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Brightline is eyeing downtown waterfront property for a rail station hotel, residential and retail development, and parking, said City Manager Nick Mimms.
The H.D. King site is "a desirable location," Mimms told the City Commission in a memo Tuesday, because of its "proximity to a walkable downtown, beautiful waterfront and multi-modal transportation."
Brightline on Aug. 27 asked officials in Fort Pierce, Sebastian, Stuart and Vero Beach to submit proposals within 60 days showing viable station locations and community support.
A Fort Pierce station could be located across from the main H.D. King site, on the west side of Second Street on land now used for overflow parking, Mimms told the commission Tuesday.
Vero Beach officials already have said they're uninterested in a Brightline station, Sebastian is undecided and Stuart continues its opposition to Brightline service altogether.
Brightline spokeswoman Ali Soule on Wednesday declined to discuss details of any talks with Fort Pierce officials and of any plans Brightline and its parent company, All Aboard Florida, have for the H.D. King property.
In Miami, Brightline's MiamiCentral development includes office towers and high-rise apartments. In Fort Lauderdale, plans were announced in July for a 14-story office tower near the station. And in West Palm Beach, a 24-story apartment tower is being built as part of the station project.
The Fort Pierce City Commission took no vote but gave consensus for Mimms to submit a proposal.
“Let them know that we are interested but we won’t be easy,” Mayor Linda Hudson said.
Fort Pierce will seek support for a local station from Port St. Lucie and St. Lucie County officials; the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County; and the Tourism Development Council of St. Lucie County, Mimms said.
Fort Pierce's stance on Brightline — in comparison to that of its neighbors — may benefit the city, Commissioner Tom Perona said. The city never joined Indian River and Martin counties in their ongoing effort to stop the expansion of Brightline through the Treasure Coast.
“We have always kept the door open that a station could come to Fort Pierce,” Perona said after Tuesday's meeting. “I think that is in the city’s favor.”
For the last decade, Fort Pierce has been attempting to redevelop the 8-acre H.D. King site into a mixed-use project with residential, retail, dining, a hotel and parking.
The commission in May rejected two development proposals, saying both missed the mark by not offering a high-end hotel and residential units similar to the Renaissance condo complex downtown.
Despite interest from Brightline, the city will continue seeking developers for the King site, Mimms said.
“There is no stopping. We will pursue both options until we find the best redevelopment for the H.D. King property that meets what the citizens of Fort Pierce want for their downtown,” Mimms said.
The city is advertising for proposals and hopes to develop a short list by January and have all bids in by April.
Brightline already is running service between Miami and West Palm Beach. The railroad has obtained all the necessary government approvals for its phase 2 — from West Palm Beach, through the Treasure Coast and on to Orlando International Airport.
That phase 2 construction should begin within months, Brightline President Patrick Goddard told TCPalm in an interview last month, and rail service to Orlando is expected to begin in early 2021.
Brightline already has asked the state to extend its service from Orlando to Tampa.
Brightline is eyeing downtown waterfront property for a rail station hotel, residential and retail development, and parking, said City Manager Nick Mimms.
The H.D. King site is "a desirable location," Mimms told the City Commission in a memo Tuesday, because of its "proximity to a walkable downtown, beautiful waterfront and multi-modal transportation."
Brightline on Aug. 27 asked officials in Fort Pierce, Sebastian, Stuart and Vero Beach to submit proposals within 60 days showing viable station locations and community support.
A Fort Pierce station could be located across from the main H.D. King site, on the west side of Second Street on land now used for overflow parking, Mimms told the commission Tuesday.
Vero Beach officials already have said they're uninterested in a Brightline station, Sebastian is undecided and Stuart continues its opposition to Brightline service altogether.
Brightline spokeswoman Ali Soule on Wednesday declined to discuss details of any talks with Fort Pierce officials and of any plans Brightline and its parent company, All Aboard Florida, have for the H.D. King property.
In Miami, Brightline's MiamiCentral development includes office towers and high-rise apartments. In Fort Lauderdale, plans were announced in July for a 14-story office tower near the station. And in West Palm Beach, a 24-story apartment tower is being built as part of the station project.
The Fort Pierce City Commission took no vote but gave consensus for Mimms to submit a proposal.
“Let them know that we are interested but we won’t be easy,” Mayor Linda Hudson said.
Fort Pierce will seek support for a local station from Port St. Lucie and St. Lucie County officials; the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County; and the Tourism Development Council of St. Lucie County, Mimms said.
Fort Pierce's stance on Brightline — in comparison to that of its neighbors — may benefit the city, Commissioner Tom Perona said. The city never joined Indian River and Martin counties in their ongoing effort to stop the expansion of Brightline through the Treasure Coast.
“We have always kept the door open that a station could come to Fort Pierce,” Perona said after Tuesday's meeting. “I think that is in the city’s favor.”
For the last decade, Fort Pierce has been attempting to redevelop the 8-acre H.D. King site into a mixed-use project with residential, retail, dining, a hotel and parking.
The commission in May rejected two development proposals, saying both missed the mark by not offering a high-end hotel and residential units similar to the Renaissance condo complex downtown.
Despite interest from Brightline, the city will continue seeking developers for the King site, Mimms said.
“There is no stopping. We will pursue both options until we find the best redevelopment for the H.D. King property that meets what the citizens of Fort Pierce want for their downtown,” Mimms said.
The city is advertising for proposals and hopes to develop a short list by January and have all bids in by April.
Brightline already is running service between Miami and West Palm Beach. The railroad has obtained all the necessary government approvals for its phase 2 — from West Palm Beach, through the Treasure Coast and on to Orlando International Airport.
That phase 2 construction should begin within months, Brightline President Patrick Goddard told TCPalm in an interview last month, and rail service to Orlando is expected to begin in early 2021.
Brightline already has asked the state to extend its service from Orlando to Tampa.
I sure hope this happens I feel disconnected from Fl living in Veril beach with no rail options, actually it’s sucks let’s make this happen Fort Pierce, Vero Beach, Brightline PLEASE !
I sure hope this happens I feel disconnected from Fl living in Veril beach with no rail options, actually it’s sucks let’s make this happen Fort Pierce, Vero Beach, Brightline PLEASE !
You and me both. I would say we are not totally disconnected from the rest of Florida though. We do have a few other options other than private vehicles right now. There is a number of buses that have stops in the Treasure Coast like Jet Set Express, GMG Transport, Mega Bus, Red Coach USA, and Grey Hound to name a few. Having the rails connected to the downtowns of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Orlando would be great to add another option. We would then be also connected to 5 -6 international airports by rail depending on if you count the Sanford airport in Orlando and Melbourne's airport if a Space Coast stop is created as well. That would help us feel connected to the rest of the world as well!!
Last edited by PSLCarPool; 10-13-2018 at 12:55 AM..
You and me both. I would say we are not totally disconnected from the rest of Florida though. We do have a few other options other than private vehicles right now. There is a number of buses that have stops in the Treasure Coast like Jet Set Express, GMG Transport, Mega Bus, Red Coach USA, and Grey Hound to name a few. Having the rails connected to the downtowns of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Orlando would be great to add another option. We would then be also connected to 5 -6 international airports by rail depending on if you count the Sanford airport in Orlando and Melbourne's airport if a Space Coast stop is created as well. That would help us feel connected to the rest of the world as well!!
Agreed. Although they tend to have the highest price. I am a big fan of Red Coach USA.They are the most comfortable and more enjoyable than flying. The seats are VERY spacious, each seat has outlets, reclines all the way back for comfort and I have never had any issues with timing and catching an uber or shuttle from their pickup and drop off locations. Jetset Express would be 2nd for me eventhough their prices are the lowest.
FORT PIERCE — Brightline has its choice of two downtown locations for a station once its higher-speed passenger trains come through town on their way between Orlando and South Florida.
In a 139-page proposal released Tuesday, the city makes its sales pitch for Brightline building a station here, pointing out at a potential market of at least 315,000 St. Lucie County riders. Considering Indian River and Martin counties, it grows to more than 623,000 potential riders.
The proposal touts tourist attractions such as the Sunrise Theatre, the Downtown Farmers Market, First Data Field, UDT-Navy SEAL Museum and the beaches as reasons why Fort Pierce, and not Stuart, should get a Treasure Coast station.
“Fort Pierce is the geographic center of the Treasure Coast,” City Manager Nick Mimms told the City Commission.
Brightline officials in August asked Fort Pierce, Sebastian, Stuart and Vero Beach, for proposals for stations and to show community support for a local stop.
Vero Beach officials said they will not make an offer and Sebastian said it was unsure it had any city-owned property along the rail corridor.
Stuart commissioners met Sept. 17 to solicit public input on making a bid for a station. While most who spoke favored a Stuart station, commissioners still want additional feedback and have opened a survey to Stuart residents.
The commission is to decide Oct. 22 on how to proceed, Mayor Kelli Glass Leighton said.
The Fort Pierce City Commission Monday gave consensus for Mimms to submit the proposal to Brightline.
“What I like (about the proposal) is if we had a station, then the train would have to slow down when going through our city,” Mayor Linda Hudson said.
Fort Pierce’s suggested the former H.D. King power-plant site on Second Street and a location on Depot Drive, behind the Sunrise Theatre.
At the H.D. King site, a station could be built on land now used for overflow parking, according to the report.
The Depot Drive site, considered for an Amtrak location in 2010, stretches from Orange Avenue to the Citrus Avenue overpass. A train station there could connect to the city parking garage.
Brightline began service in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach earlier this year, and is anticipated to begin full service from Miami to Orlando in 2021.
Does not look like a train station in the Treasure Coast will be built anytime soon. My opinion is that the City of Port St. Lucie alongside St. Lucie County should develop a Park and Ride off Bayshore and north of Crosstown Parkway with a pedestrian bridge to the PSL-Fort Pierce Turnpike Service Plaza to make it easier to connect to the many other buses that stop there like Jet Set Express, GMG Transport, Mega Bus, Red Coach USA, Super Tours and Grey Hound adding Bike Share and Rental Cars at the Park and Ride location would be icing on the cake.
From the look of things, Brightline (or Virgin Trains, or whatever the name is now) will have to do some fancy footwork just to stay in business. Believe it or not, there are lots of people reluctant to sink their money into a business that lost $87 million last year and saw revenue of only $5 million. The IPO they wanted to offer in order to drum up capital was cancelled, and the bonds they already sold apparently have junk-bond status.
Yes I have read the latest news on Brightline/Virgin Trains and it does not look promising at all that it will continue development. Brightline only attracts the people that are not willing to commute on the Tri-Rail, Amtrak or Buses but the actual population and frequency of these riders is not enough to sustain unfortunately. With Tri-Rail already serving the SE coast there is not huge need for another train especially once Tri-Rail gets a Downtown Miami station I see a need for high speed train service between Miami and Orlando, but Brightline has not expanded yet and may never. Since Amtrak already provides train service from Miami to Orlando alongside other Bus companies already mentioned.
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