Welcome to the City of Cocoa A Community Where You Can Live, Work and Play
City of Cocoa at a glance
Population:
16,971
Area:
14 square miles
County:
Brevard
Government:
Mayor and 4 elected Council Members Incorporated on October 1, 1895
Location:
Centrally located, on the Space Coast, just east of Orlando
Housing:
Mixture of condominiums, single, multi-family as well as riverfront estate homes and senior apartment homes.
Business Environment:
Light manufacturing and industrial, retail and office businesses; 2,781 registered businesses; total 8,434 persons employed; High school education or higher: 81%
Medical Services:
Two primary nearby hospitals; two assisted living facilities, two nursing homes and one medical clinic.
Utilities:
Water and Sewer - City-owned; Electric – Florida Power & Light; Telephone - AT&T, various long-distance providers; Television – BrightHouse Networks and various Satellite TV Providers; Internet providers – AT&T FastAccess DSL. BrightHouse Networks and more
Climate:
Subtropical; average rainfall: 36 inches; average temperature: 73; winter mean temperature: 53; summer mean temperature: 80
Parks & Recreation: 129 acres of parks and recreation Public Safety:
City Police and Fire Departments
Schools:
Public - 4 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high; Private – 1 private school K-6 school and 1 charter school Post-Secondary - 1 accredited community college and 1 accredited university campus for higher education
Transportation:
Direct and convenient access to I-95, U.S. 1, State Roads 528 (Beachline), 524 and 520; Port Canaveral (passengers and freight); Florida East Coast Rail; County bus service; 2 executive jet service airports and 30 minutes to Orlando International Airport
Economic Development:
Florida Enterprise Zone, Foreign Trade Zone, HubZone, Brownfield’s Redevelopment Program, Ad Valorem Tax Abatement Program, Impact and Building/Permitting Fee Waivers, Small Business Assistance and Commercial Façade Improvement Programs
Median Household Income:
Cocoa: $41,947 • Brevard County: $49,000
Median Age:
Cocoa: 38 • Brevard County: 36
2 The City oF Cocoa
SPONSORED BY:
City of Cocoa Office of Economic Development 603 Brevard Avenue Cocoa, FL 32922 PH. (321) 433-8525 www.cocoafl.org
PUBLISHED BY:
PROMOTION MAGAZINE
a division of RENI Publishing
JournaI Florida Real Estate
Jim Phillips, Publisher jphillips@frej.net 150 Third Street, SW Winter Haven, FL 33880 800.274.2812 www.frej.net DESIGNED BY:
Ron Palfrey Director of Creative Services rpalfrey@thenissengroup.com Mami Li Designer mli@thenissengroup.com www.cocoafl.org 3
Building For Success in Cocoa
Cocoa is Open for Business!
B
usinesses, employees and residents alike enjoy the convenience of Cocoa’s central location on the Space Coast in Central Florida. Cocoa is located inland yet you are still close enough to the Atlantic Ocean to enjoy another tropical day in paradise. Its convenient access along I-95, U.S. 1, State Road 528 and State Road 520 strategically place Cocoa in Florida’s High Tech Corridor. In addition, it is about 10 minutes from Port Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center. Cocoa has doubled its size over the past five years from 7 square miles to 14 square miles thanks to an aggressive annexation program that began in 2002. During the same period, its population increased to 16,971. The city offers everything a business needs to open, relocate or expand successfully including ad valorem tax abatement incentives, commercial façade improvement programs, small business assistance, impact and building/permitting fee waivers, Brownfield’s Redevelopment Program, a Florida Enterprise Zone, Foreign Trade Zone and HubZone in a business-friendly local government environment! Its Community and Economic Development staff welcomes site visits and seeks business opportunities with potential developers looking for prime available new mixed use, commercial and residential properties to build or
redevelop within the city limits. Cocoa also features a 1,100 acre industrial area, along Grissom Parkway. The industrial area is perfect for heavy and light manufacturing with retail space nearby. The excellent quality of life, subtropical environment and active cultural lifestyle makes Cocoa a draw for all ages and an ideal community to live, work and play in East Central Florida. Its historic downtown features Cocoa Village with a host of quaint, locally owned shops and restaurants who provide a refreshing retreat from the hustle and bustle of the tourist hot spots. Whether walking along the tree lined streets or playing in the splash fountains at Riverfront Park, everyone loves the charm of Historic Cocoa. A host of indoor/outdoor activities and events year-round combined with spectacular mild weather averaging 75-80 degrees offers something for everyone! Whether it’s the great outdoors with over 20 parks, fishing, boating, surfing, tennis, soccer, arts & crafts shows, festivals, camping, nature trails or art and science museums, concerts and plays, Cocoa has it all. Cocoa is also home to Brevard Community College, the University of Central Florida’s Brevard Campus and the Florida Solar Energy Center. The University Corridor, coupled with 4,000 planned residential units in Cocoa, has become the gateway to new retail/service stores. From
Photo Courtesy of Brian Abrahamson
4 The City oF Cocoa
photovoltaics to hydrogen and alternative fuels, the Florida Solar Energy Center is the State of Florida’s energy research institute. Nearby, a Wal-Mart Supercenter and more than 15 franchised stores make it convenient for residents and visitors to shop and live in the city. In 2009, Sam's Club and ALDI Foods will join these national retailers along with a future Home Depot in 2011. Cocoa’s educational opportunities abound with Cambridge Elementary Magnet School of Arts and Science, Endeavour Elementary Magnet School of Technology, Clearlake Middle School and Cocoa High School. “A” schools, 2+2 Dual High School/College enrollment and an International Baccalaureate Program are all within close and convenient proximity to what some area educators call “Cocoa’s circle of learning!” The city offers a wide variety of premier housing to choose from including new residential communities loaded with popular amenities and beautifully landscaped neighborhoods with single, multi-family homes and condominiums as well as riverfront estate homes. Known for its fishing and citrus industry many years ago, Cocoa was the “commerce center” for Brevard County until NASA purchased all the citrus groves for the Kennedy Space Center. Fortunately, the city’s innovative leaders secured rights to an underground river years ago. Cocoa has built one
of the nation’s premier water treatment facilities which provides pure drinking water to over half of Brevard County, whose population is 600,000. It also serves the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Patrick Air Force Base. Cocoa, an environmentally clean city with water, sewer and telecommunications infrastructure in place, has also implemented a water reclamation program for irrigation purposes. As you can see, Cocoa is a community founded by entrepreneurs who welcome new business and residents. Come live, work or play in Cocoa and you’ll see why it’s a special place you can call home!
Cocoa Demographic Highlights 5 Miles
10 Miles
Population
46,708
146,890
Median Age
38.8
41.4
H.S. Education +
84.3%
89%
Avg. H.H. Income
$46,710
$55,102
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City of Cocoa Project Map
1. Barrera Shores – 600 single family units
10. Clearlake Commons
2. Grissom Ridge Commerce Park
11. ALDI Foods (Opening in 2009)
3. Grissom Commerce Park, Phase I
12. Cocoa Commons Expansion
4. Grissom Mini Storage
13. London Cove – 60 townhomes/retail on south side of 524
5. Grissom Space Coast Business Park 6. Beachline Business Park 7. Home Depot (Opening by 2011) 8. Shoppes at Cocoa North Expansion 9. Clearlake Road Retail – 13,545 sq.ft. of retail
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14. Treetops Residential & Commercial – 150 condo units/retail 15. Cocoa Conservation Area (166 acres) 16. Cocoa Landings – 172 townhomes, 312 apartment units/retail
17. Shoppes at The Landings
27. Santa Barbara – 272 condo units, 207 townhomes
18. Loch Lomand – 26 single family homes
28. Byrd Plaza Renovation
19. Brevard Crossings – mixed use, office, residential, light industrial 280 acres
29. Lakeside Palms – 225 townhomes (at very end of Clearlake south)
20. Emerald Lakes – 159 single family
30. Magnolia Pointe – 70 single family
21. Emerald Lakes Commercial – 43,788 sq.ft. of retail and restaurant
31. Regina Myra – 8 single family
22. Adamson Creek – 550 single family homes 23. Fern Meadows – Phase 2 24. Mike Erdman Toyota – I-95 & 520 West
32. Delannoy Square – 9 townhomes/office/retail 33. Trinity Riverfront Condominiums 34. Cocoa City Hall 35. 35 Carmalt St. – A quadraplex residential unit
25. Sam’s Club – I-95 & 520 East 26. Brevard Commerce Park – 203,056 sq.ft. of office and warehouse
(Based on submittal for approval as of 11/12/08)
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Building Success in Cocoa… Now and in the Future • Brevard Crossings offers 247 net developable acres and is a proposed 2 phase retail, commercial, hotel, cinema and business park to feature an environmentally and pedestrian friendly outdoor design. It is the single largest undeveloped parcel in the city and strategically located west on State Road 524 with convenient access to I-95. Brevard Crossings has city and county incentives available including utilities infrastructure, building/permitting fee waivers and impact fee deferment.
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ocoa is the gateway to some of the hottest commercial and redevelopment opportunities, not only on the Space Coast, but in Central Florida. With an “Open for Business” philosophy and a supportive city council, city officials have created a mix of businesses to fit the needs for the types of services and goods residents and visitors will welcome in Cocoa! Careful thought has been given to the city’s growth plans including job opportunities, residential needs and the creation of new neighborhoods, schools, roads/traffic and the overall local economy. The following is a list of businesses, retailers and developments that are building success in Cocoa:
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• Home Depot moves forward with its construction in 2010 and will feature a 104,202 square foot retail store and garden center on State Road 524 across from Publix. • Sam’s Club will be opening a 136,349 square foot wholesale retail club in 2009 along State Road 520. There are several parcels available for development at the intersection of I-95 and 520.
• Grissom Ridge Commerce Park is located in Cocoa’s industrial area along State Road 524 and offers several new warehouse spaces and lots. • Cocoa Landings, LLP is planning to develop a 4 phase combined retail and office development project. Phase 1 will consist of 2 one-story and one 2-story buildings for a total of 47,605 square feet of retail space and 26,450 square feet of office space. The remaining phases consist of 3 out-parcels totaling 46,850 square
feet. This mixed-use project will contain a total of 120,905 square feet and is located to the west of the Cocoa Landings multi-family project. • Cocoa Waterfront Master Plan includes recommendations for a number of improvements within its redevelopment area to maximize its location along the Indian River Lagoon. This comprehensive plan was finalized by the Cocoa Redevelopment Agency (CRA) to enhance Cocoa’s waterfront economically, recreationally and environmentally.
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Building Neighborhoods
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ocoa offers all ages a well-balanced community to live and work in with available housing throughout the city for all income levels. New single and multi-family proposed projects which may include town homes and condominiums are currently pre-approved and available for development. These new neighborhoods are surrounded by beautiful parks and a complete array of on-site amenities including playgrounds, sparkling lakes and miles of walking trails. The following two proposed residential projects are already pre-approved by the city for development:
• Santa Barbara Preserve is a 479 unit multi-family development on 90 acres that features both town homes and condominiums. The project reflects urban design elements typically associated with neo-traditional and new urbanist projects. The property is located south of State Road 524 with convenient access to Publix, Wal-Mart Supercenter, Brevard Community College and University of Central Florida Cocoa Campuses.
• Lakeside Palms Condominiums is a 225 town home community which will include a clubhouse, pool, tennis courts, walking trail and a tot lot. The project will be located on Clearlake Road, just south of State Road 520.
10 Seminole The City oF County Cocoa – Florida’s Natural Choice
Business Support & Incentives
Cocoa is Open for Business!
start or relocate a business and enjoy our biggest incentive – an outstanding quality of life, beautifully mild year round climate and a sense of community that goes along with working and living in one of Florida’s premier destinations on the Space Coast. For more information on business support, incentives and services, contact:
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hen you start a business in Cocoa, you’ll find a variety of support and incentive programs to help you, from finding a suitable location for your business, building and permitting, and business assistance programs. When you choose Cocoa, you’ll join a group of professionals who are supportive and engaged in the community.
City of Cocoa Office of Economic Development Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Monday – Friday) Phone: (321) 433-8525 www.cocoafl.org
The Office of Ecomonic Development can help you identify important resources, potential locations, improved sites or buildings and potential tax incentives. If you choose one of the city’s Community Redevelopment Agencies, there are more potential benefits, which include façade improvement grants! Cocoa has it all as a premier gateway on the Space Coast to Central Florida. Choose Cocoa to
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