LIVING HERE

Developments abound for Tallahassee by 2020 | Living Here

Tallahassee Democrat

Conceptual images of Cascades Project as of June 2018.

This story is part of a series under the theme "2020 Vision: Bridge to the future." All stories in the series were published in our Living Here magazine on Sunday, Sept. 30.

It won't be long before major developments polish Tallahassee's landscape with lofty projects first etched as blueprints.

By 2020, one to watch will be the Cascades Project.

Growth over time:Pace of change in Tallahassee picks up | Living Here

The ambitious $150-million redevelopment project hugs the hem of Tallahassee's take on Central Park. Residents living in its posh 260 apartments or 24 townhouses will have Cascades Park in their backyards.

They'll have big city amenities, including an on-site fitness center, access to a hidden parking garage with two floors for the public and a large plaza paying tribute to local trailblazers of the Civil Rights Movement who were locked up in the former jail.

A new lifestyle emerges with the Cascades Project and carves a path toward the elusive 18-hour downtown. Millennials are the target, especially recent graduates and young professionals looking to land local jobs and and make a name in the capital of the country's third largest state.

The Cascades Project is the developer's bold vision for an urban community within walking distance of the Capitol and downtown employers.

"We believe our resident profile is distinct, as our apartment residents will be active, employed young professionals," said Shawn McIntyre, the Florida managing partner for North American Properties.

"Further, as we’ve seen in other cities, we fully anticipate that the development will draw in the rest of the community to experience park events and activities, new family-friendly features and the historical plaza, among other attractions," he added. "And with more than 1,000 parking spaces currently planned, parking won’t be an issue. For these reasons, this project will be a true economic and community asset and will return the required investment to those taking the risk."

The Cascades Project is a game changer.

So is the Washington Square development, another mixed-use project soaring 15 stories that includes condos, a hotel and a restaurant that should be open by August 2020, said Walter Hall, principal at Fairmont Development LLC.

And so is the redevelopment of Envision Credit Union's flagship site. Its relocation two blocks away makes room for more market-rate apartments and commercial and retail space. All three of these mega projects represent $648.2 million in overall economic impact.

Still, Tallahassee is teeming with major developments on nearly every side of town.

More than 130 major projects are in some stage of permitting or construction, the Tallahassee-Leon County Office of Economic Vitality reports. The agency, the area's economic development nerve center, defines a major project as one with at least 20 units or at least 10,000 square feet.

A sweeping look at what's ahead reveals more medical buildings for the regional health care hub incubating in the Big Bend.

Housing options won't be as sparse as today's inventory of new construction homes. And, no surprise in a college town, the city's thirst for student housing apartments isn't drying up any time soon.

"These things will be somewhere along the way," said Ed Murray, commercial real estate broker and NAI TALCOR partner. "They may not be opened and occupied yet but it will be somewhere along the way.”

A snapshot of projects to watch

Downtown area

Envision Credit Union Financial Center

Project: Two-story, 10,000-square-foot site. Includes a community room for education-based efforts on financial literacy and community use. Second floor will house the credit union's commercial lending, mortgage and insurance and investment departments.
Status by 2020: Slated for completion.

4Forty North Apartments

Project: Replace former Envision property with 224 apartments, terrace units, 13,000 square feet for restaurant and amenities, 14,000 square feet of retail and a two-story, 88,000 square foot parking garage.
Status by 2020: Slated for completion.

DoubleTree Hotel 17th Floor Bar and Restaurant Addition

Project: A 7,500 square foot addition of a 17th floor bar and restaurant above the existing tower. Includes a new elevator suspended from the side of the building along with food service, restrooms, vertical circulation, and entertainment space for close to 300 people.
Status by 2020: Slated for completion.

The Standard of Tallahassee (in Frenchtown)

Project: Mix of 254 apartments geared toward students, a parking garage, commercial retail space and 12,700 square feet of plaza fronting North Macomb Street.
Status by 2020: Slated for completion.

Frenchtown Redevelopment Partners Project

Project: Mixed-use project spanning a block near Macomb and Tennessee streets that includes retail, a possible grocery store, office space and market-rate housing for rent and purchase. Priced at an estimated $78 million.
Status by 2020: Groundbreaking for phase 1

FSU Oglesby Student Union

Project: Four-phase renovation to the existing FSU Oglesby Student Union with a 271,000 square foot facility. Includes spaces for student activities, student government, multi-purpose ballrooms, Greek life, student lounge/lobby retail/dining spaces, outside plazas and rooftop patios.
Status by 2020: Slated for completion.

Waterworks Property Redevelopment

Project: Formerly the city's water distribution site, the cistern would become a performance stage with its original walls. Preliminary plans call for a restaurant or bar, one with a distillery or brewery, in the main building. Also includes flexible space, a fire pit and and bocce ball fields.
Status by 2020: Under construction.

Northside

Canopy at Welaunee

Project: A massive master community sitting on 505 acres that's driving future growth in Tallahassee. The vision includes single family homes, apartments, a senior center, an assisted living facility, a clubhouse and ample green space and trails. It also includes office and commercial space.
Status by 2020: Under construction: 300 homes should be done.

Arbor Trace at Canopy (Welaunee)

Project: 300 multi-family residential units split in phases.
Status by 2020: Under construction. First phase builds 212 units by 2018 and Phase II carries over three years.

Harborchase at Capital City (Welaunee)

Project: Three-story senior living community living facility with 116 units. A mix of assisted, independent living and memory care.
Status by 2020: Slated for completion.

Bannerman Residential

Project: Town houses and detached single family homes adjacent to the Bannerman Crossing Shopping Center.
Status by 2020: Phase I complete.

Villas at Killearn Lakes

Project: Assisted living facility with nine community homes with 12 bedrooms in each one.
Status by 2020: Slated for completion.

Bradfordville First Baptist Church Administrative/Office Building

Project: First phase of Bradfordville First Baptist Church’s campus master plan. Includes new administrative/office building just under 6,000 square feet that will allow the church to convert its other, existing office space into functional space.
Status by 2020: Slated for completion.

Southside

Proof Brewing Co.

Project: Relocation of the company's distillery and tasting room.
Status by 2020: Done and occupied.

Cascades Garden

Project: Mixed-use development of town houses, single family houses and 14 apartments above commercial space facing South Monroe Street.
Status by 2020: Nearing completion.

Sage Tallahassee

Project: Assisted living facility down the street from the VA hospital. Site plan review.
Status by 2020: Complete or nearly complete.

Lullwater at Blair Stone

Project: Apartment complex with 13 buildings near Southwood area.
Status by 2020: Complete or nearly complete.

Gaines Street District

Assemblage

Project: Five story, 78-unit student housing development with 340 bedrooms and structured parking.
Status by 2020: Slated for completion.

Hotel Indigo

Project: Trendy 142-rooms hotel.
Status by 2020: Open and operating.

FSU College of Business

Project: Construction of a new building in the Arena District near the Tucker Civic Center.
Status by 2020: Under construction with late summer 2021 completion date.

Sources: Tallahassee-Leon County Office of Economic Vitality, Florida State University and Architects Lewis + Whitlock.