Viera, Florida

Viera (pronounced /vyeh-rah/) is a master planned community located in the central coastal region of Brevard County, Florida. It is part of an unincorporated section adjacent to the Melbourne, Florida area. For census purposes, it is divided between the Census Designated Places of Viera East and Viera West. At the 2010 census, Viera East had a population of 10,757,[1] while Viera West had a population of 6,641.[2]

Geography

The Viera area borders 8 miles (13 km) along Interstate 95 starting at exit 195 and extending south 3 miles (5 km) beyond exit 191. It encompasses 14,500 acres (5,900 ha). About half of this has been set aside for conservation.[3]

Neighborhoods

The community consists of 58 neighborhoods in two areas named Viera East (33) and Central Viera (25). Included are three adult communities, Brennity at Melbourne, Grand Isle, and Heritage Isle, along with a military retirement community, Indian River Colony Club.[4]

The neighborhood communities of Central Viera are Addison Village, Arrivas Village, Fairway Lakes at Viera, North Solerno, Sonoma, South Solerno, Stadium Villas, Stoneridge, Summer Lakes, The Highlands, Three Fountains at Viera, Wickham Lakes, and Wyndham at Duran.[5]

In 2014, Addison Village was the newest in Central Viera, with its first community, Strom Park, currently under development then.[6]
The North and South Villages of Solerno include Capron Trace, Charolais Estates, Chelford, Colfax Landing, Cortona, Daintree, Eason Landing, Gatwick Manor, Indigo Crossing, Levanto, Ravencliffe, Sunstone, and Terramore.[7]

The neighborhood communities of Viera East are Bayhill, Crane Creek, Cross Creek, Fawn Ridge, Hammock Lakes, Hammock Trace, Heritage, Heron's Landing, Mission Bay, Osprey Landing, Osprey Ridge, Six Mile Creek, The Greens at Viera, The Lakes at Viera East, Viera East Golf Club, and Villages of Viera East.[8]

Viera East Golf Club includes the communities of Aberdeen, Addington, Ashton, Blackheath, Brightwood, Canterbury, Collingtree, Durban Park, Oaklefe, Parkstone, Stratford Place, and Woodhall.[9]
Villages of Viera East includes the communities of Auburn Lakes, Bennington, Somerville, Templeton, and Wingate Estates.[10]

History

The land was developed by the Viera Company, a subsidiary of A. Duda and Sons. On August 4, 1989, ground was broken for the new community of Viera,[11] the name deriving from viera meaning "faith" in the Slovak language in honor of family patriarch Andrew Duda, who emigrated from what became Slovakia in 1912.[12] Starting in 1990, the Duda family has owned the property along I-95 and began turning the Cocoa Ranch into a new town with a mix of land uses, including a variety of housing types, offices, medical and industrial parks, shopping centers and recreational facilities. The family has donated a total of 622.7 acres (252.0 ha) of land to various organizations. The following lists the acres donated, the year, and what the land was donated for:

55 acres (22 ha) in 1986 for the Devereux Hospital and Children's Center[13]
30 acres (12 ha) in 1988 for the Brevard County Educational Services Facility[14]
53 acres (21 ha) in 1989 for the Brevard County Government Operations Center[15]
56 acres (23 ha) in 1991 for the development of the Brevard Zoo[16]
74 acres (30 ha) in 1992 for the Space Coast Stadium and Spring Training Complex[17]
32 acres in 1993 for the Harry T. and Harriet V. Moore Justice Center[18]
27.36 acres in 1994 for the development of the VA Clinic[19]
15 acres in 2000 for the Ralph Williams Elementary School[20]
28 acres in 2001 for the Pineda Extension
96 acres in 2006 for the Pineda Interchange [21]
117 acres in 2003 for development of Viera Regional Park and Soccer Fields
15 acres in 2004 to the Veterans Administration for an assisted living facility[22]
7 more acres in 2007 for the Viera Regional Park
.30 acres in 2009 for the Brevard Zoo Animal Care Center[23]
12.04 acre in 2013 for the Linear Park at the Brevard Zoo
5 acres in 2013 to Harmony Farms for new facilities.

The Viera Development of Regional Impact (DRI) was approved in 1990 for about 3,000 acres (1,200 ha), making up Viera East. In 1992 construction began on what would become Viera East. In 1995, a 6,000-acre (2,400 ha) expansion was approved by Brevard County as a Substantial Deviation to the original DRI. Application was made for Substantial Deviation #2 in 2006 and was approved to plan for the final expansion of the community. The 11,567-acre (4,681 ha) expansion will include 5,112 acres (2,069 ha) to be set aside as managed protected land, conservation areas, parks and open space.

The Viera Wilderness Park (5,112 acres (2,069 ha) to be set aside during the expansion) will join with the 44,000-acre (18,000 ha) River Lakes Conservation Area, which includes 14,000 acres (5,700 ha) of Cocoa Ranch purchased by the St. Johns River Water Management District in 1999. Additional acres will be set aside within development areas to serve as conservation, parks and open space bringing the total actively managed protected land in the expansion area to over 50 percent of the total area.

Economy

Since its inception in 1989, Viera has attracted more than 100 businesses and over 4,000 permanent jobs, including financial services, health care, other professional services and retail establishments.

A. Duda & Sons, Inc. continues to raise cattle on the West Viera property as well as a portion of the River Lakes Conservation Area.

Retail

The Avenue Viera, an open-air shopping center, opened in 2004. It contains over 100 shops/restaurants and a multiplex movie theater. There are several nationally known restaurant chains and department stores.[24]

Industry

Viera has several organizations, government offices and non-profits, such as the Brevard Zoo, Brevard Public Schools and Viera Hospital.

The first Park-N-Ride lot, in unincorporated Brevard County, is located there.[25]

Government offices

The county's administration complex is located in Viera 1 mile (1.6 km) west of Interstate 95. The government branches and offices include the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners, County Manager, Planning and Development, Housing and Human Services, Public Works, Public Safety, Health Services and Clinic at Viera, Children's Medical Services, Utility Services, and the Metropolitan Planning Organization. The Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Justice Center and the Brevard County School Board offices are also located within the administrative complex.

Tourism

The developer of the property, the Viera Company, hosts a variety of events each year for both the community and for the Central Brevard area. Several main events include the Spring Bunny Hop, the July 4th Great American Celebration and the holiday tree lighting event. National charities such as the American Heart Association's Heart Walk, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and the March of Dimes Walk for Babies have achieved success in the community.

Government

Federal representation

The Viera area is within Florida's 8th congressional district represented by Bill Posey.[26]

State representation

Within the boundaries of Viera, the State House (District 30) is represented by Ritch Workman;[27] the State Senate (District 24) is represented by Thad Altman.[28]

County

The Viera community is located within an unincorporated portion of Brevard County, District 4. The County Commissioner for this district is Mary Bolin Lewis.[29] The Brevard County School Board representative is Karen Henderson (also District 4).

Community Development Districts and Master Community

Viera East Community Association (VECA)[30] is a not-for-profit corporation formed in accordance with the Viera East Community Declaration and is the Master Association for Viera East. It is administered by a five-member Board of Directors and is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the hardscaping, landscaping and irrigation systems on most major roadways throughout Viera East, and in certain parks and recreational facilities. VECA is also responsible for overseeing the Modifications Review Committee (MRC).

The Viera East Community Development District is a local, special-purpose government entity authorized by Chapter 190 of the Florida Statutes as amended, and created by ordinance of Brevard County as an alternative method of planning, acquiring, operating and maintaining community-wide improvements in planned communities.

Sports

Golf

Duran Golf Club, an 18-hole golf course, opened in 2005. It is located in Central Viera.[31] It encompasses 130 acres (53 ha) in the neighborhoods of Fairway Lakes at Viera and Wyndham at Duran. The 10,000-square-foot (930 m2) British West Indies-style clubhouse contains a restaurant. The center includes a 30-acre (12 ha) complex with a practice range, target greens, pitching greens and a putting green.

Viera East Golf Club opened in 1993[32] and is located in Viera East. It winds through the neighborhoods of Parkstone, Oakefe, Canterbury, Brightwood, Addington, Durban Park, Blackheath, Aberdeen, Woodhall, Collingtree, Stratford Place and Ashton.

Baseball

The Washington Nationals use Space Coast Stadium for their yearly spring training schedule during February and March. Major league players such as Stephen Strasburg pitched during the 2011 spring training season.

The Brevard County Manatees use Space Coast Stadium during the summer months and are a single-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Florida State League All-Star game was played in 2010, the second time in five years.

Parks

Viera Regional Park

Constructed on 125 acres (51 ha) donated by the Viera Company, Viera Regional Park has a community center, a fully equipped playground, three tot lots, 8 acres (3.2 ha) of lakes, a walkway system, two lighted Little League baseball fields, two lighted "major league" baseball fields, eight soccer pitches (2 lighted), lighted tennis and basketball courts, and two youth softball courts.

The Suntree-Viera Lightning Mighty Mites, an under-10 football team, won the Offense-Defense National Championship in 2009.[33][34]

In 2010, two soccer clubs with a total of 1,200 members vied for space on recreational ground.[35][36]

The Suntree-Viera Lightning Bantams, an under-13 Football Comp team, won the OD National Championship in January 2011.

Community parks

Viera has six community parks and a number of pocket parks within each neighborhood. In Viera East, Clubhouse Park, Suseda Park and Woodside Park have children's play equipment along with adjoining trail systems. In Central Viera, Eastwind Park, Westwind Park and North Solerno Park contain modern play equipment with pools for local neighborhood communities.

Recreation

The Brevard Zoo and the 200-acre (81 ha) Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands of Viera are located at the south end of the community.

Education

Viera has three elementary schools, three feeder middle schools, a charter school, and a high school. Plans for a Viera middle school have been included with the DRI plans for the community. Each of Viera's schools has received "A" grades since Florida's grading process started, and each has received other state and national honors as well.[37]

Viera Charter School
Year Opened: 2013
Viera Charter School is a Southern Association of Colleges and Schools-accredited K-8 grade charter school. As a STEM Academy school it partners with the Florida Institute of Technology to provide students with STEM activities. The school is rated 'A' by the School Board of Brevard County and the State of Florida.[38]

Primary schools

Ralph M. Williams, Jr. Elementary School
Year Opened: 1999
Williams was awarded the 2009 National Blue Ribbon Schools Program Award.[39] The school is rated 'A' by the School Board of Brevard County and the State of Florida.[40]
Manatee Elementary School
Year Opened: 2003[41]
Manatee was chosen as a Statewide Music Demonstration School in the 2010–2013 calendar period.[42] The school is rated 'A' by the School Board of Brevard County and the State of Florida.[43]
Quest Elementary School
Year Opened: 2004

Secondary schools

Delaura Middle School, John F. Kennedy Middle School, and Ronald McNair Magnet Middle School are the feeder chain schools associated with the current boundaries for all Viera elementary schools.

Viera High School
Year Opened: 2006
Viera has over 1.4 million in scholarships for academic and athletic excellence. It received the Science research Best of Show Environmental Science Award. The school is rated 'A' by the School Board of Brevard County and the State of Florida.[44]

Public safety

The local Brevard County Fire Rescue station 47 is the county's Specialized Response Truck dealing with HAZMAT incidents county wide.[45] In 2011, the county opened Station #48.[46] This station is the county's only special operations/hazardous materials responding and training station.[47] #48 is also home to a 9-11 memorial which includes a piece of steel from the fallen World Trade Center towers.[48]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Viera East CDP, Florida". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Viera West CDP, Florida". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
  3. ↑ Reed, Matt (April 7, 2013). "How nature beat the environmentalists". Florida Today (Melbourne, Florida). pp. 14A.
  4. ↑ "Neighborhoods". Viera. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  5. ↑ "Communities". Fairway Management of Brevard. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  6. ↑ "Communities". Fairway Management of Brevard. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  7. ↑ "Communities". Fairway Management of Brevard. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  8. ↑ "Viera East Community". Viera East Community Association. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  9. ↑ "Viera East Community". Viera East Community Association. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  10. ↑ "Viera East Community". Viera East Community Association. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  11. ↑ "History". Duda. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  12. ↑ John Grogan. "Agriculture Family Offers Sweet Deal, Grows Brevard City". 4 November 1990. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  13. ↑ "Brevard County Property Appraiser". BCPAO. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  14. ↑ "Brevard County Property Appraiser". BCPAO. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  15. ↑ "Brevard County Property Appraiser". BCPAO. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  16. ↑ "Brevard County Property Appraiser". BCPAO. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  17. ↑ "Brevard County Property Appraiser". BCPAO. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  18. ↑ "Brevard County Property Appraiser". BCPAO. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  19. ↑ "Brevard County Property Appraiser". BCPAO. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  20. ↑ "Brevard County Property Appraiser". BCPAO. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  21. ↑ Moore, Kimberly. "Flyover Highly Anticipated" (Florida Today).
  22. ↑ "Brevard County Property Appraiser". BCPAO. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  23. ↑ "Brevard County Records". Brevard Clerk of Court. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  24. ↑
  25. ↑ White, George (June 2010). "Scoot To SCAT and Reduce Your Carbon Footprint". Viera Vision.
  26. ↑ "District". U.S. Congressman Bill Posey. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  27. ↑ "Representative Ritch Workman". Florida House of Representatives. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  28. ↑ "District 16". The Florida Senate. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  29. ↑ "District 4 County Commissioner Mary Bolin Lewis". Brevard County. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  30. ↑ Viera East Community Association (VECA)
  31. ↑ Duran Golf Club
  32. ↑ Viera East Golf Club
  33. ↑ Lawson, Matt (13 January 2010). "Lightning Mighty-Mites win national championship". South Beaches Breeze (Melbourne, Florida: Florida Today). p. 5.
  34. ↑
  35. ↑ Waymer, Jim (8 December 2010). "Two soccer clubs compete for lights". Melbourne, Florida: Florida Today. pp. 1A.
  36. ↑
  37. ↑ "Brevard County School Grades". The Ledger. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
  38. ↑ "Brevard County School Grades". The Ledger. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
  39. ↑ RMW Elementary
  40. ↑ "Brevard County School Grades". The Ledger. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
  41. ↑ Manatee Elementary
  42. ↑
  43. ↑ "Brevard County School Grades". The Ledger. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
  44. ↑ "Brevard County School Grades". The Ledger. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
  45. ↑ brevardcounty.us
  46. ↑ Gallop, J.D. (1 March 2011). "Fire Station 48 opens". Florida Today (Melbourne, Florida). p. 1B.
  47. ↑ "Local Firefighters Brace for Call". Viera Voice: 1–2. September 2013.
  48. ↑ "Steel I-beam a Solid Reminder of 9/11". Florida Today. Retrieved 9 September 2014.

External links

Coordinates: 28°15′59″N 80°43′44″W / 28.266401°N 80.728934°W / 28.266401; -80.728934

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