Seminole County approves redevelopment of old Flea World site

Seminole County has approved the redevelopment of the former Flea World site, less than a mile north of Winter Springs’ border – but in a much scaled-down project from the last approvals. 

The 110-acre site is located on the east side of U.S. 17-92, north of Ronald Reagan Boulevard and across the street from the Five Points county government operations center.

“The reduction in size we’ve proposed, depending on which measurement or metric you’re looking at, is four to six times smaller than the last [planned development] you approved,” said Randy Morris, a former county commissioner and consultant representing the applicant. “With four to six times less traffic impact. Four to six times less school impact.”

According to a staff report, the Reagan Center project has entitlements for: 

• 1,003 units of multifamily housing, or apartments
• 880,000 square feet of general commercial and retail
• 275,000 square feet of professional office space
• 110,000 square feet of medical office
• A 120,000 square feet of hotel, with up to 200 rooms
• 200 beds of assisted or independent living facility (which would be included in the general commercial and retail)

The Reagan Center project was previously approved as Parkside Place. It included 5,000 apartments, nearly 1.4 million square feet of office and 290,000 square feet of retail. 

But that project stalled after approval. 

“I’m glad we’re going back to the original vision of this project,” said Commissioner Bob Dallari, “and not 20 stories. … Because it was very ambitious, they were putting gardens on the roof, all kinds of things.” 

Flea World was billed as the largest outdoor flea market in the U.S., but was considered an “economically blighted area.” The original proposal languished and the owner, Syd Levy, passed away. 

He willed it in his estate to the Boys & Girls Club, and what ensued then after his death was some litigation.

“No progress, hope of progress, or economic activity has occurred since Parkside’s 2018 Master Plan approval,” the applicant wrote in the narrative, adding that after it was approved as Parkside, it was tied up in court. Now the Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida again owns the property.

“While development will be challenging in these economic times, this proposal is at least economically feasible,” the letter continues.

The vote to approve the project was not unanimous. 

Under variations of the Live Local Act, private apartment complexes can get property tax exemptions. Commissioner Lee Constantine asked if the applicant would guarantee that future owners of the apartment would not go after those tax credits. 

“I understand you could say no, but I would very much like to see that you all agree in the development order that you would not sell it to anyone who would apply for the Live Local Act (tax credits),” Constantine said. 

“If you’re asking me that directly, no, I can’t agree to that at this point,” said David McDaniel, principal and founder of Integra Land Company, the lead developer on the project. 

Constantine ultimately voted against the project. You can view video of that public hearing here.

Commissioners also didn’t consider a request of the Planning and Zoning board to require each subsequent part of the development to get additional approvals.

Commissioners did hear from nearby landowners who were worried about flooding in the area. 

The first part of the project would be 322 apartments, expected to break ground in the second quarter of 2025. There would be two more phases of apartments that could eventually be built to get to the roughly 1,000 units.