Orlando Extended Metro Developments (Volusia/Brevard/East Polk)

[AmIReal]

12 minutes ago, spenser1058 said:

Stavros Pizza

The family is (in)famous and the gyros are pretty darn tasty.

 

[spenser1058]

I thought this was kind of amazing - it’s been 10 years or less since the Hampton Inn on Flagler Ave. in NSB became the first new hotel to open on the beachside in years.

Now it seems they’ve completed a near total renovation. That’s certainly a change from Daytona where it seems a property has to be falling down before it gets any attention. I’m impressed:

https://www.hospitalitynet.org/announcement/41002952.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

From Hospitality Net

[spenser1058]

Decades before Sea World was a thing, Marineland of Florida pretty much invented the genre and it is actually by the ocean.

Is it up for sale again?

https://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20190521/spare-change-rumored-sale-of-marineland-could-be-opportunity-for-flagler-county?template=ampart

From the News-Journal 

[orange87]

Construction progress on high end apartments near DeBary SunRail Station.

Edited June 3, 2019 by orange87

[spenser1058]

The News-Journal says Daytona needs to come clean on plans for City Island:

https://www.news-journalonline.com/opinion/20190603/our-view-daytona-beach-officials-must-come-clean-on-city-island-plans

 

[AmIReal]

34 minutes ago, spenser1058 said:

Daytona needs to come clean on plans for City Island

The article mentions the Courthouse properties (which I have said before suck), but they fail to mention that land is owned by the County NOT the city. Because there is apparently going to be a huge upswell of Nimbyism along with the normal dysfunction between the City of the County I think we can, for now at least, declare this issue tabled.

[spenser1058]

Florida Today, Brevard County’s daily newspaper (owned by megachain Gannett), is leaving its headquarters on US 1 in Melbourne for the deep ‘burbs of Viera.

The current building in itself was a move from the center of the county (in Cocoa) but Viera is just an adventure in sprawl. Of course, since most of the county government is already there, they have that excuse.

More’s the pity, however, that the Space Coast is moving farther and farther from its roots.

https://amp.floridatoday.com/amp/1338563001

[jrs2]

On 6/2/2019 at 6:24 PM, spenser1058 said:

I thought this was kind of amazing - it’s been 10 years or less since the Hampton Inn on Flagler Ave. in NSB became the first new hotel to open on the beachside in years.

Now it seems they’ve completed a near total renovation. That’s certainly a change from Daytona where it seems a property has to be falling down before it gets any attention. I’m impressed:

https://www.hospitalitynet.org/announcement/41002952.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

From Hospitality Net

I've never been in it, but it looks fantastic from the sidewalk

[spenser1058]

It seems Volusia is going to pick up a piece of the space biz in Port Orange:

https://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20190604/company-lands-nasa-deal-to-build-moon-landers-in-port-orange

From the News-Journal 

It’s been a long time since GE and others worked on the manned space program for NASA at Progress Park (now part of One Daytona)

[spenser1058]

Downtown Daytona mixed-use project on former First Baptist site moves forward:

https://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20190606/downtown-daytona-project-gets-first-2-approvals?template=ampart

From the News-Journal 

[jrs2]

1 hour ago, spenser1058 said:

Downtown Daytona mixed-use project on former First Baptist site moves forward:

https://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20190606/downtown-daytona-project-gets-first-2-approvals?template=ampart

From the News-Journal 

is/was the original church building on this land?

[AmIReal]

2 hours ago, jrs2 said:

is/was the original church building on this land?

somewhat. The original church was rebuilt several times over. The last, I believe, was in the 80s. But yes, this is the original location. This will be the first time that lot is vacant since 1898.

The church has been contemplating moving since the '90s when the Pastor decided they would someday outgrow their spot and they are building a new church west of 95.

[spenser1058]

Marriott Renaissance and parking garage project moving forward at 640 N Atlantic Ave.

Was this the old Americano Beach Lodge, does anyone know (not to be confused with the current one 6 blocks north)?

https://www.hometownnewsvolusia.com/news/board-approves-plan-to-rebuild-daytona-hotel/article_aa8c75fc-8617-11e9-b417-8b109983c1e6.html

From Hometown News

Edited June 7, 2019 by spenser1058

[AmIReal]

14 minutes ago, spenser1058 said:

not to be confused with the current one 6 bocks north

I think the current one closed 2 years ago after hurricane damage.

This location is the Ocean Breeze Club... I may have been Americano in a previous life.

Funny, I was just told last week this project was on hold. So much for my sources.

[AmIReal]

This is what is proposed there

"The four-star Daytona Beach Marriott Renaissance will be located in what is now the Ocean Breeze Club at 640 N. Atlantic Ave.

Digital art that reacts to body movements. A glass pool shaped like a giant martini glass with live performers splashing around inside. A section of wall that becomes a guestbook everyone can sign.

Rooms and hallways peppered with artsy, chic decor that draws on vintage Daytona Beach images like ocean waves, motorcycle tire treads and sand-colored coquina rock. A sunlit lobby with a wide open view of the beach, outdoor bar, pool deck and cabanas.

Those are the types of things that could fill a new Marriott Renaissance Hotel planned to open in two years on an oceanfront site about a half-mile north of the Ocean Center. The force behind the cutting edge hotel, Premier Resorts & Management Chief Operating Officer Samir Naran, said it won’t just be a place to sleep or hold a meeting. It will be a one-of-a-kind experience.

“This will be a different caliber hotel,” Naran said. “The whole idea is you’ve arrived and you’re leaving the world behind.”

The Renaissance is just the latest piece of good news for oceanfront hotel development in Daytona Beach. There are several other major hotel projects in development or already under construction, including a new Hard Rock Hotel, Protogroup’s massive condo hotel, a Courtyard by Marriott and a Lotus boutique hotel

The 11-story hotel will become the home of a seafood-based restaurant overlooking the water with space for about 110 people to dine inside and another 75 outside. The company that will run the eatery, Atlanta-based Concentric Restaurants, has created restaurants everywhere from San Diego to Chicago to the Orlando area with Luma, Prato and Luke’s. Concentric Restaurants owner Bob Amick said he’ll design a casual, moderately priced dining spot geared toward the Daytona Beach market that will also offer an “incredible wine list.”

https://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20171127/artsy-4-star-marriott-hotel-on-horizon-for-daytona-oceanfront  

This property is about halfway between the new Hard Rock and the currently under construction Protogroup buildings. They are not building a new building, but instead are rehabbing the current building. Supposed timeline to completion 2 years.

Spenser will be glad to know the company running the restaurant, Concentric, has/had ties to the France family.

[spenser1058]

We can run from the Frances but we cannot hide!

Reading the description, that great throwaway line is particularly appropriate because I think it ties in with Daytona’s entire disconnect.

The Frances remind me of the Trumps and the reason Daytona never quite works is that they keep overshooting the target.

While they have these visions of Daytona as some world-class paradise, that’s not who their family-friendly NASCAR, Joe and Bobbi Jo Sixpack audience is.

Speaking of the Trumps, you’ll notice The Donald ran into a similar problem with Atlantic City.

An interesting comparison are the Pinellas County Beach towns which have been more consistently successful than Daytona has over the last 30 years. One could make the case that Pinellas’ ability to understand its market (and the fact those communities reflect the tourists they want to attract) has made all the difference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 7, 2019 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

Interesting numbers on Volusia County growth over the past year:

https://www.hometownnewsvolusia.com/business/volusia-business-news-slow-growth-pervasive-in-volusia-cities/article_6baf80bc-7e3e-11e9-99f7-3b931411fa05.html

From Hometown News

(Delightful!) DeLand led in % growth at 3%. Daytona and Holly Hill in East Volusia lagged but the opening of Margaritaville and pure unadulterated sprawl should move Daytona (no need to say Beach as the new development is about as close to the beach as Samsula) back up in % growth.

[spenser1058]

As a way to, ummm, steer people away from driving on the beach, Volusia County and its beachside towns have been upgrading their oceanfront parks.

Here’s the latest:

https://www.daytonabeach.com/blog/post/10-oceanfront-parks-to-explore-in-daytona-beach/

From Daytona CVB

(We’ll be waiting to hear from Sons Of the Beach...)

[spenser1058]

For the MC crowd a new cigar bar on Main Street. Smokey’s is the name (of course)!

https://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20190608/enforcers-biker-club-honchoes-open-smokeys-cigar-bar-on-daytonas-main-street

From the News-Journal 

[AmIReal]

5 hours ago, spenser1058 said:

(Delightful!) DeLand led in % growth at 3%. Daytona and Holly Hill in East Volusia lagged but the opening of Margaritaville and pure unadulterated sprawl should move Daytona (no need to say Beach as the new development is about as close to the beach as Samsula) back up in % growth.

And over in Flagler, Beautiful Bunnell came in at 5% growth leading the 2 county area. This is the 2nd year in a row Deland has led Volusia in percentage growth. NSB and the booming Oak Hill were 2nd and 3rd in % growth. Of course, all of these 3 communities are fairly small in base population numbers, but these % increases are why the locals are suddenly getting so loud about "way of life" and "town character". 

The growth pattern of building miles from the coastline (Margaritaville) is the standard growth pattern all along the Florida east coast. Most of NSBs population growth is occurring along Pioneer Trail and past I95 to... Samsula. All of North and South Village west of 95 is still NSB city limits and its a good 30 minutes to the beach.

Daytona's biggest growth has been in commercial construction which has been staggering. It seems as Daytona builds more commercial and tourist oriented buildings, West and South Volusia (Deland and NSB) become more bedroom communities.  We've seen this before- people flee from the growth and congestion, settle into homey feeling communities then begin clamoring for the conveniences left behind (malls, theaters, medical, etc) so those commercial developments expand to the once smaller communities... rinse, repeat.

 

[spenser1058]

5 minutes ago, AmIReal said:

And over in Flagler, Beautiful Bunnell came in at 5% growth leading the 2 county area. This is the 2nd year in a row Deland has led Volusia in percentage growth. NSB and the booming Oak Hill were 2nd and 3rd in % growth. Of course, all of these 3 communities are fairly small in base population numbers, but these % increases are why the locals are suddenly getting so loud about "way of life" and "town character". 

The growth pattern of building miles from the coastline (Margaritaville) is the standard growth pattern all along the Florida east coast. Most of NSBs population growth is occurring along Pioneer Trail and past I95 to... Samsula. All of North and South Village west of 95 is still NSB city limits and its a good 30 minutes to the beach.

Daytona's biggest growth has been in commercial construction which has been staggering. It seems as Daytona builds more commercial and tourist oriented buildings, West and South Volusia (Deland and NSB) become more bedroom communities.  We've seen this before- people flee from the growth and congestion, settle into homey feeling communities then begin clamoring for the conveniences left behind (malls, theaters, medical, etc) so those commercial developments expand to the once smaller communities... rinse, repeat.

 

In other words, sprawl is good, let’s continue it. Excellent plan!

Two thoughts occur: one, you’re correct that NSB is growing west along FL 44 ( lthe residents are giving the city council h**l about it, btw. NSB, however, is not abandoning several square miles of previously developed land - it’s sprawl, but it’s not just ignoring what’s already there.

Second - Volusia had done better than this. During a period when leaders (not money-grubbing followers) were on the county council like Pat Northey and Clay Henderson, the “Palmetto Curtain” kept environmentally precious areas safe. That has now been totally abandoned.

Of course, the mid-80’s growth development statutes have been abandoned by Tallahassee to encourage this, but some areas (Seminole County, for example) are managing to hold the line.

Absolutely no one but developers and the politicians profiting from them think the development model along the Atlantic coast of Florida is sustainable or desirable so it’s interesting you suggest that as the model. Volusia and Daytona have done better and we will continue to encourage them to do so.

[AmIReal]

DBNJ just posted a great opinion on "smart growth". I know not everyone can access it, so I am going way outside the norms of allowed use here...

"Everybody’s for smart growth. The problem, however, is that no two people agree on what that is.

Volusia County Council members, still stung by the failure of the half-cent sales tax vote last month, talked last week about doing a better job managing growth.

They talked about smart growth, which is certainly encouraging since we’ve certainly seen our share of the other kind over the years.

Some put the accent on the smart. Some put the accent on the growth. We tend to elect the latter.

Smart growth is supposed to mean growth that’s designed to put less of a burden on local government services – schools, roads, water and sewer, and fire and rescue. Growth that builds the local economy without degrading the quality of life around it. Growth that doesn’t leave the land looking like a bombing range. Growth that minimizes traffic congestion.

Building a subdivision in the middle of nowhere, leveling every living thing for miles to throw up homes served by a mini-sewage-treatment plant that will become a biohazard in 10 years, and hoping someday somebody will build roads and a fire station out that way, and maybe a school, too, is classic dumb growth.

Florida was built on cheap, dumb growth. It made us what we are today. Especially along Interstate 4.

Smart growth, on the other hand, is less sprawling, more compact, done with an eye toward working with existing services, cutting down driving, and maybe leaving a tree or two standing if only for show..."

The writer, Mark Lane, goes on to make good points about how the State has furthered these problems. Its a worthwhile read for anyone interested in managed growth.

https://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20190608/lane-sensing-backlash-volusia-county-seeks-to-grow-smarter

11 minutes ago, spenser1058 said:

so it’s interesting you suggest that as the model. Volusia and Daytona have done better and we will continue to encourage them to do so.

How in the world did you take away that I suggested it was a good model?

[spenser1058]

3 minutes ago, AmIReal said:

DBNJ just posted a great opinion on "smart growth". I know not everyone can access it, so I am going way outside the norms of allowed use here...

"Everybody’s for smart growth. The problem, however, is that no two people agree on what that is.

Volusia County Council members, still stung by the failure of the half-cent sales tax vote last month, talked last week about doing a better job managing growth.

They talked about smart growth, which is certainly encouraging since we’ve certainly seen our share of the other kind over the years.

Some put the accent on the smart. Some put the accent on the growth. We tend to elect the latter.

Smart growth is supposed to mean growth that’s designed to put less of a burden on local government services – schools, roads, water and sewer, and fire and rescue. Growth that builds the local economy without degrading the quality of life around it. Growth that doesn’t leave the land looking like a bombing range. Growth that minimizes traffic congestion.

Building a subdivision in the middle of nowhere, leveling every living thing for miles to throw up homes served by a mini-sewage-treatment plant that will become a biohazard in 10 years, and hoping someday somebody will build roads and a fire station out that way, and maybe a school, too, is classic dumb growth.

Florida was built on cheap, dumb growth. It made us what we are today. Especially along Interstate 4.

Smart growth, on the other hand, is less sprawling, more compact, done with an eye toward working with existing services, cutting down driving, and maybe leaving a tree or two standing if only for show..."

The writer, Mark Lane, goes on to make good points about how the State has furthered these problems. Its a worthwhile read for anyone interested in managed growth.

https://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20190608/lane-sensing-backlash-volusia-county-seeks-to-grow-smarter

As the Volusia County Council should have known (and we just discussed regarding Osceola as well), proposing a sales tax increase in an off-year, non-November election is sheer folly (thank God OC realized that).

In any event, with Margaritaville coming online as well as the Port Orange growth, voting trends are going to continue to shift rightward in Volusia for the foreseeable future. It will be more like Brevard and Lake than Seminole, Orange or Osceola. 

The window for progress in Volusia is now closed except in a few pockets like (Delightful!) DeLand.

[Uncommon]

3 hours ago, AmIReal said:

DBNJ just posted a great opinion on "smart growth". I know not everyone can access it, so I am going way outside the norms of allowed use here...

"Everybody’s for smart growth. The problem, however, is that no two people agree on what that is.

Volusia County Council members, still stung by the failure of the half-cent sales tax vote last month, talked last week about doing a better job managing growth.

They talked about smart growth, which is certainly encouraging since we’ve certainly seen our share of the other kind over the years.

Some put the accent on the smart. Some put the accent on the growth. We tend to elect the latter.

Smart growth is supposed to mean growth that’s designed to put less of a burden on local government services – schools, roads, water and sewer, and fire and rescue. Growth that builds the local economy without degrading the quality of life around it. Growth that doesn’t leave the land looking like a bombing range. Growth that minimizes traffic congestion.

Building a subdivision in the middle of nowhere, leveling every living thing for miles to throw up homes served by a mini-sewage-treatment plant that will become a biohazard in 10 years, and hoping someday somebody will build roads and a fire station out that way, and maybe a school, too, is classic dumb growth.

Florida was built on cheap, dumb growth. It made us what we are today. Especially along Interstate 4.

Smart growth, on the other hand, is less sprawling, more compact, done with an eye toward working with existing services, cutting down driving, and maybe leaving a tree or two standing if only for show..."

The writer, Mark Lane, goes on to make good points about how the State has furthered these problems. Its a worthwhile read for anyone interested in managed growth.

https://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20190608/lane-sensing-backlash-volusia-county-seeks-to-grow-smarter

How in the world did you take away that I suggested it was a good model?

Reported.

[spenser1058]

Volusia County tourism growth over a decade comes in next to last among Florida’s coastal counties (but they’re ahead of Cedar Key!).

But, hey, the same old concrete canyons pitched for 30 years in the county’s linchpin beach town will turn it all around any day now!

https://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20190609/volusia-again-set-tourism-record-but-still-lags-behind-in-florida

From the News-Journal 

Hey, their plans are at least as effective as Marco Polo Park...

Edited June 9, 2019 by spenser1058