeowners Association, Inc. holds an active registration with the state, and day to day administration runs through a management firm rather than a volunteer office. Dues apply and the gate and the pool are among the items they cover. Request the recorded documents, the current budget and the reserve position in writing.
What amenities are inside?
A community pool with a large open lawn and picnic area beside it, within an easy walk of most of Botanica Circle. There is also a community lake and a non navigable canal along part of the boundary.
How big are the homes and lots?
Larger than most of the neighboring subdivisions. Living area runs about 2,225 to 4,136 square feet with four to six bedrooms, and lots from roughly a fifth of an acre to about three quarters. Three car garages are the norm rather than an upgrade.
Why do so many homes have solar panels?
Several owners installed rooftop photovoltaic systems, some of them large enough to cover nearly all of a household's electricity use. If a house has one, find out whether the system is owned, financed or leased, what the warranty covers, and how the arrangement transfers at closing.
How quickly do homes sell here?
Quickly. The middle of the run is under a month and some have gone under contract within a few days of listing. If you are shopping this community, have your financing arranged and be prepared to see a new listing the week it appears.
What is the commute like?
Heritage Oaks Boulevard feeds onto Minton Road, with US 192 north and Palm Bay Road and Norfolk Parkway south. Interstate 95 is a few minutes west, the hospitals and retail are within ten, Melbourne Orlando International Airport is about fifteen minutes and the beaches roughly twenty five.
Botanica Circle, West Melbourne 32904
Take Minton Road south from US 192 and turn onto Heritage Oaks Boulevard, then stay on it past the earlier neighborhoods until the pavement ends at the Preserve gate. Botanica Circle loops from there around the community lake. Coming up from the south you reach Minton from Palm Bay Road or Norfolk Parkway. It is the deepest point in the development, which is the reason it is quiet and also the reason you should time the drive out at eight in the morning before you commit.
Once you are on Minton you are close to everything on this side of the county. Retail runs north and south along the corridor, Interstate 95 is a few minutes west at US 192 or Palm Bay Road, and the hospital campuses are within a short drive. Melbourne Orlando International Airport and the aerospace and defense employers near it are about fifteen minutes northeast, and the beach crossings roughly twenty five minutes east.
Near The Preserve at Heritage Oaks In Merritt Island
Considering The Preserve at Heritage Oaks?
My partner Nichole and I watch all of the Heritage Oaks gates, and The Preserve is the one where waiting a weekend costs you the house. Tell us the size, the garage count and whether you want the lake, and we will have gate access arranged and a showing on the calendar the day something lists. Call or text (321) 212-7676.
