LECANTO, Fla., July 23, 2026 — Mr Hemp House®, a veteran-founded healthy-home company based in Central Florida, today announced that it has begun evaluating a privately owned property in Lecanto, Florida, as the potential location for a future Mr Hemp House healthy-home model.
The early-stage concept calls for the eventual removal of an existing manufactured home and the development of a new showcase residence designed to demonstrate healthier-home assessment, thoughtful material selection, moisture-conscious construction and practical residential design for Florida homeowners.
The land is owned outright. Mr Hemp House is currently documenting the property, evaluating site conditions, reviewing the preliminary home concept and beginning discussions concerning access, road conditions, permitting requirements and other factors that would affect the project’s feasibility.
No demolition, permitting or construction has begun. The project remains subject to site due diligence, design development, county review, road and access considerations, budgeting, financing, contractor coordination and final approval by the property owner.
“This property gives us an opportunity to explore what a practical Mr Hemp House model home could look like in a growing part of Florida,” said Christopher L. Penn, founder of Mr Hemp House and a U.S. Air Force veteran. “The goal is not simply to replace one structure with another. The goal is to create a home that helps people see, experience and understand healthier materials, better moisture management and a different standard for residential living.”
A Potential Showcase for a Growing Florida Community
Lecanto is located in Citrus County, an area preparing for continued population and housing growth. State population projections indicate that Citrus County could grow from approximately 166,500 residents in 2025 to nearly 195,000 by 2050. Citrus County is also updating its comprehensive plan to guide land use, development, infrastructure and conservation through 2050.
The proposed model home is being considered as a long-term demonstration property that could introduce residents, retirees, builders, contractors, real-estate professionals and community leaders to healthier-home strategies.
The concept is particularly relevant to people moving to Florida who may be considering retirement, aging in place, downsizing or building a lower-maintenance home suited to the state’s heat, humidity, storms and moisture conditions. Homeowners in that position often begin with a professional Healthy Home Assessment.
“Florida will continue welcoming people who want a different quality of life,” Penn said. “Many of those homeowners will be asking more questions about indoor air, moisture, mold risk, material toxicity, durability, insurance, maintenance and how a home will support them as they age. We want this model to help answer those questions in a tangible way.”
From Existing Property to Proposed Model Home
The property currently contains an older manufactured home. If the project advances, the proposed development process would include:
- Property and boundary review
- Site and access evaluation
- Road-condition and infrastructure discussions
- Manufactured-home demolition planning
- Septic, utility and drainage evaluation
- Healthy-home design development
- Budgeting and constructability review
- Citrus County permitting and regulatory review
- Contractor and trade-partner coordination
- Future construction of a Mr Hemp House model residence
The preliminary concept is expected to prioritize a manageable footprint, efficient use of space and design features appropriate for retirees, smaller households and homeowners seeking healthier alternatives to conventional construction.
Potential features may include:
- Moisture-conscious wall and roof assemblies
- Healthier interior finishes
- Low-toxicity material selections
- Improved ventilation and indoor-air strategies
- Durable, lower-maintenance exterior materials
- Energy-conscious design
- Aging-in-place considerations
- Bio-based construction materials
- HomeHealthScan and Home Health Score integration
- Educational displays explaining how the home was designed and built
Final specifications have not been approved and may change as design, engineering, permitting and budgeting proceed.
Working With Citrus County and the Community
Because Lecanto is an unincorporated community, the project will require coordination with Citrus County and other applicable agencies rather than a municipal government. Mr Hemp House intends to begin appropriate conversations concerning the property, roadway conditions, site access, permitting requirements and the potential community value of a healthy-home demonstration project.
Citrus County has been evaluating future growth, infrastructure and road needs through its long-range planning process and current pavement-management initiatives. Mr Hemp House believes a successful model home could contribute to that broader conversation by demonstrating how smaller, healthier and more resilient homes may serve future residents while respecting the character of the surrounding community.
The company also expects the property could eventually support:
- Scheduled model-home tours
- Healthy-home educational events
- Builder and contractor demonstrations
- Material and product showcases
- HomeHealthScan consultations
- Healthy Home Assessments
- Aging-in-place education
- Community and industry partnerships
- Future Mr Hemp House dealer development
A Model for Healthier Florida Living
The proposed Lecanto project would become part of America’s Healthy Home Platform, the connected assessment, education and solutions system being developed by Mr Hemp House. The platform includes HomeHealthScan, the Home Health Score, professional Healthy Home Assessments, homeowner education, healthier renovation guidance, bio-based materials and healthier-home design and construction services.
A future model home would allow visitors to move beyond digital information and experience healthier-home principles in a completed residential setting.
“People need to be able to see and feel the difference,” Penn said. “A model home can turn healthy-home ideas into something real. It can show what materials were selected, how moisture was addressed, why ventilation matters and how a healthier home can still be attractive, attainable and practical.”
Current Project Status
The Lecanto initiative is currently in the property-evaluation, feasibility and early design stage. The land is owned, and Mr Hemp House completed an initial property visit and photographic review on July 23, 2026.
Current work includes reviewing the parcel, documenting site conditions, evaluating access and roadway concerns, developing the preliminary home concept and identifying the discussions required with Citrus County and other applicable agencies.
No demolition, permit application, groundbreaking or construction has occurred. The project will move forward only if the property, regulatory, infrastructure, budget and construction requirements support a viable development plan. Updates will be published as measurable milestones are completed.
About Mr Hemp House®
Mr Hemp House® is a veteran-founded healthy-home company developing America’s Healthy Home Platform. The company’s services and technologies include HomeHealthScan, the Home Health Score, professional Healthy Home Assessments, healthy-home education, healthier retrofit planning, material-selection guidance, hemp-based construction and bio-based building systems.
Mr Hemp House serves homeowners, builders, contractors, real-estate professionals and strategic partners seeking to assess, improve, renovate or build healthier homes. Project inquiries are welcome through the Mr Hemp House contact page.
Media, Project and Partnership Contact
Christopher L. Penn
Founder, Mr Hemp House®
Orange City, Florida
Phone: (740) 300-1565
Email: sales@mrhemphouse.com
Company website: MrHempHouse.com
Assessment platform: HomeHealthScan.com
The proposed Lecanto model home is in early feasibility and design evaluation. No representation is made that demolition, permitting, financing or construction has been approved or commenced. Project scope, design, timing and viability remain subject to property-owner approval, due diligence, regulatory review, infrastructure considerations, budgeting and contractor coordination.
HomeHealthScan and the Home Health Score are educational screening and decision-support tools. They do not provide medical diagnoses, laboratory testing, environmental certification, code inspections or real-estate inspections. Qualified professional testing or evaluation may be recommended when appropriate.