New Smyrna Beach, Florida

9 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 10 Beach is a special community – in that they love growth but they also want to embrace the city’s natural beauty and character. “My vision, from an economic development standpoint for this community, is being strategic about what type of growth takes place. Definitely, revitalization and redevelopment of underutilized properties is number one because it speaks to the character of your community. Also, creating quality jobs that retain good talent here in New Smyrna Beach. We have some great students coming through our school system and we don’t want them to think they have to move somewhere else to find an above average wage. We want them to find that here, so they can stay and raise a family and enjoy this desirable beachside community. We’re marketing New Smyrna Beach as a destination where you can do business just as well as recreating in the surf; a combination of new business and industry, along with supporting our existing small business community that is so valuable to New Smyrna Beach.” transformed in the historic downtown Canal and Flagler Avenue areas in the previous CRA district through grant assistance for commercial façade and property improvements. A prime example: Coronado Realty took an old shell of a building and beautifully transformed it. In the current CRA district, there is an adaptive reuse opportunity grant in place, which was beneficial in the transformation of a dilapidated former gas station at the corner of Washington and Dixie Freeway. The property was purchased by The Rumble House 2 in Edgewater (an electric bike retailer). The business owner took advantage of that grant program, demolished the gas station, and is building a brand-new two- storey facility for his business in the New Smyrna Beach location. That same Washington area will be undergoing a major street improvement project as well in the next year, so it’s perfect timing. Looking three to five years down the road, Edwards confides, “I certainly want to see an active landscape of good, strong redevelopment projects that are increasing property values in the community. Not just monetary value but quality of life value. We have over 30 various stage developments under construction in the city now but understanding that New Smyrna NEW SMYRNA BEACH , FLOR IDA PREFERRED VENDORS/PARTNERS n Atlantic Center for the Arts www.atlanticcenterforthearts.org Atlantic Center for the Arts is an international nonprofit artists-in-residence community founded in 1977. Located on 68 acres of ecological preserve, its studio complex has won nine architectural awards. It supports working artists during residencies, through its gallery Arts on Douglas, community programs and IMAGES: A Festival of the Arts. n Southeast Volusia Habitat for Humanity www.habitatsev.org