Why allow so many apartments in Town Center? Mayor David Alfin responds

Palm Coast Observer
Opinion

Editor's Note: After the Palm Coast Observer published a story about a new Town Center development called The Promenade on Feb. 22, dozens of comments were posted on Facebook, including this one:

“... As for this little entertainment district, we need to find the original plans, and compare it to what it is now. Because I don’t even think all those apartments that are built back there, and still being built, were planned. Even those houses back there.”

Here is Mayor David Alfin's response:

Please allow me to give you a little bit of history about the planning and development of Town Center in Palm Coast:

In 2005, Palm Coast Holdings, a subsidiary of Allete Properties, purchased and prepared infrastructure for our 1,550 acre “Town Center" area as a massive mixed-use development. Major improvements were created to transform the area into a neo-traditional downtown. Its original construction plan included retail shops, residential and commercial development, restaurants, parks and entertainment venues—all within proximity to walking, biking and sharing work and play experiences in one location.

The recession hit Palm Coast in 2008, and many developers held off on their plans to expand here. After 14 years, several have come back to our community, building rentals and single-family homes. And now, PC Town Center Development has introduced The Promenade, with their proposal to addressing the original vision for mixed-use expansion.

The Promenade will have six four-floor buildings on 17 acres with a mix of commercial, retail and institutional spaces available to lease on the first floor and 204 apartments spanning floors 2-4. The developer also wants to offer "attainable" housing for teachers and school employees and rental space for medical purposes.

City staff has examined and approved their site at the corner of Bulldog Drive and Central Avenue, based on its designation as “DRI – Urban Core and Conservation on our Future Land Use Map,” intended to be developed as walkable and pedestrian-friendly.

The Promenade is also aligned with our Future Land Use objectives to preserve the character of residential communities, prevent urban sprawl, protect open spaces and environmental resources, provide a mix of land uses, housing types, services and job opportunities for residents to work, shop, engage in recreational activities, and attend school and religious services, reasonably close to residential dwellings.

So yes, homes, apartments and townhomes were always planned for construction in Town Center, giving residents alternatives for how they want to live. And now that more people are moving to Town Center, businesses are looking to operate close by. The city is presently working with several owners of retail stores and restaurants to replicate this mixed land use plan.

Town Center is now becoming the spot for which it was originally intended: a desirable, livable location where residents can live, work and play with convenience and quality. This is a functional concept for everyone.