As North Central Florida continues to grow, smaller cities are preparing to handle the demand for housing.

Today Hawthorne broke ground on a housing development, years in the making. It's the first subdivision to be built in Hawthorne in 20 years. It'll be called Bella Meadows and once complete the 41 new homes will be the beginning of what residents and officials hope will stimulate commercial growth in the small city.

"You got to grasp growth as it comes, if you don't it'll run right over you. And that's what we're trying to do," says mayor of Hawthorne Terry Knowles. "We're trying to control the growth make sure that it happens in a nice orderly fashion and that we have the infrastructure ready for that growth as it comes in," he added.

Citizens and local government worked under the auspices of the Neighborhood Housing and Development Corporation (NHDC) to fund the purchase of 15 acres near the much neglected Holden Park area. The land --which was purchased from local real estate broker and Century 21 branch owner, Jane Segal for $60,000-- was cleaned up by local residents who encouraged the development.

It's really the first subdivision that has come along for Hawthorne in a long time, Hawthorne is growing," says Segal.

The homes will sell at market rate, and it's expected to start in the low 150,000 dollar price range.

"The citizens are ready for it," says Michael Rutledge a residet who galvanized the citizen participation. "It's always been ready for it, but once the local government get a grip that we want it and we need it it's just gonna fall right into place."

Stacey Samuel