Site development has launched on 30 acres for Branan Field Village in Clay County, laying the groundwork for a retail, medical, office, restaurant and hotel center.
Development partner John Kiddy said a hotel has committed and more are interested, creating the start of a hotel park similar to those in the Southpoint, Bartram and Chaffee Road areas of Jacksonville.
Branan Field Village is a 92-acre project at southeast Branan Field and Old Jennings roads in the Middleburg area.
Kiddy said the Clay County Chamber of Commerce refers to the area as the “Golden Triangle” because of its closeness to St. Vincent’s Medical Center Clay County; to big-box retailers including Lowe’s, Home Depot and Wal-Mart Stores Inc.; and being next to the First Coast Expressway that will connect Interstates 10 and 95.
Kiddy said 70 acres will be developed and 22 will be preserved.
Of the acreage to be developed, 30 will be for commercial use and 40 for multifamily residential.
Jason Ryals, executive vice president of Colliers International Northeast Florida, will handle leasing and sales for the retail portion being prepared.
“Finally the time is right,” Ryals said.
He said the indicators sought for a viable project are coming together.
Kiddy said several inline retailers and restaurants are expressing interest and there appears to be demand for 10,000 to 15,000 square feet of small shop retail space in multiple buildings.
Several freestanding retailers are working to buy parcels in the development.
He said the groundbreaking should enhance interest in those and in outparcels, which could accommodate banks, credit unions, restaurants, gas and convenience stores and medical providers, such as primary care, specialty care and diagnostic and imaging.
St. Vincent’s Medical Center completed an expansion across Branan Field Road, effectively doubling the size of the hospital.
Kiddy wants Branan Field Village to attract more medical uses.
Ryals said medical, fast-food, self-storage and more hotel groups have shown interest, although there are no commitments. He said day care is another complementary use.
“That area has … never had the critical mass energy that it has now,” Ryals said.
He said it was becoming a top-tier retail area in Northeast Florida.
Kiddy expects the hotel developer, which plans an 81-room project, will receive approval soon. He envisions three to four hotels on an 8-acre site designed for hospitality uses.
Clay County Planning and Zoning is reviewing plans for a Hampton Inn across from St. Vincent’s.
Kiddy said the second phase is drawing interest from multifamily developers, particularly workforce and senior housing developers. He envisions 500 units.
Branan Field Village is a lot of land, Kiddy said.
“We are getting good momentum. Once users start seeing development and start seeing dirt pushed around, interest grows larger,” he said.
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