August 27, 2007 - Palm Coast, Florida -Flagler County's the residential real estate market flounders but the commercial side shows strength. A few projects, such as the CVS on SR100 at John Anderson, have been put on hold. Epic's much anticipated multiplex movie theater/retail complex is apparently being set back. Informal discussions have taken place, but formal plans have yet to be submitted to city planners. Meanwhile, progress on the Town Center front is becoming apparent.

• The final site plan for Golden Gate was approved. Golden Gate is a "boutique" hotel, with 80 plush guest rooms, meeting rooms, a fine dining restaurant, and shops. It will be located on Central Avenue, across from Central Park within Town Center's urban core.
• City Center, a mixed-use complex with offices, retail space, a bank, and a stand-alone restaurant has been given final site plan approval. The restaurant will be sited overlooking City Center Lake, also within the urban core.
• Another project receiving final site plan approval is Brookhaven; a single family (attached) residential community of 4-plex and 5-plex units. Brookhaven is located on lot 24, which runs between the east side of Bulldog Drive and Town Center Blvd. The site does not front SR100. A building permit valued at $807,606 was issued August 25th for the construction of Brookhaven's clubhouse.
• City Place is another project that has received final site plan approval as part of the urban center core. City Place is mixed-use condo development featuring four architecturally unique buildings and a free-standing pavilion.
• Developers of a Hilton Garden Inn anticipate final site plan approval on September 19th. They hope to commence construction near the northwest corner of SR100 and Town Center Blvd. in December.
• McDonalds plans a new restaurant along the SR100 side of Palm Landings, the large scale retail center anchored by Target. They will be submitting their final site plan soon. The new store will be unique in design and signage, not their usual prototype store.
• National City Bank will soon begin construction of a branch bank near the new Belle Terre Publix. The site is on the northeast corner of Belle Terre and Market.

Final site plan is only one of the several steps which a development project must pass, but it is nearly the last. Only a building permit is required for commencement of construction.

Toby Tobin is Editor & Publisher of GoToby.com, the popular real estate news, information, and analysis website for the City of Palm Coast and Flagler and Volusia counties in Northeast Florida