Signs of Amelia Island Development Abound

EDITOR’S NOTE: Contributing columnist, Steve Nicklas, expresses his views and insight on various topics in Marketplace column.

_STEVE’S MARKETPLACE_

Just when you think Amelia Island is at or near capacity, some new signs indicate otherwise.

The first indication is a “for sale” sign on a vacant lot at the corner of Bill Melton Road and South Fletcher Avenue in Fernandina Beach. The oceanview lot is owned by the city and is being sold to generate revenues.

Other indications are not as obvious. Several Jacksonville-based developers have purchased 20 acres along Amelia Island Parkway near Bailey Road. A planned development will include more than 120 lots — with new homes starting at $350,000.

This $2.75 million acquisition is dwarfed, however, by a recent purchase by a Middle Eastern business of Crane Island. The Wallan Group, owned by Saad Wallan, is a transportation firm specializing in aviation, shipping and automotive operations.

The Wallan Group paid $9.9 million for Crane Island, located just west of the Fernandina Beach Airport. Scenic Crane Island consists of 113 developable acres and 104 acres of marshlands, with an access road to Amelia Island.

As many as 170 single-family homes reportedly could be built on the picturesque island, although some could be town homes or condominiums. The project apparently will not include a marina as previously intended (to reduce costs and environmental impacts).
So there you have it — new growth on Amelia Island. But some residents don’t like it.

Based upon comments on social media, many residents objected to the city selling the prime parcel on South Fletcher. Some like it for the buffer of green space it provides on the corner of Bill Melton (the city golf course sign is right there). Others feel the lot should be converted into parking spaces.

One resident commented: “People don’t come here to see all the beautiful houses on South Fletcher. They come to enjoy our beautiful beach. After all this is Fernandina Beach. Not Fernandina McMansion. We could really use more beach access.”

Like many Florida municipalities, the city has been battling a precipitous decline in property taxes (due to declining values). Some have called for the city to begin selling some of the property it owns to generate revenues to balance its budget — instead of raising taxes.

Even though residential communities increase a local tax base, they hardly pay for themselves because of the enduring impact on infrastructure, public services, etc. New industry and businesses are preferable in this sense.

And there are some developments here in the commercial arena. A marketing research company has relocated its corporate headquarters to south Amelia Island.

The office for dtw Marketing Research is on the Amelia Island Parkway just south of the intersection with South Fletcher. The company’s recent relocation will mean 40 new jobs for the Amelia Island area and $2 million in capital investment.

Meanwhile, the new commercial and residential developments on Amelia Island are being noticed around North Florida. One real estate broker in Jacksonville Beach sees a demand for luxury homes with deepwater access on Amelia Island — particularly from out-of-state retirees.

“It’s a great sign for land development,” says broker Batey McGraw said. “You’ve seen a lot of transactions with national homebuilders, but to see private developer-investors taking down land deals to do development is a great sign.”