| City/Town: • Wabasso |
| Location Class: • Residential |
| Built: | Abandoned: • 2006 |
| Status: • Abandoned |
| Photojournalist: • David Bulit |
Table of Contents
The River Preserve Condo Project
Located in Wabasso, the current condominium project known as ‘The River Preserve’ wasn’t the first plan for the 31-acre site situated on the shores of the Indian River. Back in 2001, the site was rezoned by the Indian River County Commission to allow six condominiums per acre, and approved a plan for a subdivision called Island View. This new subdivision was planned to have 23 homes and 78 condominiums, but site plans expired before any construction began.
The developer, Indian River Preserve LLC, located in Short Hills, New Jersey, received approval in 2003 for a project consisting of 23 homes and 78 condominiums. The plan included nine condominium buildings, along with a clubhouse, swimming pool, and tennis courts.
Construction of the buildings began in 2006 after obtaining permits from the St. Johns River Water Management District to excavate three acres of the 12-acre wetlands on the site. In exchange, the developer agreed to offset that destruction by restoring 12 acres of the nearby Lost Tree Island to native vegetation.
Abandonment
Due to the housing market crash, the project was never completed. Of the nine planned condominium buildings, only three were constructed, and the foundations for two others were laid. During a road-widening project, the Florida Department of Transportation built a northbound turning lane into the development from U.S. 1. Additionally, internal roads, utilities, and water-retention ponds were also established.
In 2013, the plan was revised to replace 23 single-family homes with 96 apartments. Although the county approved the new plan, it never progressed. In 2016, it was reported that construction could soon resume as the developers were going back to the county Community Development Department to review their site plan, but no progress has been made since then.
After years of sitting abandoned, the property is frequented by vandals, vagrants, addicts, and kids simply looking for something to do. The property is under surveillance by local police, and trespassers are subject to being fined and/or arrested.
Photo Gallery
