Tequesta’s small-town atmosphere and vaunted reputation for friendliness have put the village in the sights of several developers who plan to either redevelop commercial real estate or erect new buildings on vacant land.
One of the hottest areas is along U.S. 1, north of Tequesta Shoppes to County Line Road, where plans are afoot for a new Publix supermarket, professional offices and two 12-story, luxury residential towers.
Publix, a fixture at Tequesta Shoppes, plans to vacate that space sometime in 2005 and move into its new building at County Line Plaza. The old Kmart recently was torn down to make way for the 54,300-square-foot Publix.
The decision to replace the current 38,000-square-foot Publix now anchoring Tequesta Shoppes was made to provide more products and more parking, said Maria Rodamis, Publix’s community affairs manager for the Miami division.
“There is no targeted date for opening this new store,” she said, “but it takes approximately nine months for a new store to be built. Our main goal is to open as quickly as possible.”
Several other developments are under way or in the planning stages in Tequesta.
Two of the buildings at Alterra behind County Line Road — Clarebridge and the partially completed Crossings — are under contract by Cornerstone Group Development LLC.
Cornerstone’s president, Leon J. Wolfe, recently told the Village Council that the company plans to tear down Clarebridge and build 60 town houses, and complete The Crossings — either renting or selling the 84 units as condominiums.
Along U.S. 1, just south of County Line Road, Sundown Development Co. has started construction on 41 luxury town houses and office space in a new development called Casa del Sol.
The three-story townhouses in Phase 1 are selling for $495,000 and up, according to company president James Helms, and all 10 units in that phase are sold.
“We anticipate that we will be completely sold out before our projected completion date of January 2006,” Helms said.
Allied Capital Development Co. is in the preliminary stages of changing what was once Tequesta Motor Cars into a residential development that also will have 12,000 square feet of retail space along U.S. 1. The development, to be known as Atlantis, will have 108 condominiums, ranging in price from $600,000 to $1.5 million.
The Village of Tequesta has a height limit that allows five-story buildings or six stories with council approval.
“We will be asking for a height variance in return for removing the motor cars and dilapidated area there and providing the village with ultra-luxurious condominium units,” company president Nick Mastroianni II said.
If the high-rise buildings aren’t approved, Mastroianni said the company still could fit 108 units on the 6-acre site.
Local and national retailers are expressing interest in the resurgent County Line Plaza, said Don Campbell, leasing agent for owner Tamwest Realty of New York.
Jim Cutler, owner of Classic Furniture in County Line Plaza, said he is “ecstatic” that Publix is arriving at the strip center.
“It’s the best thing that could happen to the center,” he said
But Greg Pietrowski, owner of Goodner’s Hallmark in Tequesta Shoppes, is concerned about rising rents and Publix’s departure.
“There will be a big impact when the store moves out, and whoever comes into that space won’t be the draw like Publix is,” he said. “Our lease is up in 2 years, and I don’t think I’ll renew, based on the rents the owner is asking for.”
