Viera, Florida

Viera (pronounced /vjɛrə/) is an affluent 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]

Viera, Florida
Planned community
Location of Viera, Florida
Country United States
State Florida
CountyBrevard

It contains some county offices for a de facto county seat located in the geographic center of the county, which was developed beginning in 1989.

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 76 neighborhoods in two specific areas named Viera East (38) and Viera West (38). Included are five active adult communities/55+, Brennity at Melbourne, Bridgewater at Viera, Viera Manor and Heritage Isle, Grand Isle, along with a military retirement community, Indian River Colony Club.[4]

Viera East

The neighborhood communities of Viera East are Auburn Lakes, Bayhill, Crane Creek, Cross Creek, Fawn Ridge, Grand Isle, Hammock Lakes, Hammock Trace, Heron's Landing, Lakes at Viera East, Mission Bay Apartments, Osprey, Six Mile Creek, The Greens at Viera, Capron Ridge, The Heritage, The Villages of Viera East, Viera East Golf Club, and Wingate Estates.[5]

Viera East Golf Club includes the following communities: those of Aberdeen, Addington, Ashton, Blackheath, Brightwood, Canterbury, Collingtree, Durban Park, Oaklefe, Parkstone, Stratford Place, and Woodhall.[5]
The villages of Viera East include the following communities: those of Bennington, Somerville, and Templeton.[5]

Viera West

The neighborhood communities of Viera West are Adelaide, Arrivas Village, Artistry at Viera Apartments, Fairway Lakes at Duran, Heritage Isle, Highlands Viera West Apartments, Marisol at Viera Apartments, Modern Duran, Sonoma, Stadium Villas, Summer Lakes, The Brennity at Melbourne, Three Fountains at Viera Condominiums, Villages of North Solerno, Villages of South Solerno Wickham Lakes, and Wyndham at Duran.[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.[6]

Addison Village

Addison Village, which is a part of Viera West, has the communities of Bridgewater at Viera, Kerrington, Loren Cove, Reeling Park, Seville, Valencia, Strom Park, Trasona Cove East, Trasona Cove West, and Sierra Cove.[6]

History

The land was developed by the Viera Company, a subsidiary of A. Duda and Sons, which owned the property formerly known as Cocoa Ranch. On August 4, 1989, they broke ground in this unincorporated area for the new community of Viera.[7] It is derived from viera meaning "faith" in the Slovak language, in honor of family patriarch Andrew Duda, who immigrated to the United States in 1912 from what became Slovakia.[8] Starting in 1990, the Duda family started developing a new community with a mix of land uses, including a variety of housing types, offices, medical and industrial parks, shopping centers and recreational facilities. Todd Pokrywa was appointed President of The Viera Company effective September 1, 2018.

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[9]
  • 30 acres (12 ha) in 1988 for the Brevard County Educational Services[10]
  • 53 acres (21 ha) in 1989 for the Brevard County Government Operations Center[11]
  • 56 acres (23 ha) in 1991 for the development of the Brevard Zoo[12]
  • 74 acres (30 ha) in 1992 for the Space Coast Stadium and Spring Training Complex[13]
  • 32 acres (13 ha) in 1993 for the Harry T. and Harriet V. Moore Justice Center[14]
  • 27.36 acres (11.07 ha) in 1994 for the development of the VA Clinic[15]
  • 15 acres (6.1 ha) in 2000 for the Ralph Williams Elementary School[16]
  • 28 acres (11 ha) in 2001 for the Pineda Extension
  • 96 acres (39 ha) in 2006 for the Pineda Interchange[17]
  • 117 acres (47 ha) in 2003 for development of Viera Regional Park and Soccer Fields[18] This is maintained by the county.[19]
  • 15 acres (6.1 ha) in 2004 to the Veterans Administration for an assisted living facility[15]
  • 7 acres (2.8 ha) in 2007 for the Viera Regional Park
  • .30 acres (0.12 ha) in 2009 for the Brevard Zoo Animal Care Center[20]
  • 12.04 acres (4.87 ha) in 2013 for the Linear Park at the Brevard Zoo

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.[21]

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.[22]

Economy

Since its inception in 1989, Viera has attracted more than 350 businesses (over 3 million square feet of mixed use, office and retail space) and over 10,000 permanent jobs, including financial services, health care, other professional services and retail establishments.[23]

A. Duda & Sons, Inc. continues to raise cattle on the West Viera property as well as a portion of the River Lakes Conservation Area.[24]

Retail

The Avenue Viera, an open-air shopping center, opened in 2004. It contains over 100 shops/restaurants with 600,000 square feet of retail/restaurant space and a multiplex movie theater. There are several nationally known restaurant chains and department stores.[25]

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.[26]

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.

Community events

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 Light Up Viera Holiday Parade, the July 4th Great American Celebration, and the Viera Wetlands Nature Festival.

National charities such as the American Heart Association's Heart Walk, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, the March of Dimes Walk for Babies, the Devereux Foundation,[27] St. Baldrick's Foundation[28] and the Scarecrow Stroll & Harvest Festival have achieved success in the community.[29]

Government

Federal representation

The Viera area is within Florida's 8th congressional district represented by Bill Posey.[30]

State representation

Within the boundaries of Viera, the State House (District 52) is represented by Thad Altman;[31] the State Senate (District 17) is represented by Debbie Mayfield.[31]

County

The Viera community is located within an unincorporated portion of Brevard County, District 4. The County Commissioner for this district is Curt Smith.[32] The Brevard County School Board representative is Matt Susin (also District 4).[33]

Community Development Districts and Master Community

Viera East Community Association (VECA)[34] 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.[35]

Sports

Golf

Duran Golf Club, an 18-hole golf course, opened in 2005. It is located in Central Viera.[36] 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, a putting green, and 9 hole par 3 course playable at night.

Viera East Golf Club opened in 1993[37] 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
Space Coast Stadium

The USSSA[38] (United States Specialty Sports Association) relocated to the Space Coast Stadium in 2017. The USSSA primarily focus on amateur sports involving youth baseball, and youth and adult softball.[39]

In 2018, Viera was the host location of that year's installment of the Women's Baseball World Cup.[40]

Parks
Viera Regional Park

Constructed on 125 acres (51 ha) donated by the Viera Company, Viera Regional Park has a community center (18,000 square feet), 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.[41]

The Suntree-Viera Lightning Mighty Mites, an under-10 football team, won the Offense-Defense National Championship in 2009.[42][43]

In 2010, two soccer clubs with a total of 1,200 members vied for space on recreational ground.[44][45]

The Suntree-Viera Lightning Bantams, an under-13 Football Competition team, won the OD National Championship in January 2011. In 2016, he SVYFL Hawks (14 and under) won the National Youth Football Championships.[46]

Community parks

Viera has six community parks and a number of pocket parks within each neighborhood.[47] In Viera East, Clubhouse Park, Suseda Park and Woodside Park have children's play equipment along with adjoining trail systems. In Viera West, Eastwind Park, Westwind Park and North Solerno Park contain modern play equipment with pools for local neighborhood communities. A dog park is also located in Addison Village just south of Quest Elementary.

Recreation and tourism
Brevard Zoo

The Brevard Zoo and the 200-acre (81 ha) Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands of Viera are located at the south end of the community. Viera has over 100 miles (160 km) of trails throughout the community[47] and multiple run/walk events are held throughout the year including the Christmas Fit-mas, 3k[48] Run Run Santa 1 Mile,[49] Super Hero 5k,[50] East My Crust 5k,[51] Komodo Krawl 3k at the Brevard Zoo[52] and Excalibur 10 Miler and Dragon Slayer 2 Miler.[53]

Education

Viera possesses 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.[54]

  • Viera Charter School
  • Ralph M. Williams, Jr. Elementary School
  • Manatee Elementary School
  • Quest Elementary School
  • Delaura Middle School, John F. Kennedy Middle School, and Ronald McNair Magnet Middle School.
  • Viera High School

Public safety

The local Brevard County Fire Rescue station 47 is the county's Specialized Response Truck dealing with HAZMAT incidents county wide.[55] In 2011, the county opened Station #48.[56] This station is the county's only special operations/hazardous materials responding and training station.[57] #48 is also home to a 9-11 memorial which includes a piece of steel from the fallen World Trade Center towers.[58]

Infrastructure

Sewage

The county's South Central Wastewater Facility is located here.[59]

See also

References
  1. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Viera East CDP, Florida". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
  2. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Viera West CDP, Florida". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
  3. "Other Public Records - Viera Stewardship District". www.vierastewardshipdistrict.org.
  4. "Neighborhoods". Viera. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  5. "Viera East Community". Viera East Community Association. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  6. "Neighborhoods – Central Viera Community Association - CVCA". www.cvcaviera.com.
  7. "History". Duda. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  8. John Grogan. "Agriculture Family Offers Sweet Deal, Grows Brevard City". 4 November 1990. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  9. "BCPAO - Property Search". www.bcpao.us.
  10. "BCPAO - Property Search". www.bcpao.us.
  11. "BCPAO - Property Search". www.bcpao.us.
  12. "BCPAO - Property Search". www.bcpao.us.
  13. "BCPAO - Property Search". www.bcpao.us.
  14. "BCPAO - Property Search". www.bcpao.us.
  15. "BCPAO - Property Search". www.bcpao.us.
  16. "BCPAO - Property Search". www.bcpao.us.
  17. Moore, Kimberly. "Flyover Highly Anticipated" (Florida Today).
  18. "BCPAO - Property Search". www.bcpao.us.
  19. "Brevard County Florida Page Error". www.brevardfl.gov. Archived from the original on 2017-09-26. Retrieved 2017-02-01.
  20. "Brevard County Records". Brevard Clerk of Court. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  21. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-01-03. Retrieved 2017-02-03.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  22. Viera. "Viera West". viera.com.
  23. "Business leaders get update on Viera Company projects - Viera Voice - September 2015". www.vieravoice.com.
  24. "Duda Ranches – DUDA". www.duda.com.
  25. "The Avenue Viera ::: About Us". www.avenueviera.com.
  26. White, George (June 2010). "Scoot To SCAT and Reduce Your Carbon Footprint". Viera Vision.
  27. "Viera Voice September 2016". issuu.com.
  28. "Space Coast Conquers @ The Avenue Viera - A St. Baldrick's Event". stbaldricks.org.
  29. Viera. "Charitable Giving". www.viera.com.
  30. "District". U.S. Congressman Bill Posey. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  31. "Florida House of Representatives - Elected Officials - House District: 52". www.myfloridahouse.gov.
  32. "District 4 Commissioner Curt Smith". www.brevardfl.gov.
  33. "Brevard County Schools: District 4 Profile". edline.net.
  34. Viera East Community Association (VECA)
  35. "Viera East Community Development District". vieraeastcdd.com.
  36. "Viera Golf - Duran Golf Club - 321 504 7776". www.durangolf.com.
  37. coursetrends.com. "Viera East Golf Club". www.vieragolf.com.
  38. "USSSA - United States Specialty Sports Association". usssa.com.
  39. "USSSA - United States Specialty Sports Association". usssa.com.
  40. "WBSC awards Florida-based USSSA hosting rights for Women's Baseball World Cup 2018". World Baseball Softball Confederation. October 12, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  41. "Viera Regional Park". www.brevardfl.gov.
  42. Lawson, Matt (13 January 2010). "Lightning Mighty-Mites win national championship". South Beaches Breeze. Melbourne, Florida: Florida Today. p. 5.
  43. "Hometown News". www.myhometownnews.net.
  44. Waymer, Jim (8 December 2010). "Two soccer clubs compete for lights". Melbourne, Florida: Florida Today. pp. 1A.
  45. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-12-11. Retrieved 2010-12-11.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  46. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-02-04. Retrieved 2017-02-03.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  47. Viera. "Parks & Trails". viera.com.
  48. "Christmas Fit-Mas 3K". www.runningzone.com.
  49. "Run Run Santa 1 Mile". www.runningzone.com.
  50. "Super Hero Run". friendsofchildrenofbrevard.org. 7 February 2015.
  51. "Eat My Crust 5K". www.runningzone.com.
  52. "Komodo Krawl 3K at The Brevard Zoo". www.runningzone.com.
  53. "Excalibur Run -". excaliburrun.com.
  54. "Florida Releases School Grades: Most Brevard Public Schools Get An 'A'". news.brevardtimes.com.
  55. "Brevard County Florida Page Error". www.brevardcounty.us.
  56. "Brevard County Fire Station #48 Grand Opening - Viera, FL". www.americantowns.com.
  57. "Local Firefighters Brace for Call". Viera Voice: 1–2. September 2013.
  58. "9/11 Memorial Event at Brevard County Fire Station No. 48 in Viera, FL 09-11-2011". www.americantowns.com.
  59. Sheets, Tess (September 26, 2017). "Warning lifted for some after raw sewage overflow". Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. pp. 1A.

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