Don't like Vero Beach Three Corners plan? Too bad. Don't like pitches? Prepare to speak up (2024)

Now that four pitches for Vero Beach’s Three Corners have been made, it’s not surprising some people don’t like any of them.

Truth be told, I’d tweak the one I like the most.

But that's probably human nature.

Still, I’m reading on social media and hearing the following-type comments as much now as during discussions in the late 2010s and in 2020 on what to do with the three corners the city owns at 17th Street and Indian River Boulevard.

“My vote is to keep full control of the property and make it into a park that is similar to Riverside Park across the bridge,” a recent letter to the editor said.

Others question the need for a hotel and the fact the city would “give up” — at least for 99 years in a lease ― part of the property along the Indian River Lagoon. It reminds some folks of how Indian River Shores gave up oceanfront land in 2017 and, in 2019, Indian River County and the city lost out to developers, who acquired property owned by Florida Tech next to the county’s Tracking Station Beach Park. Both have become residential communities.

County and city have made right calls, too

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I have no doubt Three Corners naysayers want the best for our community. Wouldn’t it be nice to keep every piece of waterfront land and turn it into a park? Surely, we’ve seen enough land, regardless of who owns it, bought and become off-limits to the rest of us.

Among the saddest losses of private land we once enjoyed were the former waterfront restaurants on the east side of Royal Palm Pointe. Some were torn down so Quail Valley could expand its club; others to build condominiums.

Thankfully, city and/or county leaders opted to improve the former Dodgertown golf course and ballfields north of Vero Beach High School instead of, respectively, selling to a Lakeland developer and for apartments. A county park and parking for Jackie Robinson Training Complex is under construction at 43rd Avenue and 26th Street, while the Indian River County School District has opened VBHS’ first regulation-size track just north of the high school.

As for the 36-acre Three Corners property, anything would be an improvement over power and sewer plants and a postal annex. Wastewater will eventually flow toward a new facility at the city airport, not toward the Indian River Lagoon.

Why not just make Three Corners a park?

Don't like Vero Beach Three Corners plan? Too bad. Don't like pitches? Prepare to speak up (3)
Don't like Vero Beach Three Corners plan? Too bad. Don't like pitches? Prepare to speak up (4)

So, you say, the city should tear the plants down, start from scratch and build a park. It sounds so simple — if you do not think about possible underground contaminants and who would pay to clean them up, who would use the park and who would pay to maintain it.

When Vero Beach sold its electric operation in 2018 to Florida Power & Light Co., the city lost about $6 million annually city and county electric users paid into its general fund. The city has cut costs to make up some of the difference.

It’s had a tough time maintaining its property around town, so adding another park — as determined during Three Corners meetings in 2020 and later — was a nonstarter.

As discussed in those planning sessions led by Andres Duany, and even years before, the question was how could the city improve an industrial area owned by taxpayers, keep the waterfront accessible and generate taxes and other revenue that would benefit local residents?

Vero Beach City Council, other boards and a Three Corners steering committee met for years discussing the options. The hotel and its park-like amenities were a consensus pick of various, diverse committees, which included the chairman of the Pelican Island Audubon Society and others.

And, in November 2022, 79% of city voters approved the concept, nitpicked for two years, at a referendum.

In other words, the concept, as outlined on the city’s website, is a done deal. If you don’t like it, that’s too bad. It’s not worth fighting anymore.

If you don’t like any or all the four proposals, that’s a different story. There’s something you can do about it.

There’s one ― which looks more like a proposal for a marina than anything else ― I don’t think fits the Three Corners concept.

I’m not overly keen on two others, which seem to focus more on creating membership-type clubs.

How public can get involved

Don't like Vero Beach Three Corners plan? Too bad. Don't like pitches? Prepare to speak up (5)
Don't like Vero Beach Three Corners plan? Too bad. Don't like pitches? Prepare to speak up (6)

The fourth, from Clearpath, is by far the most visionary of the proposals, but it could be too much. It has a clear vision for preserving the power plant in a modern, useful way, while keeping the property accessible to all.

Heck, nothing’s perfect.

But what you can do is:

  • Read the four proposals, accessible at tinyurl.com/3Cpitches or on the city’s website.
  • Follow the next part of the Three Corners process and express your opinion at future council meetings.

Upcoming Three Corners-specific meetings open to the public will be at City Hall:

  • 9 a.m. April 26, when a city selection committee meets to rank proposals.
  • 2:30 p.m. May 17, when the selection committee discusses rankings after interviewing the proposers.
  • 9:30 a.m. May 28, when city council is expected to select a partner.

Now’s the time to use your voice to be constructive.

Don't like Vero Beach Three Corners plan? Too bad. Don't like pitches? Prepare to speak up (7)

If you’re looking for someone to move quickly on the site, don’t count on it ― no matter what developers might tell you. Chances are redevelopment could take years. It’s been five years since Fort Pierce awarded development of its former power plant site across from the city marina to acompany, yet construction has not begun.

What's most important now is, no matter your views on the Three Corners, to remain engaged to find the best long-term outcome for our community.

This column reflects the opinion of Laurence Reisman. Contact him via email at larry.reisman@tcpalm.com, phone at 772-978-2223, Facebook.com/larryreisman or Twitter @LaurenceReisman.

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Don't like Vero Beach Three Corners plan? Too bad. Don't like pitches? Prepare to speak up (2024)

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