Concept images of Emporium by developer Upper Buena Vista Management.
By Sharon Aron Baron
In a meeting held Wednesday, developers submitting proposals for the former 223-acre Heron Bay Golf Club were voted on by representatives from Parkland, Coral Springs, the Heron Bay Homeowners Association, and the North Springs Independent District.
They were asked to score the development proposals 1-10, with ten being the highest score.
Medallion received 46, Town center 42, and Emporium received 67 points.
Rod Colon, district manager of the North Springs Improvement District, said, “If your starting point is you don’t want commercial — you are at the losing end. To say nothing is going to go there? Something will go there.”
He moderated the discussions between his staff, developers, and committee members and reiterated that they were not choosing proposals; they were only choosing developers and that there would be many changes to their proposal in the future.
Colon urged everyone to respect the process, which had been a negotiation for a couple of years. “At the end of the day, not everyone is going to be happy.”
Developer Upper Buena Vista Management proposed the winning concept called Emporium — a three-part project that includes health, design, arts, entertainment, and an education program in a village-like environment surrounded by nature reserves.
The developer described it as a shopping destination for architecture, culture, design, art, fashion, and dining. At the epicenter of Emporium, residents would find shopping similar to a small-town center with high-end boutiques, an acoustic amphitheater, a resort-style wellness center, events spaces, co-working offices, and a market.
With the parking under the shopping town center, the developer said it would achieve a fully pedestrian-friendly shopping environment.
The Heron Bay Golf Course was purchased in 2010 for $4.75 million by ClubLink, a Canadian corporation that owns several other South Florida clubs. NSID signed a contract on March 3, 2021, to purchase the land and buildings for $32 million.
Neil Vogel, Heron Bay Community Association President, thanked everyone for working with them and praised the walking trails that NSID is proposing on the 150 acres. “Take a look at the 150 acres of walking trails. This is really a showcase for people to look at, and I hope it meets the needs of the 10,000 Heron Bay residents.”
Concept images of Emporium by developer Upper Buena Vista Management.
Concept images of Emporium by developer Upper Buena Vista Management.
Concept images of Emporium by developer Upper Buena Vista Management.
Concept images of Emporium by developer Upper Buena Vista Management.
Concept footprint of Emporium by developer Upper Buena Vista Management.
Concept images of Emporium by developer Upper Buena Vista Management.
Concept images of Emporium by developer Upper Buena Vista Management.
Related:
Future Uncertain for Heron Bay Golf Course
North Springs in Talks About Heron Bay Golf Course
A Sneak Peek at the Future of Heron Bay
Former Golf Course May include Amphitheater, Parkland Garage, Charter School
Parkland Residents Speak Out Against Heron Bay Development
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