My Blog

Here is the latest update on the Vilano Town Center...

Even though the economy has significantly delayed the construction of the grocery store and other commercial businesses, I am still very optimistic that multiple new mixed-use developments will be built over the next 2-5 years.  Now that the $12,000,000 streetscape and utility re-development is complete, the Vilano Beach Town Center is ready for commercial/ mixed-use development to start. 

At this time it appears that the first mixed-use project will be a Wyndham Hotel on Vilano Road.  The 72 room luxury hotel will include 2 restaurants (one that will convert to a bar at night), a day spa with exercise facilities, a potential gift shop or other business, multiple large meeting rooms, and more.  The conceptual plans were presented by Farid ("Fred") Ashdji (owner of the Town and Country Motel, which will be replaced by the Wyndham) at the October Main Street Planning Meeting as well as the November North Shores Improvement Association Meeting. I'll be writing another blog soon that will detail the specifics of this project.  This is a very exciting development!

The Vilano Beach Main Street planning group is now developing a strategy for the near-term that will involve items that are certainly less complicated than the 10+ year arduous process of completing the streetscape project, yet are still very important to the future of the Vilano Beach Town Center.  My thanks goes out to Vivian Browning, Sacha Martin, and all others who have contributed to this project over the years.  Wow, what a great job they have done and continue to do!  Please thank anyone you know who has contributed to this project over the years...

A few of the near-term goals and strategies that were discussed at the most recent meeting on November 19, 2008 are as follows:

• Due to the poor economy funds will be tight for some time, so the focus will be on projects that have minimal cost yet still improve the quality of life for the residents of Vilano Beach and the surrounding area.
• The planning of fund raisers is likely along with the further pursuit of grants from the state or county.
• The remodelling and re-development of the new County facility at the old Fiddler's Green restaurant will hopefully begin in the near term.
• The Vilano Beach website will be updated and improved.
• A possible Farmers Market and other events will be planned on an ongoing basis for the Vilano Beach Town Center area.
• The installation of a future floating dock attached to the Vilano Beach pier is something that would greatly benefit the community and would give the ability for locals and businesses to have greater access to Vilano Beach and the Town Center area.  Boats could go back and forth between downtown St. Augustine and Vilano Beach easily if a dock were installed.  Obviously there would be significant costs involved in getting this done, however grants may be pursued.

Stay tuned...even with the extremely poor economy all of us in this community are dedicated to moving forward regardless of the circumstances!  I believe that significant progress will be made in 2009 and beyond.