Is south Stuart unrecognizable? Discover the mega residential projects, environmental controversy, and the impact of the “Live Local Act” in our area.
If you’ve driven recently through south Stuart, specifically between Cove Road and Salerno Road, it’s impossible not to notice the earthmoving. Heavy machinery has arrived, and with it, a radical change in the city’s landscape.
The quiet, wooded scenery of Port Salerno and its surroundings is about to transform into a dense urban core. The reason behind this massive wave of concrete and architectural plans has a name: the state law Live Local Act.
Quick Response (Current Outlook): Driven by Florida’s Live Local Act, there are currently 872 new housing units planned exclusively for the corridor between Cove Rd, Salerno Rd, Kanner Hwy, and Willoughby Blvd. Added to this are dozens of commercial projects, school expansions, and additional residential complexes that will redefine traffic and population density in south Martin County.
Let’s break down exactly what is being built, who is behind each project, and how the local map will transform in the coming months.
The Impact of the “Live Local Act” on New Zoning
To understand this wave of construction, you have to understand the rules of the game. The Live Local Act is recent Florida legislation designed to encourage affordable housing. In practice, it allows developers to bypass certain local zoning and density restrictions, as long as a percentage of the units is designated for moderately priced housing.
The result is clear: housing densities that were previously unthinkable in Stuart are now being approved at an accelerated pace.
The Mega Projects Under This Legislation
Three massive developments lead the list of approvals under this legal umbrella, concentrating the 872 units mentioned:
- Milhaus Development’s Offensive: A foreign entity, represented by the firm Cotleur & Hearing, is seeking approval for an “affordable apartment community” of 198 units. The project includes four three-story residential buildings (spanning approximately 80,061 square feet) and a clubhouse, located on 16.5 acres at the northeast corner of SE Cove and SE Willoughby Blvd.
- The Baron Landings and Showcase PUD (Salerno Reserve) Complex: This project already has the green light. Three three-story multifamily buildings with 302 units will be constructed. This will create a density of 14.47 homes per acre on a 21.40-acre property north of S Kanner Highway and SE Cove Road (the former Golf World grounds).
- D.R. Horton’s (Aquarius Land Holdings) Giant Bet: Located across from Cove Royale and The Preserves (the former Florida Cuttings property at 2005 SE Cove Rd), this 25-acre project plans to build ten three-story apartment buildings, totaling 372 units.
To put it in perspective, just the Showcase PUD project (Phase 1) already includes 79 single-family homes and 88 townhomes under construction, in addition to 16,374 square feet of commercial use divided into three buildings.
Community Expansion: Schools and Churches
It’s not all housing. Civil and religious infrastructure is also claiming its space, bringing significant expansions and, in some cases, public scrutiny.
Educational Growth
The charter school Treasure Coast Classical Academy has a massive expansion planned. They will build a new 31,700-square-foot middle school building on a 19.48-acre site. The work will include a new synthetic turf field and key infrastructure, such as expanding the waiting and turn lanes on SE Cove Rd to mitigate traffic.
Ascent Church and the Land’s History
Right next to the school, at 1320 SE Cove Road, Ascent Church will be developed (designed by Haley Ward, Inc.). The project includes a 23,500-square-foot church on a 14.54-acre area.
Land Details: The recent history of this parcel is complex. In July 2023, the citizen organization SAVE – Martin County reported illegal wetland filling on this property to the county. After an investigation, authorities issued a cease-and-desist order on August 10, 2023.
Interestingly, eight days later, the then-owners (a shell company called Atlantic Ridge Estates, owned by Peter Hartman and Rick Mancil) began proceedings for a housing subdivision. They eventually sold the land to Ascent Church in November for $3.4 million.
(Note: The same investor, through Coral Sky LLC, recently acquired another 5.29 acres prone to flooding at Willoughby and Salerno.)
The Residential Belt: Single-Family Homes and Townhomes
Beyond the large apartment buildings, low- and medium-density development is consuming the last patches of forest in the area.
| Project Name | Developer | Size | Location |
| Cove Royale | Kolter | 118 single-family homes (97 acres) | South of SE Cove Rd (next to Atlantic Ridge State Park). |
| The Preserve at Park Place | D.R. Horton | 114 single-family homes (60+ acres) | Cove Road / Willoughby Blvd. |
| Camellia Townhomes | Pulte | 98 townhomes (Nearly 100% sold) | St. Lucie River, Kanner Hwy, and Lost River Rd. |
| Pepperwood Assemblage | JAMSZ Properties | 43 single-family lots (29.23 acres) | Between SE Cove and SE Salerno Rd. |
| The Cove | Dismantle Repair Holdings | 48 multifamily units (2.31 acres) | Between SE Cove and SE Lee St (Port Salerno). |
The location of the Camellia Townhomes is particularly notable. Its units, sold in the range of $360,000 to $390,000, are situated right at the traffic light before the I-95 entrance ramps, a spot historically known for congestion and traffic accidents.
Projects Under Review and Space Redesign
The pace doesn’t seem to be slowing. Currently, county offices continue to review proposals with significant community impact:
- Place of Hope: The faith-based organization seeks to revitalize its space at 1490 SE Cove Road (11.05 acres). Their plan includes demolishing old buildings to construct a 5,000-square-foot multi-use facility, four transitional housing buildings, and an outdoor pavilion. Additionally, they have a second request to add a 4,000-square-foot office building, courts, and play areas on an adjacent 12.88-acre site.
- Immersive Homes Florida: They are seeking approval for a two-story custom home design and sales center (4,546 square feet) and four model homes on 3.89 acres east of US 1, south of Salerno Road.
South Stuart is undergoing its biggest transformation in decades. Balancing real estate progress, pressure on road infrastructure, and environmental preservation will be the real challenge for Martin County residents in the coming years.
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