Why young people are choosing Vero

The weather, the beach and the small-town charm –no wonder so many retirees choose Vero Beach.

But with Historic Downtown revitalization and development of Three Corners seemingly dependent on an influx of “young people,” what is needed to attract more of this demographic to Vero?

Over the past month, we interviewed a number of 20-and-30-somethings about why they are here, and what they think brings young professionals to Vero.

Somewhat surprisingly, a majority of those we talked to appeared less intrigued by what the city might be like after a half-billion dollars of change to the riverfront or downtown, and more enthused about what has long made Vero Vero.

Vero High graduates Adam Neira and Lance Lunceford, and St. Ed’s grads Sydney O’Haire and Chloe Rose Schwartz, were among those who returned to their hometown after going off to college and gaining work experience in bigger locales.

“Vero Beach is more than just a quiet, picturesque town,” said Schwartz, who after university went off to New York City and worked for a small clothing company. “I had always envisioned myself moving somewhere like that.”

But she moved back to Vero with her husband in 2017 when he got a job here, and since has launched a wardrobe consulting business, Style by Chloe Rose.

“We’ve made friends who aren’t from Vero and have different backgrounds and similar interests, which has been great,” she said. “Vero’s a great place to start businesses and test ideas. The community support and the convenience of a small town offer a balanced lifestyle.”

Seattle native Tawni Blankenship, 24, a gymnastics coach, chose Vero after a cross-country search for a place that felt like home.

“I was going to school in the city, and it was very fast paced with awful weather. It was very hostile and angry, and there seemed to be so much going on. It was during Covid as well, and that’s around the time when I decided to leave.

“I traveled from Washington all the way down and all the way across, living in Lake Tahoe, Sedona, Las Vegas, but I lived in Texas the longest – seven months. After a while, I felt landlocked. I need the ocean.”

She resisted friends’ warnings about Florida. “After some research, I found this little place called Vero, and my brother was living in Sebastian at the time, so I just left.”

The small-town appeal of Vero was a nice adjustment for Blankenship. “The beaches aren’t as packed and the bars here aren’t grimy and gross. I feel safe going into the bars here like Sol Mar, and Waldo’s is fun,” she said. “This kind of feels like a safe haven, but also in the same regard, it isn’t boring.”

She does not miss being “caught up” in city life. “It’s so expensive. You get stuck in this job that you may or may not enjoy, and you’re just in this cycle of work, go home, sleep. Here, it’s slow-paced, you can enjoy life, and find things to do outside that keep you out of trouble,” she said.

“Out of all the places I’ve been, I’ve been the happiest here,” she said.

Adam Neira, 30, said he “moved out of Vero to expand my horizons and went to school at Santa Fe (State College) to experience college life. Going there made me realize what was so special about Vero – it makes you feel seen.

“I know for a fact that I want to raise my family in Vero,” said Neira. “One day I want to be a part of the fabric of this community and help it grow in the right direction.”

With a proposal for high-density, affordable apartment housing along 14th Avenue should voters approve a referendum this fall, Vero seems to be inviting a whole new crowd who want to live in a more urban setting. But Neira said he’s perfectly OK without heavy traffic and “the crazy things that city life can throw at you.

“You’ve always got an escape, and it’s always 5 minutes away. You can go to the beach, clear your mind, and I think as a young person that really does a lot for your mental health,” he said.

Sydney O’Haire, 31, attended the University of Florida, then earned a master’s in fine arts in film directing from DePaul University in Chicago, before returning to Vero to become a financial advisor in the O’Haire Group at Merrill Lynch in Central Beach.

“Vero Beach is a really nice place to grow up. Being able to be outside all year is incredible, and I realized, especially moving to Chicago, that not a lot of kids have that opportunity,” she said. “You can decide to do something, and in 15 minutes, you’re doing it. Whether it’s surfing, diving or golfing, it’s all within reach without feeling like you’re in an overcrowded space.”

“On an emotional level, I’m coming back home because my fiancé and I want to have kids and I want to be close to my mom and other family members. A lot of my best friends have moved back and are having kids too,” she said.

Lance Lunceford, 24, returned to Vero after graduating from the Wharton School of Business and working in venture capital, and now serves as president of the Taxpayers Association of Indian River County.

“I wanted to get involved in the community in a meaningful way, whether in a political or civic capacity. Returning to Vero Beach allowed me to leverage my existing connections and quickly become involved in key decision-making roles,” he said. “Florida’s business climate benefits from the presence of both actual and intellectual capital. Many successful Americans reside here, contributing financially and intellectually to the community.”

Lunceford said Tax Collector Carole Jean Jordan “reintroduced me to the community after my four years away, and I fell in love with Vero Beach all over again. There’s a unique grace in how people interact here.”

Lunceford believes Vero Beach has both strengths and challenges in terms of attracting young people.

The superior quality of life in Vero means high housing costs, and that is a hurdle for young people, but for those who can afford to live locally, “Vero Beach stands out as a crown jewel within Florida, emphasizing family and community over a bustling nightlife or urban lifestyle.”

Fashion entrepreneur Schwartz said growing up in Vero “was a great experience” which she is now reliving with her daughter.

“I’m a mom of a toddler, so an average day in Vero usually starts with going to the gym. If I’m with my daughter, we try to find local activities, like music classes downtown or art classes at the Vero Beach Museum of Art.”

But she said Vero needs to create a more lively social scene.

“I think nightlife is lacking. There are nice restaurant bars like Ocean Grill or places like Citrus Grill, but then there are spots like Riverside or Grind and Grape, which attract a younger, more wild crowd,” she said. “I would love more in-between options. If someone with the money and the ability would sit down with me, I could give five to ten spots that we need to fill the gaps.”

Photos provided