What if there was land  in the Downtown DeLand corridor available for development?  What if you wanted to take a small portion of your Powerball winnings, or were given a blank check to develop a property type of your choice?

What would you build? What could you build? ​

Not far from DeLand is the beautiful Astor/Pierson area, a popular spot for folks looking to move to rural Central Florida. This area has a lot to offer those who enjoy outdoor living and has close access to some of Central Florida's best wildlife. 

There is a constant in the world of fashion and that is it is always changing from year-to-year. Each year there are new trends, styles, and colors. The same can be said for home design also.

Each year design companies and paint companies consider what may trend for the year, based upon sales history, forecasts and having an overall pulse on the market.

This year, “there is a notable shift from the warm colors that have dominated in the past to a prevalence of cooler hues,” reports Mary Lawlor, color marketing manager for Kelly-Moore Paints. Softer, soothing shades of gray, green, blue, pink, and white are expected to be popular in 2016 and may be the very thing that will help your house get noticed.

Below are the top ten colors you can expect to see more of in 2016:

1) Horizon Grey is an atmospheric, mid-toned gray. 

2) Fiddlehead Fern, a crisp yellow-green. 

3) Alabaster, a classic off-white. 

Winter is upon us, and it is the time of year that Florida gets many seasonal residents that escape cooler temperatures elsewhere in the country. Our mild winters make our state a popular destination not only for humans, but for a particular animal species also.

Florida and its surrounding waters are home to manatees, also known as sea cows. When the waters cool in the winter, these friendly creatures make their way to freshwater springs due to the springs' constant 72 degree year-round temperature.

One of the best places to view manatees in our area is Blue Springs State Park in Orange City, FL. Blue Springs offers a safe haven for the animals that is accessible to them via the cooler waters of the St. Johns River. The springs offers a wooden path along the edge of Blue Springs run with several viewing areas to get up close to these majestic creatures.

Blue Springs encourages people to visit the manatees and experience something that is truly unique to the state of Florida, but there are a few things to keep in mind to help protect the animals and humans that interact nearby. 

Due to the protection of manatees under the Endangered Species Act, the park closes all water activity, including swimming and tubing, in the spring until further notice and the manatees have vacated the area in the warmer months. 

In addition, the FWC offers the following guidelines related to viewing manatees:

1) Look, but don't touch manatees. Also, don't feed manatees or give them water. If manatees become accustomed to being around people, it can alter their behavior in the wild, perhaps causing them to lose their natural fear of boats and humans, which may make them more susceptible to harm.

The DeLand area offers a lot versatility when it comes to community options. For some, a traditional subdivision is the ideal place to live and raise a family. Areas such as Victoria Park and Saddlebrook have the traditional benefits of subdivisions and have easy access to Interstate 4, while being close to town. For others, a rural setting with more land is preferable. If more acreage and space is your ideal place to live, West Volusia contains the perfect community that is within close proximity to Downtown DeLand. 

An older community that is very spread out, but is still 10 minutes away from downtown is Glenwood. The Glenwood area reaches from State Road 44 (New York Ave.) all the way to Deleon Springs along Grand Avenue. This is approximately an eight mile stretch that is decorated by beautiful live oak  and water oak trees.

Glenwood has a lot of benefits that suite those who may be seeking a more scenic and laid back lifestyle. Some of the highlights include:

1. Scenic bicycle path. Stretching most of the Glenwood area along Grand Avenue, this path is great for serious bicyclists or family riders alike. The path is part of the Spring-to-Spring Trail, stretching from Deleon Springs to Blue Springs State Park and beyond. It is the perfect place to burn some extra calories before sunset.