Melbourne, FL

[neoanderz]

I am a Brevard native and later moved to Orlando. I still try to keep tabs on the Melbourne area, always hoping some new development will pop up. The old people in Melbourne have been preventing urban growth for years, but times are starting to change. Just a briefer, for those not familiar, there is an 80-foot height limit downtown which developers are constantly seeking to break, but few are able to squeeze through. One of the most notable is Dr. Richard Hynes who has been trying to get his Harbor City Center (twin 159ft towers) built for years. Last I read he has been granted approval, but I'm not sure when development will start.

Anyway, I took some pics of Melbourne this weekend, so here we go:

First there is the Harbor Edge Condominiums located near the base of the Melbourne Causway. It will be 80 feet upon completion.

To give more perspective, the building is right near One Harbor Place

It's also about 80 ft I believe

I also saw the sales center for the Vues condos and peeked inside. I believe they are also 80ft. I think they are somehow affiliated with Harbor City Center as well. Construction hasn't started yet but the fact that there is a sales center around is a positive sign.

Nearby, I found the site of what will be the Summit at Melbourne Place. It will be a 159 condo tower and an 80 foot hotel, along with a restaurant and some townhouses.

Here is a street level view of downtown along New Haven Ave.

Not too much nightlife around really. There are a few popular places though like Main street pub.

Some trendy places have popped up in more recent years like City Tropics bistro along Fifth Avenue, beachside.

With all the senior citizen opposition to big buildings it's kind of ironic the tallest buildings in this area are a seniors-only community. Even sadder that they are also pretty ugly IMO.

Next I went south on US1. I just liked how this building appears to be levitating next to the water. That's the Melbourne causeway in the background.

Next door there are a pair of condos going in to replace the Coral Bay restaurant. Look to be about 10 stories.

About a half mile further south, there a sign for two more condo buildings.

At the base of Eau Gallie Causeway, the Pineapple House is near completion. More condos here.

Next door, I saw this sign in an empty sand lot. MORE condos??

Here is the Bellsouth building near the Babcock/Hibiscus intersection.

Something else is getting built nearby. Not sure what it is. They are on the 3rd story now. I don't want to get too optimistic, but there is a crane here anyway. The developer is Welbro, who have a number of hotels in Orlando.

This is a downtown project called The Lofts and is still pending approval from Melbourne city council. It will be 120 ft if built.

In addition to these Dr. Hynes has approval for twin 149 ft towers for a new project called Crane Creek Campus which will straddle the train tracks near US1 south of the Summit at Melbourne Place. They will include his surgery center, a hotel, restaurant, offices, and condos. A pedestrian bridge will also be built to link it to downtown to the north.

I have spent a lot of time compiling all this info, but there is still quite a bit I don't know. According to Florida Today, there are currently 10 projects approved/pending approval from the Melbourne City Council ranging from 76 feet to 159 ft. The 159 footer would be the Summit. To put things in perspective, that is nearly twice the height of One Harbor Place. I will definitely keep an eye out for future development here. If anyone else has more info, let me know. Also I have some more renderings if I can find them.

[JRS1]

wow. good stuff. is bellsouth new?

[neoanderz]

I think it was built in the 90s sometime.

[FlaNatv]

Great pics. I always thought Melbourne should have a nice defined downtown and join the ranks of Daytona Bch, Ft Myers, Bradenton, Sarasota. I think the metro populations are about the same. However, Melbourne's area business districts are scattered. Some relatively large buildings Downtown, some near the airport, and some near Eau Gallie. Right now Melbourne with Palm Bay and Viera seem like a patchwork of suburbs. I'm guessing something like Ft Myers with Cape Coral and Leheigh Acres except that Downtown Ft Myers seems to be the definite CBD for the area. Melbourne is less defined. At least, that's how I remember it. Unlike a lot of Florida cities DT Melbourne sits on a bluff about 30 feet or more above the water. It would be great to have some Highrises there along Crane Creek. Anyway, that's the way I remember it.

[d8alterego]

Hi everyone, I'm sort of new to Melbourne (moved here last August) but not to urbanplanet. I thought I'd spruce up Melbourne's forum a bit and add some pics of the town since it has changed within the past year. I love being a UPer and I'll continue the tradition here in Florida. But you should also check out where I'm from: Grand Rapids, MI. It's a beautiful and dynamic town with great people. I miss it a lot, but I'll have to learn to love Melbourne. Check back because I'll probably have some pics up.

[d8alterego]

This is the new gateway into DT. This pic is looking East.

I didn't know this but Melbourne is building a new City Hall and replacing the old with a parking structure.

A rendering.

Here is the East side/Main entrance to City Hall.

This is a new medical building along the south bank of Crane Creek off US 1 in DT.

Another shot looking NW.

Info.

This is the Harbor Edge condominium.

An older gas station that's getting new life.

A nicer development at Airport Rd and 192/New Haven.

Another shot.

New streetscape with bulb-outs and palm trees.

A warehouse along US 1, just north of DT, that is being converted into a retail development.

That's all I got so far because I was late for work, but it was worth it. Enjoy!

[ozzy11]

If anybody has them, I'm interested in seeing pics of the new development in place of part of the old South Patrick Housing area south of the AFB in Satellite Bch. Half of my childhood was spent here until my father retired from the military and from what I saw during my last visit to the area, the house I lived in as well as the entire part of my old neighborhood ceases to exist. They made way for a new condo development or something similar. I haven't been to the old neighborhood since my last visit in 2004.

[d8alterego]

This is the new gateway into DT. This pic is looking East.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27916330@N02/...57605777370245/

I didn't know this but Melbourne is building a new City Hall and replacing the old with a parking structure.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27916330@N02/...57605777370245/

A rendering.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27916330@N02/...57605777370245/

Here is the East side/Main entrance to City Hall.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27916330@N02/...57605777370245/

This is a new medical building along the south bank of Crane Creek off US 1 in DT (Osler Medical?).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27916330@N02/...57605777370245/

Another shot looking NW.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27916330@N02/...57605777370245/

Info.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27916330@N02/...57605777370245/

This is the Harbor Edge condominium.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27916330@N02/...57605777370245/

An older gas station that's getting new life.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27916330@N02/...57605777370245/

A nicer development at Airport Rd and 192/New Haven.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27916330@N02/...57605777370245/

Another shot.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27916330@N02/...57605777370245/

New streetscape with bulb-outs and palm trees.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27916330@N02/...57605777370245/

A warehouse along US 1, just north of DT, that is being converted into a retail development.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27916330@N02/...57605777370245/

I'm having difficulty posting these pics and I hope it works this time. That's the reason for the repost. Enjoy though!

[d8alterego]

West Melbourne to annex land West of 95. From FloridaToday:

"The city is annexing a swath of prime real estate just west of Interstate 95, setting the stage for development of a sprawling 'urban village.'"

"With a project name of Watershed, the village will be a conglomerate of commercial, residential and professional buildings south of U.S. 192. Plans include an elementary school, fire station and 320-room hotel."

This development seems to be the "Baldwin Park" equivalent on the space coast. I hope it lives up to the standards of a walkable, dense, mixed use develpment that the developers are promising (and not a fake smart growth duplicate like Viera which is due North). Traffic, however, seems to be a real issue with the city planners. I'll try to make the meeting tonight and find more info.

[d8alterego]

Hey, just let me know what streets and I'll snap some pics for ya.

If anybody has them, I'm interested in seeing pics of the new development in place of part of the old South Patrick Housing area south of the AFB in Satellite Bch. Half of my childhood was spent here until my father retired from the military and from what I saw during my last visit to the area, the house I lived in as well as the entire part of my old neighborhood ceases to exist. They made way for a new condo development or something similar. I haven't been to the old neighborhood since my last visit in 2004.

[d8alterego]

Here are some updated pics of Melbourne. Meg O' Mally's shut down recently due to a kitchen fire and will be reopening soon. Although, sorry for the blurry pic of it. I'm excited for the new City Hall and Osler Medical building going up though.

My car is the blue CRV. She's my sexy, fuel efficient machine!

This one needs a bit of work. Although it's one of my favorite buildings dowtown because I think it has a lot of potential.

This is the Holmes Regional Heart Center. It's pretty nice.

That's all I have thus far. I will hopefully post new ones of the old town of Eau Gallie and maybe some beachside pics too.

[d8alterego]

This is the newest hit place to be: Matt's Casbah. I'd say it's just as popular as City Tropics, Foo Bar, and Main Street on Friday nights.

The new city hall is coming along rather quickly. I believe it will be open in March-April.

This picture also shows the old city hall on the right.

The new Osler Medical Center off US1. I like the colors, especially on the back side facing Crane Creek.

This is how the warehouse revamp went. I think it turned out great.

There's my baby. She needs a wash though.

This is the downtown Melbourne Library branch in Wells Park. It appears to have been built in the late 80s or early 90s (my guess). In the background is one of the Trinity Towers which is a retirement complex. Those towers need a remodel.

The rest of Wells Park. I think it was built in a great location by the downtown hospital (Holmes/Health First), fitness center, library, and historic downtown Melbourne. I'm surprised at how the planning in this area doesn't make this area a focal point.

Melbourne Auditorium at Wells Park.

This picture was taken at the intersection of Hickory and Hibiscus looking north on Hickory at the Holmes/Health First Hospital.

This picture is of the intersection of Babcock and Hibiscus looking north on Hibiscus. The city recently undertook a streetscape improvement project for most of Babcock north of here. It is a BIG improvement. A new hotel went up 2 years ago and is pictured on the left.

Since it is near Christmas and getting colder* outside, volunteers were passing out duffle bags, pillows, and blankets to the needy. I thought this was a big eye opener and amazing because this picture was of only a quarter of the people who showed up.

* colder being a relative term down here in Florida.

I hope everyone will enjoy. I still have more pics to take and I promise I'll get to them. I now hold a seat on the Historic preservation board in Melbourne so I will be able to check out the new city hall when it opens. I'm so excited!!!! Anyway, happy holidays everyone!

[tombarnes]

Thanks for sharing your pictures of Melbourne. It's good to se so much development up there. I don't get up there as much as I ought to. Please keep us informed.

[d8alterego]

I hope this works. Here are some recent pics of Melbourne's new city hall and med center. More pics in the album.

From Melbourne">

City Hall

From Melbourne">

Med Center