NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. – There’s a plan in the works to turn 1300 South Atlantic Avenue — where a Regions Bank used to sit in New Smyrna Beach — into a new five-story shopping center.
“To build something like that, it would interfere with what you have now, which I just don’t agree with,” said Burt Stanley.
While the proposed nearly 35,000-square-foot shopping center is exciting to some, several local beachgoers like Burt Stanley, who lives 4 miles up the road, said they’re not thrilled with the idea.
He believes the city would lose its small-town feel.
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“If they’re gonna build this thing in a different location away from the historic sights and the beach,” said Stanley.
Even visitors like Melissa Malcolm, who’s traveled from West Virgina to the beach every year over the past four decades, are not fans.
“I’m considering relocating in a few years, and I like the small vibe New Smyrna has,” Malcolm said.
According to the NSB Capital Group’s plans on the city’s website, the center would feature 101 paid parking spaces for general public use and 209 spaces for shoppers.
“One five-story building isn’t gonna impact residents as much as you may think,” said Scott Schwerdfeger.
Schwerdfeger lives in Deland and visits the beach four times a week. He said the development would bring in a lot of revenue and show that New Smyrna Beach is a fast-growing city.
“Over on our side of the county, we have huge development. That’s brought in hundreds of families. That’s going from commercial to commercial, so I don’t think it’s gonna have that much of an impact,” said Schwerdfeger.
Everything is not set in stone, though. There are still a few more steps they need to take before they get ready to develop. The area still needs to be rezoned.
The New Smyrna Beach City Council will have a public hearing and second reading on Aug. 13.
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