CELEBRATING CELEBRATION POINTE

Florida’s first transit-oriented development opens fall 2016

It may be hard to imagine that the home to one of the largest public universities in the United States is somewhat undersung. But that’s exactly what the developers of the 1 million-sq.-ft. Celebration Pointe mixed-use complex say about their home in Gainesville, Florida.

Despite being the location of the University of Florida and its 52,000 students, Santa Fe College’s 20,000 students, a well-established healthcare system and emerging technology base, strict land use regulations had created significant barriers for development, said Ralph Conti, partner at the project’s developer, locally based Celebration Pointe Development Partners.

“Gainesville is a well-guarded secret,” Conti said.

That will change when Celebration Pointe opens in October 2016. The $200 million project will consist of 350,000 sq. ft. of open-air retail, 300,000 sq. ft. of Class A office, Hotel Indigo and 1,000 apartments — the first 250 of which will be built in the project’s first phase.

Celebration Pointe was conceived as a residential project by multi-family developer Svein Dyrkolbotn, principal owner and managing partner of Viking Companies, as well as a University of Florida alumnus and partner in the overall development. Instead, the project will be the first transit-oriented development in Florida, Conti said, connecting to a substantial public bus system and to one of the most traveled highways in the state.

Celebration Pointe’s location on 225 acres at Interstate 75 and Archer Road gives residents easy access to other parts of the state, as well as to its own growing market. The trade area boasts a population of 567,830 people with an average household income of $53,931 as of 2013. More than 100,000 vehicles pass through the area each day, a figure that is projected to increase to more than 150,000 vehicles daily by 2020. A newly constructed vehicular and pedestrian bridge spans across I-75, providing additional access and connectivity.

Retail anchors Bass Pro Sportsman’s Center and Regal Cinema will be joined by a mix of better big-box, specialty and neighborhood retail and dining, as well as pop-up kiosks. Transportation software giant Info Tech has already signed to occupy 20% of the project’s office space.

Because of the universities, Gainesville already has a significant number of hotels, but lacked the boutique experience provided by Hotel Indigo. Similarly, the specialty retail will consist of brands new to the market or those looking to put in new concepts.

Wide, shaded sidewalks lined with benches, lampposts and decorative landscaping provide opportunities to shop or stroll, while bike lanes and walkways provide access throughout the development, as well as to significant green space adjacent to the project. More than 100 acres have been set aside as a permanent conservation area along the project’s western border. With the adjacent 460-acre Lake Kanapaha Conservation Area and 240-acre Split Rock Conservation Area, Celebration Pointe will have more than 800 acres of scenic nature preserve.

“This is very much a community-embraced renewal,” Conti said. “This project will take on a life of its own.”