Bill’s best ideas evolved and eventually became his “dream”. He may not have been the first person to consider the idea but he was certainly the first person to follow through. He sold almost everything he had to finance and build his dream. The Palms of Manasota would become America’s First Gay and Lesbian Retirement Community. His plan was simply to “build it and they will come.” The community would encompass 3 phases. The first phase would consist of single-family homes, and the second phase would include duplex and triplex villas.

Bill’s real estate experience came in handy while searching for just the right location. He looked at several sites closely including, but not limited, to an orange grove in Sarasota and acreage on Padre Island, Texas. All potential sites he found had some type of problem associated with developing it. In 1996, he found close to 30 acres of lush farmland in beautiful Palmetto. It was a perfect spot, slightly off the beaten path but close to all the arts, beaches, activities, health care, and nature of St. Petersburg, Tampa, and Sarasota. Phase 1 construction of the Palms of Manasota began in 1997.