Here are some of the big projects that will be coming to Merritt Island
A number of new housing, medical, retail and restaurant developments are coming to Merritt Island.
The projects are creating excitement among many in the community, but concerns among others who fear the potential negative impacts of overdevelopment on the island.
Here's a rundown of some of projects to watch for:
New hospital: Health First has started construction of a new hospital, medical office building and parking garage complex off State Road 520 that will replace the company's Cape Canaveral Hospital in Cocoa Beach, which opened in 1962. The new five-story, 120-bed hospital will be built to withstand a Category 4 hurricane and will be built 13 feet above sea level for added flooding and surge protection. The $410 million complex is scheduled to open in early-2027.
A growing island: Merritt Island development boom includes housing, hospital, retail, restaurants
Retail development: A new commercial development is under construction on a 6.5-acre site that formerly was home to a car dealership that moved to another location. The project ― called Christian Commons ― is being developed by Satellite Beach-based Matthew Development. Tenants will include a Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurant, another quick-serve restaurant that has not yet been announced, a Wawa convenience store/gas station, an El Car Wash, and a Christian Brothers Automotive vehicle repair and maintenance shop.
New Merritt Square Mall tenants: A First Watch restaurant will open this spring on a Merritt Square Mall outparcel site formerly occupied by Bonefish Grill. A specialty retailer catering to cruise ship crew members is scheduled to open at the mall in late spring, In addition, the mall's general manager, Shannon Stanley, said there are several pending deals with new food court tenants and other specialty boutiques.
Apartment project: Among the larger residential projects being developed on Merritt Island is Fortenberry Road Apartments, a $120 million, 370-unit luxury apartment complex. The project will occupy the site of a former paintball complex near the intersection of Fortenberry Road and Harbor Woods Boulevard.
Other residential developments: Various projects involving single-family homes and town homes are underway on North Merritt Island. That includes projects on several parcels totaling about 192 acres that at one time were owned by the Crisafulli family. These parcels previously had been used for citrus groves or cattle-grazing, but subsequently were sold to housing developers.
Event and concert amphitheater: The Brevard Veterans Memorial Center and the Merritt Island Redevelopment Agency are working on developing a concert and events amphitheater at a site adjacent to the veterans center. That facility would have a capacity of up 5,000.
Dave Berman is business editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Berman at dberman@floridatoday.com, on X at @bydaveberman and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dave.berman.54
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Big projects in the pipeline for Merritt Island
