World Golf Village Community Gets New Ingredients

by Rick Pariani

The first shovels of construction activity at World Golf Village were turned in 1994.  First came the privately funded $9,500,000 I-95 Interchange, followed by the initial 4 lane widening of International Golf Parkway.  In 1996, the site infrastructure for the Northwest Quadrant and Southeast Quadrant was commenced.  Shortly thereafter, World Golf Village in its initial dress, opened to the public on May 18, 1998.

In the past 10 years of activity, World Golf Village has evolved into an award-winning, highly desirable and comfortable collection of distinct neighborhoods which are complimented by many services, amenities, shops, dining and entertainment opportunities.  Nevertheless, the full promise of the World Golf Village development is yet to come.

In the past 18 months there have been numerous new additions to World Golf Village and its greater surrounds.  These additions together with the newest projects currently poised to launch will create a unique diversity which will shape and mature life, work and leisure at the Village.

On World Golf Village land, granted to St. Johns County, two new schools opened for the 2007-2008 school year.  Pacetti Bay Middle School opened near the entranceway to the Meadows and Wards Creek Elementary School opened between the north entrance to the King & Bear and Heritage Landing.

The historic crossroads of SR 16, Pacetti Road and International Golf Parkway (fka Nine Mile Road) are being anchored with a rich collection of shops and other services.  A new CVS Pharmacy opened for business earlier this year.  It is rapidly being followed by a Walgreens Pharmacy near the recently completed Village Church and across from the new St. Johns County Village Fire Station.  A new 54,000 square foot Publix will command the intersection, opening soon, together with 24,000 square feet of associated shops.  New convenience stores and gas stations and a bank are on the near horizon too and will help round out the offerings at the crossroads.

The large mixed-use project known as World Commerce Center is being readied for a life-style oriented, national chain, regional mall project that could bring more than 1,000,000 square feet of choice merchants.  When the mall commences construction it will spur a great collection of other well-known and highly anticipated retailers and restaurateurs and a multi-plex theater.  Although no specific “anchor tenants” have been announced, the site has been under infrastructure development for the whole year.  A master drainage system has been built and an immense amount of fill dirt has been generated to provide fill for the mall and all of its surrounding “out-parcels”.  As the economy stabilizes, we should be witnessing significant new development all along the south side of International Golf Parkway.

Other new developments have also been completed, both on the east side and west side of Interstate 95.  They include new warehousing, office, retail and mixed-use opportunities.  Class A Office Condos have been completed and occupied and new shops, restaurants and hotels are in the works.  Even Flagler Hospital, from St. Augustine, is maneuvering to build a full service 350 bed hospital on land between the Slammer & Squire Neighborhoods and the King & Bear Neighborhoods.

These new and promising developments, when combined with the World Golf Hall of Fame Core Entertainment Area and the incredible safety and ease of vehicular access throughout the area, will elevate the World Golf Village Greater Community Area to successful new heights.  The first ten years of World Golf Village building were record breaking.  World Golf Village very quickly matured into a beautiful place in a natural setting with a defined balance between what was built and what was preserved and protected.  We look to the next ten years of quality expansion and diversification as the reward for all who have chosen this Place for their home and business.