Welcome To The City Of Cocoa

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
[email protected]
150 Third Street, SW
Winter Haven, FL 33880
800.274.2812
www.frej.net
DESIGNED BY:
Ron Palfrey
Director of Creative Services
[email protected]
Mami Li
Designer
[email protected]
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
www.cocoafl.org 5
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
6 The City oF Cocoa
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)
www.cocoafl.org 7
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.
C
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:
8 The City oF Cocoa
• 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.
www.cocoafl.org 9
Building Neighborhoods
C
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:
W
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
www.cocoafl.org 11