OCALA, FL – Vitalis Smart Communities advised Merrimac Ventures on the bulk internet agreement for its 360-unit multifamily development of garden-style apartments and townhomes in Ocala, Florida. The agreement is expected to add approximately $216K in annual NOI and over $4.1M in value creation, with 100% of the fiber infrastructure funded by the provider.

Vitalis ran a competitive process to identify a provider that could deliver fiber to the unit across both the apartment buildings and townhomes. The result is a 10-year bulk fiber agreement that gives every home dedicated symmetrical fiber connectivity, with the full infrastructure investment carried by the provider instead of Merrimac Ventures. The agreement also includes a 12-month ramp-up period aligned with lease-up, so the economics follow occupancy.

For ownership, the outcome is new ancillary income and a measurable increase in asset value at a time when rent growth is limited. For residents, it means a seamless fiber experience in every apartment and townhome from move-in.

“With rent growth flat and interest rates high, telecom is one of the most direct ways to grow NOI,” said Meaghan Peek, Vice President at Vitalis Smart Communities. “Merrimac Ventures brought us in early, which let us secure fiber to every unit with zero capital outlay and turn connectivity into a revenue line from the start.”

Vitalis benchmarked the opportunity through the Vitalis Marketplace and ran the negotiation through VitalisOS, securing a long-term agreement that gives Merrimac Ventures certainty on connectivity for the next decade.

About Vitalis Smart Communities
Vitalis Smart Communities is the nation’s leading telecom advisory firm specializing in connectivity solutions for multifamily communities, HOAs, COAs, and developers. The firm designs and negotiates bulk internet, managed Wi-Fi, and smart building infrastructure that increases property value and enhances resident experience.

Media Contact: Abigail Kind, 802.881.9278