After two years of groundwork, DeBary’s from-scratch downtown is ready to build up. The city’s long-planned downtown is moving from vision to reality as years of underground infrastructure work give way to the next phase: vertical construction.
Downtown Development Plans
City officials say the project will transform what is now raw land into a walkable downtown with homes, restaurants, shops, and entertainment. City Manager Carmen Rosamonda said, “You’ll be able to go right out of your townhome, walk into Main Street, have dinner, walk back.”
The first phase will include 290 townhomes and bungalows, along with commercial space. Once that phase is complete, a second development team will clear the adjacent wooded property to build additional apartments and more retail and commercial space.
City leaders say they envision a mix of national retailers and locally owned businesses. “We see our vision across the street being more national chains, big corporation-type stuff,” Rosamonda said. “Here on Main Street, more mom-and-pop, high-end small restaurants, bars, and taverns. (…) This is going to be the social center of all of southwest Volusia, and that’s what we’re capitalizing on.”
Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.
