Ocean View Inn Demolition, near Main Beach

Although some may have viewed it as an eyesore, another landmark fell on Amelia Island in April 2005. Just a block back from Main Beach, the old Ocean View Inn was demolished to make way for a new hotel to be built on that parcel of land (located on Atlantic Avenue between Tarpon Avenue and Tarpon Street). In a matter of a few days, what had been there for probably a few generations was turned to dust and carted off.

Within a week, just across from the site of the old Ocean View Inn, adjacent to the Main Beach parking lot, another building met the wrecking ball. But this wasn’t an “old-timer.” This building was actually fairly new – built within the last decade at Main Beach. Apparently business was not strong enough to support the shops and restaurant at this location. The building that housed the former Terrazza’s restaurant and other boutiques, is also now in the process of being demolished. Another new hotel reportedly is to be constructed on this prime oceanfront parcel.

Rubble Pile at Main Beach, Making Way For New Hotel

For those who have not visited Amelia Island in the last five years, the landscape will be noticeably different. The Main Beach area has probably experienced one of the most dramatic face-lifts on Amelia Island during the last several years. Just across from Main Beach fronting Tarpon, is very large, newer condominium complex, Ocean Park (overlooking Main Beach Park from its location on Tarpon). Even newer than the Ocean Park condos, is the Fernandina Cay condo building at the Main Beach intersection at Fletcher and Atlantic Avenue, completed this past year. And another, smaller condo building is also new, the Terraces at Beachside, Main Beach. The building that housed the Main Beach restrooms as well as a party room that could be rented, was also taken down recently (replaced with a new, smaller restroom facility, and no more party room). The Main Beach playground equipment and picnic tables were also replaced with new equipment several years ago.

FATE OF THE WATER SLIDE?

One has to wonder what the future holds for another landmark at Main Beach, adored by local children as well as visitors, the Eight Flags Waterslide. This waterslide probably delighted children for half a century, or so, and it still does today. The property that the waterslide sits on is for sale, so its fate may already be sealed. But the actual operator of the water park (who leases) has opened for business this season, so for now, it’s business as usual.

While Fernandina Beach remains attached to its Victorian past, we are in the ever developing present. Let’s hope growth is managed properly at this critical time to maintain a quality lifestyle in the future for local residents and keep tourists coming back for Amelia's charm and small-town atmosphere. Although the historic district in Fernandina Beach has been protected with rigid standards to maintain its Victorian aura and character, Amelia’s property at and near the beach has not faired as well.

Fernandina Cay Condos, at Main Beach

The land near the ocean has become far too valuable, and developers are naturally eager to build new condos and new hotels near the shoreline. Of course, current property owners have the right to sell their property and cash out. Reminiscent of the feature film “Sunshine State,” filmed around Amelia Island a few years back, the “Old Florida” feeling of Amelia Island is slipping away as each dated beach cottage and old motel is either taken down or renovated, making way for the new. As long as buyer demand remains robust for Amelia Island beachfront properties, older structures will continue to disappear and be replaced.

Of course, there’s still a vacant corner parcel at Main Beach yet to be developed. It’s located next door to the Driftwood Sun & Surf Shop at this key island intersection of Fletcher Avenue and Atlantic Avenue. But it’s only a matter of time. The city did just reportedly turn down a proposed townhouse project for this parcel. In addition, local government is actually considering a last minute maneuver to possibly acquire a few parcels of property in the Main Beach area for the good of the public, before it’s gone to developers (reportedly including the lot that the water slide is located on). Perhaps there’s hope for keeping a bit more of the Main Beach area for parks and recreation –- for the people. Let's not further "pave paradise and put up a parking lot..." like the song lyrics... (But the city did just approve a new 72-unit condo project on Sadler Road...and reportedly changed the zoning to accommodate this project.)

Change, they say, is inevitable. Like paying taxes and death. But we need to protect the “feeling” of the island, one of its most prized treasures. Its character as a quaint, yesteryear, small-town beach getaway that charms visitors and residents alike, appears to be in jeopardy if more care isn’t taken in the present and the future to safeguard the valuable shoreline, public space, and public beach access. (Some may argue that it’s already too late.)

CLEAR UP THE CONFUSION IN LOCAL BUILDING CODES

The most recent example of confusing or vague local building codes are the three new oceanfront homes, all in a row, under construction on South Fletcher Avenue. At least, clear up the confusion in the building codes that allows “interpretation” and mistakes in height measurements. Construction on these three homes was haulted while this mess is sorted out.

RAPID DEVELOPMENT OFF THE ISLAND, TOO

But it’s not just Amelia Island that’s being re-developed. Changes in the landscape off the island in the last five years have also been dramatic. The mainland in Nassau County, Florida from I-95 east to Amelia Island along A1A (called the “gateway to Amelia), is also undergoing a face-lift, with its large, sprawling parcels of undeveloped land being transformed. There are new fast food franchises, a new dealership, new shopping plazas, and new home developments and more commercial, retail and residential development to come during the next decade.

HOME DEPOT COMING TO AMELIA ISLAND AREA

Some change is good. Most locals were quite delighted when Lowe’s Home Improvement center opened in Yulee off A1A –- we no longer had to drive to Jacksonville for a wide selection. It hasn’t taken long for Lowe’s main competitor, Home Depot, to also announce its entrance into this Nassau County market. It was recently reported that this additional “big-box” retailer will locate at the new 70-acre shopping center, the Shoppes at Amelia Concourse. The location is at the intersection of A1A and Chester Road. While not yet officially confirmed, the other big-box retailer likely coming to this same shopping plaza is Target. So, it appears that more local sales tax dollars will be staying in Nassau County in the future, since local residents will have a multitude of shopping choices right in this county, in the Yulee area off A1A, during the next decade of development.

SECOND GOLF COURSE COMMUNITY IN YULEE AREA

The opposite side of the Chester Road/A1A intersection is the entry way on the Amelia Concourse to the Golf Club at North Hampton, which is a relatively newer development (started around 2000), now in its fifth phase of construction with about 600 or so intended homes when fully built out. The Amelia Concourse road itself is under construction, to be extended over 3 miles from the North Hampton area, all the way over to 107/Nassauville Road. The Amelia Island Concourse will be a 4-lane county highway, and along this route will reportedly be thousands of new homes. For new home buyers seeking a community with resort-style amenities, but still offering new construction single-family homes priced under $500K, The Golf Club at North Hampton had been the only choice near Amelia Island, until now, that is...

NEW GOLF COURSE COMMUNITY OPENS – AMELIA NATIONAL GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

Another new golf course community located just past North Hampton on the Amelia Island Concourse, is Amelia National Golf & County Club. Amelia National features a Tom Fazio-designed golf course and four builders have just started selling lot/home packages in the first phase of this community that will have about 749 homes when completed. (See related article about Amelia National community in Amelia Island Living’s Real Estate article section.)

Other new residential communities on the mainland/A1A corridor leading up to Amelia Island in various stages of development include Hickory Village, Page Hill, Arnold Ridge, Lofton Pointe, Brady Pointe, Cartesian Pointe, and on the other side (west) of I-95 on A1A, Timber Creek Plantation.

I’ve heard some comparisons being made from people in the residential development industry, such as Nassau County now starting to experience the growth spurt that happened to St. Johns County, FL in past years. Another comparison for the Yulee, A1A corridor leading up to Amelia Island has been what occurred to the Hilton Head area decades ago.

The Amelia Island area/Nassau County, FL is still one of the most rural counties in the state of Florida. Its northeast Florida neighbors are far more populated. Nassau County’s estimated population in 2003 was around 62,000 people. Based on the 2000 census, there were 88 people per square mile in Nassau County (land area 652 square miles). By comparison, neighboring Duval County (Jacksonville) had an estimated 2003 population of 817,500. Duval’s population per square mile at the 2000 census was 1,006 people per square mile (774 square mile land area). And St. Johns County (St. Augustine), had an estimated 2003 population of about 143,000. Population per square mile in St. John’s County at the 2000 census was 202 people per mile, with a land area of 609 square miles.

So even though Nassau County is experiencing booming growth and development, we are still far less “crowded” and developed than most coastal areas of Florida, including our nearest neighboring counties. But growth management on Amelia Island and in Nassau County is a pivotal issue that needs our utmost attention -- both private citizen and local government.
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