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BUILDING ON THE RISE
The PSL Building Department has reduced single-family processing timelines from the duration of 8 working days down to an unprecedented 4 days . The state average for singlefamily permits is 35 working days . The national average is 45 working days .
The City reached a milestone in May 2017 , when overall permits were 12 percent higher than the previous May . That designated May 2017 the best May on record for the last 9 years .
The “ Red Tag Elimination Initiative ” continues to reduce inspection rejections to less than 8 percent daily . The state average is 20.11 percent . The national average is 23.2 percent .
1,501 single-family permits were issued in 2017 = 38 percent increase from 2016 .
65 percent of new single-family homes are infill , meaning they are being built in established neighborhoods .
35 percent of single-family homes are located in development / subdivisions .
367 Commercial Building permits were issued . This is a 62 percent increase from 2016 .
SOUTHERN GROVE
While new businesses are moving in across the City , the area technically called “ Southern Grove ,” but more commonly known by residents as “ Tradition ,” was a hot market in 2017 . The news of City Electric Supply ’ s decision to anchor the Tradition Commerce Center was one headline of many that came out of Tradition throughout the year . One important highlight was the expansion of Tradition Medical Center , doubling in size just four years after opening . By the end of 2017 , the hospital had added 90 new patient rooms for a total of 180 rooms . It also added a second medical office building , Health Park Two , with an ambulatory surgery center . Down the street from the hospital , Keiser University opened a new campus .
Southern Grove saw new retail and restaurant options in 2017 , including the City ’ s first WaWa , Recovery Sports Grill and construction began on Florida ’ s first HopCat .
CITY CENTER
The Recession may have put plans for City Center in eastern PSL off course , but with the improving economic climate , the City of Port St . Lucie views City Center as an opportunity to create a premier mixed-use development along U . S . 1 . The area is now in the hands of a state-appointed Receiver , who retained an international marketing firm in 2017 to market the City Center area for sale to the public . City leaders believe City Center can become an economic development cornerstone for eastern Port St . Lucie . Anchored by the Port St . Lucie Civic Center , City Center consists of about 30 acres of developable pads that are fully entitled for a wide variety of uses and are shovel - ready for vertical construction , with underlying infastructue , including roads and utility lines .