Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Front Street Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Developer presents Front Street waterfront plan proposing restaurant, retail, elevated boardwalk and historic welcome center
Summary
A developer for the Simmons family described a mixed‑use Front Street waterfront project that would place most occupiable space over the water to meet flood rules, include a large restaurant and retail, and incorporate a historic marine welcome center concept supported by Visit Florida.
Ron Flick, representing the Simmons family Front Street development, presented design concepts and asked the Waterfront Advisory Board for feedback on materials, massing and pedestrian access.
Flick said the parcel has roughly 200 feet of Amelia River frontage and stressed the design must meet the CRA 0.75 FAR limit and a 30‑foot maximum height. "Because of the VE zone and flood zone requirements here, you're up in the air at 14 feet to meet the minimum requirement," Flick said, noting a finished‑first‑floor elevation of about 14.4 feet to satisfy state and local floodplain rules.
The plan concentrates building mass over the water and uses elevated walkways and breezeways to preserve pedestrian connections along Front Street. Flick described a retail cluster, a marine‑oriented retail/welcome center and a restaurant program he estimated at roughly 6,200 square feet on the lower level and seating for about 200–300 across levels. "We're trying to get a restaurant that's large enough to which you can gather lots of families and lots of pedestrians," he said.
Flick also proposed architectural elements intended to evoke Northeastern seaboard character and the porch appeal of the former Brett's, and said the team is considering design features such as gables, a center breezeway and a lighthouse‑style monument that could bear flags. He told the board that Visit Florida staff had expressed interest in reintroducing a historical marine welcome station in the project.
Board members raised setbacks, roofline variation and how the project will tie into the city's seawall and public boardwalk. A member asked whether the bulkhead could be extended north to match adjacent parcels; Flick and staff said the city and property owners would need to negotiate potential easements and maintenance agreements. Several board members recommended stronger gables and rooftop variety to avoid a flat 'wall' effect along Front Street.
Flick said the team is keeping the project under the 28,000‑square‑foot FAR cap (they reported about 26,400 square feet to date), is designing dumpsters and service areas to sit under the flood elevation and intends to provide elevators and stairs to meet ADA access to the elevated first occupiable level. He also said the planned marina could include roughly 33–35 slips depending on final design and that boat access channels would preserve a 20‑foot navigation clearance in front of the site.
The board offered largely favorable comments and several design suggestions; Flick asked the board to provide written input to carry forward into HDC (Historic District Council) and permitting.
The board did not vote on any approvals during the presentation; staff noted the project will return to HDC and TRC as it moves through design and permitting.
