Beach & University: Development of old Kmart site on hold

[Prax_N_Jax]

This area isn't too far from where I live and would love something to replace the blight that this corner of University and Beach have become.

[spuwho]

Suzanne Jenkins plans on San Nicholas had this area as a kind of "east gateway", though some people might say it is more aligned to the former Love Grove than San Nicholas.


I spotted this and went online to find the vision plan for St. Nicholas. I'm a pretty new resident and didn't know anything about these previous plans - but I've had hopes for the town center very much like what is outlined here. I think there is a lot of potential to build a unique center based on the streamline architecture. I'm excited to hear about potential revitalization in the Beach-University area as it may trickle down into our area. Does anyone know if any of the area merchants or residents are still interested in continuing with additional phases of this plan? From what I understand SNAP has not met in some time and I would love to see it become active again.

The two proponents of the St Nicholas Town Center concept were Suzanne and developer Roger Kellogg.  Roger Kellogg owned Midtown Centre at the time and was partnering with Suzanne when COJ was budgeting dollars for neighborhood identity refurbishment.

The charette they developed had Midtown as this retail/office focal point since it was bordered by Beach/Atlantic/Art Museum Drive. The concept was similar to what was done in Redmond Town Center in Redmond WA.

Movie theaters and other amenities were discussed but the mortgage crisis in 2007 and Suzanne leaving the council put it all on the backburner.

Kellogg soon sold off Midtown to D Group of Puerto Rico and the idea was shelved. I dont know if Don Redman even knew about it.

D Group has Midtown back up for sale, so any redevelopment in St Nicholas based on the original plans will have to wait until the new owners are in place.

As far as the old KMart property, we will just have to wait until the leases expire in 2018. After that we should see some exciting proposals.