A day in Fernandina’s historic district can be a contrast of the old and the new. From horse and buggy to Segway. Along charming and historic Center Street, the familiar horse and carriage tours plod by, with the clip-clop of hooves echoing through the preserved historic district showcasing Victorian-era architecture. A new sight, however, for those visiting Fernandina's downtown, is a police officer on a Segway (a two-wheeled, self-balancing electric scooter that you stand on.) While one can see officers on bicycles on occasion downtown in the historic district, apparently the city’s police force has now invested in one of the latest and coolest modes of transportation.
RETAILERS AND NATIONAL CHAINS CONTINUE MAKE DEBUTS IN AMELIA ISLAND AREA
Along with progress comes change, and things continue to change in the Amelia Island area -- something nobody can miss with a drive between I-95 and the island along A1A. Commercial development has been bustling along this corridor leading to Amelia Island. The Shoppes at the Amelia Island Concourse, the new (and largest) shopping plaza in Nassau County, opened this year. First to open was Home Depot, and more recently, Target (with a Starbucks inside). Whataburger is also located at the Concourse shopping plaza and recently, Chili’s made its debut. Gate Petroleum also has opened, along with two banks, Wachovia and SunTrust. Payless Shoes is also about to open. Starbucks reportedly will also build a free standing building with a drive-thru lane near Chili’s at the Concourse. Additionally, Starbucks will locate another store on Amelia Island in the new shopping plaza under construction across from Publix. Talbots is also to open a store in this plaza.
More fast food is on the way with Sonic under construction on A1A. Sonic, the drive-in concept restaurant reminiscent of the 50s Happy Days, is where you can park your car and order via an intercom. Car hops, sometimes on roller skates, deliver your food to your vehicle. The new Amelia Urgent Care facility has also just opened at the entry of a new development under construction, Brady Point (an Amelia Island Plantation community). Thus, the influx of new retailers and restaurants continues in the Amelia Island area, as well as the development of new, huge communities offering new homes, such as Amelia National Golf and Country Club and Amelia Walk located along the Amelia Concourse.
THE "OLD" REAL ESTATE MARKET WAS HOT, THE "NEW" REAL ESTATE MARKET IS QUIET
Speaking of new home communities in the area, the slowdown in the real estate market in the Amelia Island area is apparent. Gone is the feverish pace of buyer activity seen in the years 2004 and 2005, especially. Fewer buyers, higher inventory (more sellers) pretty much sums up the market currently. Buyers certainly have more choices now than in recent years. New home builders, in particular, with a surplus of new home inventory, have been offering big incentives on new homes...see Showcase Homes article, "New Home Builders Offer Buyer Incentives."
Read other recent articles commenting on the real estate market -"Baby Boom Tsunami To Propel Coastal Real Estate?" and Amelia Island Real Estate Sales Activity in the REAL ESTATE section of Amelia Island Living eMagazine.
Why is the current "quiet" real estate environment a potentially great time to buy a home in the Jacksonville metro area? See what www.Jaxhomefacts.comhas to say about local housing environment here in northeast Florida.
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