With a festive grand opening in March, Port Orange officials
welcomed The Pavilion at Port Orange to the city. Shoppers from
throughout the region have given a collective “thumbs up” to the
regional open-air shopping center, which has enjoyed steadily
increasing traffic since it opened.
“With the opening of The Pavilion at Port Orange, our citizens enjoy
the convenience of more shopping, dining and entertainment choices,”
said Port Orange Mayor Allen Green. “The economic good fortune of
2,000 more local jobs and increased revenue for our city and local
schools make this a true win-win for our community.”
The Pavilion is a joint development of Chattanooga, Tenn.-based
CBL & Associates Properties Inc. and Amherst, N.Y.-based The
Benchmark Group.
CBL is one of the largest and most active owners and developers of
malls and shopping centers in the United States. The company owns or
manages five regional malls/open air centers in Florida including
Volusia
Mall in Daytona Beach.
The Benchmark Group is a family-owned real estate development,
acquisition and management company whose roots date back to the late
1960s with the development of one of the country’s first enclosed
regional malls in Amherst.
The Pavilion consists of 73 acres at the corner of Interstate 95 at
Taylor Road. Williamson Boulevard is the main access point, which
makes the shopping center conveniently close, especially to
residents of
southeast Volusia. It is 10 miles from Volusia Mall.
The Pavilion consists of 415,000 square feet of retail, restaurant
and
entertainment space and is one of only a few major retail complexes
expected to open in the United States this year. The complex was
more
than 92 percent leased or committed on opening day with more than 30
retailers, restaurants and projects in a park-like setting.
Its architecture is an updated coastal style with two-story themed
buildings and extensive landscaping in an open-air,
pedestrian-friendly
environment. There are 35,000 trees, shrubs, plants and flowers on
the
property with emphasis on native, drought-tolerant plants.
Several restaurants overlook a seven-acre lake. There is a lakeside
measured walking path and a covered children’s play area sponsored
by
Halifax Health. An open green space will serve as a public gathering
area. Parking is convenient to the clusters of stores and
restaurants. And,
there is more than 34,000 square feet of office space above the
retail
establishments.
The Pavilion is built on the concept of destination retail, which
attracts visitors from greater distances and hosts them for longer
periods
of time.
“We especially are pleased with the number of locally and
regionally-owned shops and restaurants that give this property a
regional
appeal,” said Geoff Smith, CBL vice president/development.” The
success in leasing and commitments is a reflection of the quality of
the
development, its outstanding location, access and visibility and the
demographic base of the region.”
Development began early in 2008 and required $22 million in
extraordinary infrastructure improvements, above and beyond the
normal infrastructure improvements, a cost borne by CBL.
Improvements were made to roads, including the I-95/Dunlawton
interchange, widening and sidewalk installation along Williamson
Boulevard and traffic signalization. Extensive improvements were
required for storm water drainage, and water and sewer utilities.
A
1 percent public infrastructure fee (PIF), a penny per dollar spent,
helps finance those costs. Retailers include the fee on all taxable
transactions and the funds collected are provided to the South
Williamson Interchange Community Development District to repay the
infrastructure debt. Use of the PIF made The Pavilion’s development
possible.
The project is expected to generate approximately $1.1 million in
sales tax revenue for Port Orange and Volusia County. It is also
estimated
to generate $1.2 million for local schools and $157,000 for fire and
rescue
services each year.
