Brevard has recently experienced a building boom, and this trend is likely to continue next year.
In 2025, development is expected to be strong, especially in the residential sector, including single-family homes, apartment complexes, and hotels.
Commercial and industrial projects are also underway throughout Brevard County, as well as projects at Space Coast universities.
Port Canaveral CEO John Murray said a record amount of lumber and plywood flowed through the port’s cargo terminals in November and December, a move the housing industry expects to see in 2025. He said this was a sign that things were about to recover in the second quarter.
“This is how things work in the world market,” Murray said.
So what will happen with construction and development along the Space Coast in 2025? Below are samples from around the province.
palm bay housing projects
There are many housing projects underway in Palm Bay, as Brevard County’s most populous city currently has a population of just over 140,000 people.
Palm Bay Deputy City Manager Joan Juncala-Brown said there are 9,264 homes approved and under construction in the city. A further 21,133 units are going through the review process.
Junkara-Brown said one of the large projects approved is Cypress Bay West near Babcock Street and Mara Loma Boulevard in southeast Palm Bay. This is a three-phase project that will include 1,219 single-family homes and 124 townhomes. The single-family homes currently under construction are being developed by DR Horton.
The other is the Palm Vista Everlands project. The project includes a mix of 854 single-family homes and 624 multifamily villas and townhomes, some of which are in age-restricted communities. The site is north of Malabar Road in northwest Palm Bay, not far from St. John’s Heritage Parkway. There are three subdivisions with Lennar Homes as the developer.
Palm Bay high-tech expansion
Giankara-Brown said two high-tech companies are pursuing major expansion projects in Palm Bay.
L3Harris Technologies currently has two major projects under construction at its Palm Bay campus.
L3Harris’ Project SAMT (an acronym for Safe Advanced Manufacturing Technology) is currently building a 105,000 square foot facility. The project is expected to create approximately 100 jobs over three years with $110 million in private capital investment, $80 million in manufacturing equipment, and $11 million in private company assets.
L3Harris’ Project LEO (short for Low Earth Orbit) is also under construction in a 93,000 square foot facility. The company plans to invest $70 million in building construction, $13.1 million in manufacturing equipment, and create 101 new jobs over three years.
These projects received approval from the Palm Bay City Council for a 10-year city property tax abatement. Giankara-Brown said the property tax abatement would total an estimated $1.14 million a year for the first five years and then be reduced thereafter.
Another company that received city property tax incentives is Rogue Valley Microdevices, an Oregon-based semiconductor company that is developing a facility at 2301 Commerce Drive in Palm Bay, with a grand opening in the works. It is tentatively scheduled for mid-2025.
Rogue Valley is occupying and renovating an existing 50,000 square foot facility and investing approximately $25 million in private capital in equipment and facility improvements. Rogue Valley projects to add at least 75 jobs over three years.
Giankara-Brown said the Palm Bay City Council approved a seven-year tax abatement for Rogue Valley, with incentives of about $570,000 per year for the first four years, followed by tax abatements.
Balance on Titusville
Titusville City Councilmember Sarah Steckel said one of the city’s major housing projects underway is The Shores at Trunqui, located north of the NASA Causeway and along the shoreline of the Indian River Lagoon. He said that it was a
The project is being constructed in phases, with the first phase consisting of 99 single-family homes, the second phase of 104 single-family homes, and the third phase of 75 single-family homes. Additional phases are planned in the future, and a marina and town center will also be built on the site.
Steckel said such a residential development would also help increase interest in national retail and restaurant companies locating in Titusville. One example is the planned small-scale “urban store” Panera Bread restaurant along State Route 50/Cheney Highway.
But Stockel cautions that Titusville needs to balance new residential and commercial development, while also focusing on infrastructure and protecting wetlands and green areas.
“Everything has to be in perfect harmony, everything has to be in balance,” Steckel said.
Steckel said the City Council and the Titusville Area Redevelopment Authority are working on a plan to encourage further development downtown, including shops, restaurants and hospitality businesses.
Steckel, who has served on the city council since 2016, said city officials also need to work to resolve divisions among Titusville residents, some of whom want more development. , some residents say they want to maintain the city’s “small-town feel.”
Separately, developers continue efforts to turn the site of Titusville Mall (formerly known as Searstown Mall) on Route 1 into a mixed-use development. The developer hopes to include a hotel, apartment complexes, assisted living facilities, retail space, restaurants, a medical complex and other offices on the site.
Melbourne’s Margaritaville Project
Melbourne Mayor Paul Alfrey has said he expects construction of the Compass Landing by Margaritaville resort project to proceed in 2025 after several financial hurdles delayed construction. .
“It’s a long road, but now that the developer’s financial situation has improved, construction can resume,” Alfrey said. “It’s been a bumpy road for Margaritaville.”
Compass Landing by Margaritaville is planned on a 4.6-acre riverfront property just south of Cherry Street on US 1. Plans for the tropical-themed Melbourne Margaritaville include a seven-storey hotel facing the Indian River Lagoon. A two-story restaurant building with 400 seats. 221 Slip Marina. 14,000 square feet of lawn with a stage for concerts and events. 4-story parking lot. and public promenades.
A Melbourne-based certified general contractor was selected as the general contractor for the project.
“We’re very excited about this,” said Corey Runte, vice president of certified general contractors. “Everything is moving forward,” he said, with construction expected to begin in March or April on the two-year project. Pre-construction work has already begun.
Apartment community on the former Sears site
Mr Runte’s company is also working on an 800-square-foot apartment community on the site of the former Sears department store near the intersection of NASA Boulevard and Babcock Street in Melbourne.
Mr Runte said the $58 million project, called Midtown Melbourne, is currently under construction, with completion expected in early 2027.
The former Sears itself will be repurposed and renovated as a self-storage facility. The remainder of the site will be redeveloped into a four-story, eight-building luxury apartment community.
Midtown Melbourne’s amenities include a clubhouse, residential garage, swimming pool, dog park and green space.
More than $7 million in site renovations will be invested in stormwater, infrastructure and other improvements.
The developer is Inlet Property Co., the management company is Madison Communities, and the civil engineer is a certified general contractor.
West Viera Housing Development
Construction continues at a furious pace in West Viera, one of the fastest growing areas in the county.
Eva Rey, senior vice president of community management and communications for The Viera Co., details some of the housing projects.
Aripeka: This is a gated “eco-community” of 260 homes that Ray describes as having “wooden gates, natural landscaping, and a lake surrounded by majestic live oaks and mature sable palms.”
“These features speak to a focused and intentional effort to utilize existing land, rather than clearing and reforesting existing land,” Ray said. “Our development team drew parcel lines that protect natural areas, realigned roads, created scenic islands, and preserved native habitat.”
Future amenities will include a clubhouse, playground, outdoor pavilion, trails and more.
Crossmolina: A total of 314 single-family home design enhancements, including 154 attached duplex villas, are located in this Viera Builders district. Amenities include a central pool, shade canopy, playground, and benches.
Farallon Fields: This is Viera Builders’ newest community, with new lot sizes in the gated section of the neighborhood soon to be released for sale. This is an area with a total of 576 units and a variety of housing designs. Amenities at Farallon Fields include a community pool and pavilion, as well as plenty of playgrounds and open recreational spaces.
Hotel projects from Cape Canaveral to Palm Bay
In addition to Melbourne’s Margaritaville complex, there are a number of other hotel projects underway along the Space Coast. That includes eight hotels with a total of 948 rooms scheduled to open in 2025, Space Coast Tourism Executive Director Peter Kranis said.
Below is an overview of potential opening months. However, construction schedules are often postponed.
Melbourne: Fairfield Inn & Suites Melbourne, 85 rooms, January. Melbourne: SpringHill Suites Melbourne – Palm Bay, 128 rooms, January. Viera: Homewood Suites Viera – Melbourne, Room 131, February. Cape Canaveral: Hyatt Place Cape Canaveral, 150 rooms, March. Viera: Hilton Garden Inn Viera, 208 rooms, June; Cape Canaveral: Hilton Garden Inn Cape Canaveral, 156 rooms, November. Palm Bay: Motel 6, 45 rooms, December. Palm Bay: Studio 6, Room 45, December.
EFSC Innovative Technology Education Center
Construction is underway at Eastern Florida State University’s Melbourne campus on a new innovative technical education center to train high-tech workers.
The $20 million facility is scheduled to open next August and will offer programs leading to bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees and college diplomas.
EFSC Chairman Jim Ritchie said the complex “will set a high standard for central Florida to meet the rapidly growing workforce needs of local businesses and industries, creating jobs and supporting the continued development of space.” This will be an important element in ensuring economic growth.” coast. “
The 31,500-square-foot building will house labs that can be set up to give students access to software used by high-tech companies, a simulation lab, and collaboration areas where students can work together to solve problems in real time.
The center supports students in a variety of programs including engineering technology, robotics, mechatronics, 3D printing, computer drafting, computer information systems, and cybersecurity.
Florida Institute of Technology student housing
Florida Tech is building a six-story, 557-bed student housing complex west of Albemarle Street at the northeast corner of South Babcock Street and University Boulevard.
The 212,000 square foot complex features apartment-style accommodations with three or four bedrooms and two bathrooms, plus a full kitchen and living room.
It will also include classroom areas, multiple study and lounge areas, a multipurpose room, e-bike parking, and two outdoor courtyard areas incorporating outdoor dining and recreation.
Dave Berman is FLORIDA TODAY’s business editor. Contact Berman at dberman@floridatoday.com, on X @bydaveberman and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dave.berman.54.
