In just a couple months, a 304-unit apartment complex will begin to spring out of the ground in Tradition. A year later, residents can start to move in.
The Springs at Tradition is the latest new development to get the Port St. Lucie City Council’s blessing, bringing with it townhome-style units ranging from studios to three bedrooms.
“Having these apartments in walking distance to the hospital and the research centers is very important,” Mayor Gregory Oravec said during the council deliberations on the major site plan. “What a great place for someone that’s working at the hospital.”
The mayor explained that the complex’s location could lead residents to ride bicycles to nearby points of interest instead of relying on vehicles.
The complex will sit on more than 26 acres south of Tradition Parkway, between Community Boulevard and Village Parkway.
Two dog park areas are planned for the complex – and, as part of the rental agreement, dog owners must have their dogs’ DNA collected and on file, all in an attempt to ensure dog owners clean up after their pups.
Continental Properties, the developer, has enlisted PooPrints to register the dogs’ DNA, as it has at other apartment complexes it has built and manages.
Council members appeared intrigued by the program.
“We get calls all the time about this issue,” Mayor Oravec said.
A representative of the developer, Elizabeth Adler, told the council that a first-time offense will net the resident a warning. A second violation results in a fine. The third time? Eviction.
“It’s the poop police!” Councilwoman Stephanie Morgan said, chuckling about the prospect of someone collecting doggie samples at the park and sending them to a lab for comparison.
“You just made my day.”
The dog areas will be separated – one on each end of the complex. There are 13 apartment buildings planned, some with attached garages. Some units will have detached garages.
Planning and Zoning Director Patricia Tobin pointed out to the council that a number of the apartment units would be modified to address the needs of those with physical limitations.
“We get calls all the time,” she said of handicap-accessible apartments.
In what way the units will be modified was not specified in the council’s documentation. Attempts to reach the developer, Continental Properties, were not successful.
The complex will have 48 studio apartments, 104 1-bedroom units, 126 2-bedroom units, and 26 3-bedroom units. Sixteen units will be reserved for those with physical limitations.
According to the documents supplied to the city, Continental Properties not only builds apartment complexes, but also manages them. They expect to hire 10 employees to manage the Springs at Tradition.
The Tradition community is one of more than 60 such apartment complexes located in 17 states, according to Continental’s paperwork, having started in the late 1980s.
The company expects to break ground in October with the 4,300-square-foot clubhouse, which will include a gathering room, a fitness center, a kitchen area and a coffee bar. There will also be office space for the property staff.
Plans call for a pool and sundeck along with an outdoor barbecue area.
The complex will be gated and have a perimeter fence.
The developer expects to have the first apartment building ready for move-in by late summer 2018 and another building ready every three weeks thereafter.
According to the paperwork, construction is expected to be complete by early summer 2019.
The Springs at Tradition will join similar complexes in Bradenton, Estero, Fort Meyers, Kissimmee and Sarasota, according to Continental Properties’ website.
