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- 🌅 SLN - August 9th - 👂 Tradition Listens… Kind of: A resident makes their voice heard
🌅 SLN - August 9th - 👂 Tradition Listens… Kind of: A resident makes their voice heard
👑 The King is Back 👑: The King’s Landing project in Fort Pierce has been a topic of much discussion and the project looks to be back on
Sunland News
August 09, 2024
Welcome to Sunland News! The daily newsletter that keeps you up to date on the business, community, and people of Saint Lucie County.
Good Morning, Good Friday, Good People!
Sunland News is reporting for duty to carry you into the weekend. We’ve got some pictures, we’ve got some news, we’ve got some events… Did I mention pictures?
Let’s get to it!
— Ja'Min
What to Expect:
👂 Tradition Listens… Kind of: A resident makes their voice heard
👑 The King is Back 👑: The King’s Landing project in Fort Pierce has been a topic of much discussion and the project looks to be back on
🥇 Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Breaks Her Own Record, Again
🎉 Weekend Events: Downtown Fort Pierce Farmer's Market
How do you feel about all the new construction and development happening in St. Lucie County? |
📚 Read Time: 5.97 Minutes
☁️ Weather Forecast
Weather TL;DR: Hot with scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon—stay cool and be prepared for rain!
🌤️ Day: High 91°F
🌙 Night: Low 77°F
🌅 Sunrise: 6:49 AM
🌇 Sunset: 8:03 PM
🌧️ Rain: 50% chance of scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon
🔥 Caution: Sweat Alert! ⚠️
Expect a high heat index up to 109°F from 10 AM to 6 PM. Stay cool, hydrated, and maybe keep the water close by—just in case! 💦
NEWS
👂 Tradition Listens… Kind of, Almost, Not Really
Tradition is growing fast—too fast for some. Amidst the constant development and new projects popping up left and right, it’s no surprise that residents are starting to feel the pressure. One such resident, Cathy Powers, took her concerns straight to the City Council recently, and it was enough to make everyone pause and take a closer look.
Powers, who lives in Tradition, wasn’t thrilled about the planned Tradition in Motion (TIM) Mobility Center. She voiced her concerns at a recent City Council meeting, worrying that the new two-story building would overshadow the iconic Tradition Town Hall. She also had serious doubts about whether there would be enough parking for the community’s big events. While she was the only resident to speak up that night, her words were enough to prompt Mayor Shannon Martin to pull the item from the usually non-discussion Consent Agenda.
Mayor Martin invited Steve Garrett, the landscape architect for Mattamy Homes, to address Powers’ concerns. What followed was a detailed explanation of the project that also led to a broader discussion about TIM’s role in the community. Garrett assured everyone that the new buildings are designed to complement, not detract from, the existing charm of Tradition. He also pointed out that the project would add 32 new parking spaces, which should alleviate some of the worries about overcrowding during events.
Still, the fact that the project was pulled for further discussion at all shows that even as Tradition pushes forward with rapid development, the voices of its residents aren’t going unheard. Powers didn’t get everything she wanted—after all, the Council did vote unanimously to move forward with the project—but her concerns were taken seriously enough to warrant a second look. In a community where change is happening at breakneck speed, that’s something worth noting.
🔔 Sunland Bulletin
⚠ New Restaurant Alert 😋: Berry Forkin' Good 🍴 333 S.E. Port St. Lucie Blvd., Port St. Lucie; in the Lakeside Center plaza, next to Café 772 Cantina & Grill [Read More Here]
🎒 Back-to-School Open House Finishes Today: K-8, middle, and high schools will welcome students and parents today, Friday, August 9. For detailed information and specific times, check out the Open House PDF.
💈 Slate’s Barber Shop 12th Annual Back-to-School Supply Giveaway: Honoring the legendary Darin Slater, this event will feature a back-to-school giveaway at the Sunland Garden’s Clubhouse on August 10th at 11 AM. [Flyer]
🚦 Check the traffic situation before heading out: Saint Lucie County will be testing bus routes all this week in preparation for the school year. Stay updated.
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NEWS
One of my mom’s students is a generational artist
👑 The King is Back 👑
The King’s Landing project in Fort Pierce has been a topic of much discussion and anticipation for quite some time. Set to revitalize the former H.D. King Power Plant site, this project promises to bring 106 luxury condominiums, a 140-room hotel, a parking garage, and 50,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space right to the heart of downtown.
Despite all the buzz, the project has faced delays, leaving residents wondering if it would ever come to life. Now, it looks like King’s Landing is getting a fresh start. Alabama-based Harbert Realty Services has agreed to take over the development from Audubon Development, breathing new life into the plans.
While the deal still needs final approval from the Fort Pierce City Commission, the new developer stepping in could mean that this long-awaited project is finally back on track. For Fort Pierce, this could be a significant shift. After chatting with people both online and in person, it’s clear the project has sparked mixed feelings. I plan to dig deeper into whether the city is fully aware of the project’s implications and how residents REALLY feel about it. The city claims it will bring new housing, jobs, and amenities to the area—but at what cost? Stay tuned as I dive deeper into this unfolding story.
📰Other News
🚤 TREASURE COAST AT LARGE
🥽Local pre-schoolers build dream cars: Preschoolers at Lightbridge Academy recently brought their imaginations to life. [More Info]
🍊 FLORIDA AT LARGE
New Stores, Hotel, and Housing Planned to Revitalize Indian River Mall: Big changes could be coming to Indian River Mall in Vero Beach as new owners, DTS Properties II, LLC, aim to breathe life back into the struggling shopping center. Purchased for $14.8 million in May, the nearly 750,000-square-foot property may soon see the addition of national retailers, housing, and even a hotel.
The redevelopment will take place in two phases: the first focuses on filling the vacant spaces once occupied by Macy's and Sears, with potential tenants like Kohl's and Dick's Sporting Goods. The second phase could introduce up to 240 multi-family housing units and a hotel, though these plans will require further approval as the area isn't currently zoned for residential use.
🌍 WORLD AT LARGE
🥇 Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Breaks Her Own Record, Again: The sprinter, 25, defended her own world record — for the sixth time — when she completed the 400-meter hurdle race in 50.37 seconds. [More Info]
🪮Sunland Picks
 | Super Size Me Okay, a couple of things. First, I try to recommend films that can be watched on Kanopy (free with a library card). Second, the filmmaker (Morgan Spurlock) behind this documentary recently passed away, which got me reflecting. This was a huge documentary for me growing up, especially in school. It’s really sad to see him go so soon. The film is eye-opening, not just in a knowledge-gaining way but also because it’s a great piece of filmmaking. |
📸This Is Saint Lucie
Ms. Brown welcoming in students for the new school year
🗓️ Things To Do
🎉 Community Feeding at Fort Pierce Woman's Club
📅 Friday, August 9th, 12 PM
📍 2408 S 29th Street, Fort Pierce, FL
Join us as we help feed those less fortunate in our community. Donations and volunteers are needed to make this event a success.
🎶 Music Bingo Fridays at Islamorada Brewery & Distillery
📅 Friday, August 9th, 6:30 PM - 11 PM
📍 Islamorada Brewery & Distillery, 3200 St Lucie Blvd, Fort Pierce, FL
Get ready for a night of fun and excitement with Bingo Night561's Music Bingo event! Whether you're a music enthusiast or just looking for a good time, join in on the fun!
🎉 The Life Family Worship Center's Women's Empowerment Brunch
📅 Saturday, August 10th, 11 AM - 2 PM
📍 3215 S US Hwy 1, Fort Pierce, FL 34982
Join The Life Family Worship Center for a special Women's Empowerment Brunch. Please register online and send payment via Cashapp or Zelle to the provided details.
🛍️ Downtown Fort Pierce Farmer's Market
📅 Saturday, August 10th, 8 AM - 12 PM
📍 101 Melody Ln, Fort Pierce, FL
Support local vendors and enjoy fresh produce, crafts, and more at the Downtown Fort Pierce Farmer's Market.
🎷 Jazz Market at Gazebo Park
📅 Saturday, August 10th, 8 AM - 1 PM
📍 N. Indian River Drive and Ave. A, Fort Pierce, FL
Every Saturday, the Fort Pierce Jazz & Blues Society hosts a Jazz Market featuring creative arts and crafts, live music, and more. Don't miss out on this unique event in historic downtown Fort Pierce.
🌱 Farmer’s Market at The Jensen Beach Campus
📅 Sunday, August 11th, 9 AM - 2 PM
📍 Circa69 Jensen Beach Campus, 3750 NE Indian River Dr, Jensen Beach, FL
Support local small businesses at the Farmer’s Market Day with live music and a variety of vendors. A great way to spend your Sunday!
🕹️ Sunland Games
Answer from yesterday’s Sunland Games: C. 1901
Which historical landmark in St. Lucie County is listed on the National Register of Historic Places? |
(Answer will be provided in the next newsletter)
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