Nocatee roadways near completion, about a decade earlyBack to News

Despite the economy, Nocatee's developers said this week they expect to finish the final phase of the area's $100 million transportation infrastructure by August, as much as a decade earlier than anticipated.

Work is also progressing on two new housing subdivisions at the massive development west of Ponte Vedra Beach.

The roadway completion date was slated for sometime between 2015 and 2020. Completing the project early will make the area more convenient for residents to travel and will reduce future construction impacts, developers said.

"We wanted to get in before all the people started moving to Nocatee," said Chris Pilinko, Parc Group project director. "We see the major benefits to get it complete now ... to allow the development to move forward."

While many other developments are struggling financially, Parc Group officials said Nocatee financing was secured before the development started. Nocatee was approved as a development of regional impact in 2001. The 15,000-acre eventual residential-commercial complex straddles the St. Johns-Duval counties' line. The property is owned by the Davis family, which has a controlling interest in Winn-Dixie grocery stores.

"Major transportation improvements and community amenities [were] secured on the front end of the development, allowing us to follow through with our commitment," Pilinko said. The project was financed through bonds and other means.

The new 5-mile Nocatee Parkway across the development will connect to County Road 210, which links with Florida A1A. That will let traffic travel across Nocatee without crossing paths with the local traffic.

Motorists traveling on U.S. 1 will also have access to the parkway, said Pilinko.

The project began in January 2008. It will serve as a vital hurricane evacuation route for traffic from the Beaches area.

"We are very happy with where we are," Pilinko said. "This will complete the majority of the transportation infrastructure of the property; we feel like the Nocatee story is now beginning to be on the ground."

About 1,200 people live in the evolving development.

Meanwhile, plans are moving ahead for the development of two new Nocatee communities, Greenleaf Village and Highland Lakes. Developers expect sales to excel now that the new amenities have opened in the area.

The new communities are off Valley Ridge Boulevard directly across from Austin Park at Nocatee, officials said.

"There has always been strong interest for entry-level homes in Ponte Vedra," said Rick Ray, managing partner with the PARC Group.

The opening of the roadway this summer complements other recent Nocatee projects.

For example, the Nocatee Town Center, the central shopping hub for the community, features the largest Publix supermarket in Northeast Florida at 54,000 square feet.