Get ready for 'new era' of economic development in PSL

By HILLARY COPSEY
The city is entering a new phase of economic development as it finishes cleaning up the mistakes of the original developer, City Manager Don Cooper said Friday during a City Council planning retreat.

"At the winter retreat, in February, you will be in a new era of the city," Cooper said. "By February 2007, we'll have an answer to Burnham, whether or not they will come here."

Even if the California biotech facility, The Burnham Institute, does not build in Port St. Lucie, Cooper guaranteed other high-tech industry would arrive.

For years, the city has worked to build the roads, utilities and other basic amenities not provided by Port St. Lucie's founder, General Development Co.

That work largely is finished. Next year, a slew of new projects begin that will change the face of the city, Cooper said.

During the two-day planning retreat, City Council approved a $650 million budget that included cash for the Crosstown Parkway and Becker Road. Both roads will have exits on Interstate 95 underway next year, while a new interchange on Florida's Turnpike opens.

The city's first significant retail development — The Landing — is coming to Tradition, as Wal-Mart and Sam's Club go up on Gatlin Boulevard. Meanwhile, construction will start next year on City Center, the city's first downtown, causing "a radical change on the east-side," Cooper said.
And while growth is slowing, Planning Director Cheryl Friend said as many as 400,000 people could live in Port St. Lucie by 2016.

A major part of that growth will come in development west of I-95.

As many as 80,000 homes are planned in the western areas annexed since 2003. While those developments bring retail, school sites and other infrastructure the city needs, they also will add 200,000 people.

"We need to begin thinking, given that environment ... about the next 10 to 15 years, because it's going to be a different city than the last 50 years," Cooper said. "The city is now on a national stage."

As the city enters the high-wage industry competition, Port St. Lucie planners are trying to educate themselves, elected officials and the community. The city is hosting a biotech conference on October 27 with speakers from Scripps Research Institute and other organizations.

"We're hoping this is the first of many," Assistant Planning Director Daniel Holbrook said.
Port St. Lucie is about to embark on a new era of economic development, City Manager Don Cooper says. Next year, Port St. Lucie will start several city-altering projects:
Crosstown Parkway: The third east-west thoroughfare will be under construction from a new Interstate 95 interchange to the St. Lucie River.

Becker Road: Work will begin on a new I-95 interchange and finish on a interchange at Florida's Turnpike.

The Landing at Tradition: While not a city project, Cooper calls Core Communities' upscale shopping center the city's first significant retail development.

City Center: A partnership with developer George de Guardiola will create the city's first downtown.