If you’ve driven down the St. Johns Heritage Parkway recently, you’ve probably noticed the traffic already getting heavy. People are moving into the area fast, but the biggest development of all hasn’t even started yet.
I swung by today and snapped a few photos.
Well, that quiet view is officially scheduled to transform. The Palm Bay City Council just granted final approval for Palm Vista Everlands West—a massive 1,198-acre master-planned community that will shape the northwest side of the city over the next decade.
To give you an idea of where this monster project sits relative to everything else popping up along the Parkway, here is a quick bird’s-eye view.
Below is the Preliminary Development Plan map for the project. While final changes are coming, this is the official "skeleton" of what the neighborhood will look like.
A few interesting takeaways from looking at the blueprint:
The Great 53-Home Disappearance Act: If you squint at the “Unit Count Summary” in the top right corner of the map, it lists a grand total of 2,413 planned homes. However, the City Council legally capped the development at exactly 2,360 total units. My guess? A few yards are about to get slightly wider.
More Green Than You Think: Looking at the giant green blob taking up the left side of the map, over 310 acres are legally locked away for permanent wetland preservation. Local wildlife will still have places to hang out.
A Tale of Two Neighborhoods: The layout is basically split in two. The northern chunk (Pods A, B, and C) is open to all ages, while the entire southern half is dedicated to a massive Active Adult (55+) community.
What’s Next?
There’s a lot going on, so it’s tough to narrow down the exact timeline. That 3-mile stretch of St. Johns Heritage Parkway from Malabar Road up past Emerson Drive will be widened to four lanes. New traffic lights will be put in.
You can even see the commercial side starting already. The new 7-Eleven on the west side of the Parkway (opposite Emerson) marks the beginning of the Shops at Palm Bay plaza, which will serve as the commercial hub for this whole neighborhood.
But don’t expect 2,000 houses to appear overnight. The full buildout is projected to run all the way through 2036.
Late 2026 to Early 2027: Engineering reviews and final wetland permitting.
Mid-2027: Infrastructure break-ground for main neighborhood roads and pipes.
Late 2027: First model homes built and open for tours.
Whether you’re excited about the new housing options or just stressing about the future traffic on the Parkway, the changes are officially on the way.
I’ll keep tracking the final engineering maps as they get recorded, so stay tuned for updates when there’s actual street names!
— Nathan
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