Grove Village given $3 million by county

Courtesy of Comm. Xavier Suarez

After years of nothing happening in the Village West regarding the planned mix use development that is planned to cover six blocks with stores and residents, called Grove Village,  PointeGroup Advisors was given $3 million dollars by the County Commission in response to District 7 Commissioner Xavier Suarez's proposal last month.

The money comes from the General Obligation Bond from the Building Better Communities Economic Development Fund. The fund was created to support economic development and jobs. Grove Village is planned to cover two sides of Grand Avenue starting at Elizabeth Street and working west. A hotel may be part of the proposal as well as what is being called a "big box store," which could raise red flags when actually presented to the community, but Publix has been talked about on and off for years as being the anchor tenant and that could be the big box that they refer to. 

According to Comm. Suarez, "It is expected that the Grove Village on Grand project will generate significant economic development opportunities, bringing new jobs to an area characterized by unemployment rates of approximately 15%, a poverty rate of approximately 25%, and a median household income of about $39,000. The development of the entire site will be constructed over a five year period, but Phase I is projected to generate 288 direct, new jobs to the Coconut Grove Targeted Urban Area. These employment positions will require skill levels that are available in the Targeted Urban Area, providing significant job opportunities for residents. The project also represents an estimated $160,000,000 private investment that will have a significant positive impact on the local tax base."

I like the idea of having the Central Business District (Center Grove) extend down to connect both sides of Grand Avenue and make it one long shopping street. But it has been in talks for years and I doubt PointeGroup was waiting for this $3 million to get started, so I am expecting more delays in any sort of ground breaking.