Port St. Lucie sells another 45 acres for 'entertainment district' in Southern Grove area
PORT ST. LUCIE — The city is selling two pieces of land in Southern Grove to Tradition Entertainment District LLC, adding a second to a plan discussed in January to increase recreational offerings in the city's "jobs corridor."
In January, the City Council voted to begin negotiations with the company on about 20 acres of land along Village Parkway, adjacent to the future site of a Costco distribution center. The council formally moved forward with that sale Monday, and added a second property in the area, about 45 acres just north of the planned Marshall Parkway extension.
The company, a subsidiary of developer Piticopu, would pay about $6.8 million for the 20 acres and $12 million for about 45 acres, totaling nearly $19 million for about 64 acres, according to the purchase and sale agreements.
One vacant property separates the two.
Entertainmenet, shopping, eating and more
Piticopu representatives did not address the city's Government Finance Corp. — made up of council members — Monday, but at the January meeting, company principal Gustavo Lumer said he plans for an "entertainment district" that could include retail, entertainment facilities, restaurants and more.
The company is already developing four restaurants on a separate 5½-acre site nearby: Bonefish Grill, First Watch, Outback Steakhouse — and another not yet named — on Village Parkway at Innovation Way.
"The whole idea is to bring more to Tradition," Lumer said. "We love the city, and we hope to do more business here."
As she had in January, Mayor Shannon Martin emphasized that these developments fit within the master plans for the 3,605-acre Southern Grove area, which the city acquired in 2018.
Master plan vision becoming reality
The city's initial 2018 plan included a mix of industrial, retail and recreational options. A more comprehensive 2021 master plan called for an industrial corridor along Interstate 95 — an area which has now been almost entirely planned out — with the entertainment and retail acting as a buffer between that area and Village Parkway.
"This really rounds out our master plan and our vision for Southern Grove," Martin said.
More: Port St. Lucie eyes new 'entertainment district' with shopping, restaurants near Tradition
More: More than $7.8 million included in final state budget for projects in St. Lucie County
The land sales passed 3-0, with Vice Mayor Jolien Caraballo and Councilwoman Stephanie Morgan absent.
With two properties now committed for the entertainment district, there are only five available parcels left in Southern Grove, mostly along the strip intended for mixed-use development.
Wicker Perlis is TCPalm's Watchdog Reporter for St. Lucie County. You can reach him at wicker.perlis@tcpalm.com and 504-331-0516.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: $19 million property sale agreed to by Port St. Lucie City Council
