Park Benefits

Treasure Coast Research Park’s Phase I in Pre-Development
St. Lucie County and the Treasure Coast Education, Research and Development Authority are getting ready to begin Phase I of the St. Lucie County-owned Treasure Coast Research Park in Fort Pierce.

"We're in pre-development," said Ben DeVries, executive director of the park, who was hired this year to develop the park and attract tenants. "We have an RFQ (Request for Quotation) out to design the infrastructure and proposals will be in the next 30 days."

In September DeVries and Jane Bachelor, chair of the Treasure Coast Education, Research and Development Authority, which governs the park, presented the plan to surrounding businesses and developers. St. Lucie County is developing a public charrette to present the plan and garner neighborhood input.

Phase 1 will cover 200 acres of the 1,650 – acre park that was purchased in 2004. Architectural standards are based on the existing park occupants, the U.S. Department of Agriculture lab, and the University of Florida Indian River Research & Education Center.

"We have a flexible site plan to accommodate small and large businesses," DeVries said. "It's very low density. We reduced the intensity to provide more public space for volleyball and rest and recreation."

"We're only interested in research companies," he said.

This is important because there is a direct correlation between research and development and gross domestic product. And, it is a major reason North Carolina, home to the famous Research Triangle, has had job increases while other states watch unemployment rates go up.