An estimated 2.4 million square feet of retail space, 2.8 million square feet of office space, nearly 1,000 multifamily units and 350 hotel rooms are being planned for the new Durbin Park development being planned for northern St. Johns County.
A joint project of GATE Petroleum and Gatlin Development, Durbin Park will be situated on 1,600 acres of land located along I-95 near the new 9B/2209 interchange. According to GATE Petroleum, which owns the property, Durbin Park represents the largest contiguous area in St. Johns County that is planned for intensive commercial development.
“Unique to Northeast Florida, Durbin Park will be a distinct destination where individuals and families can live, work, shop and be entertained all within a park-like setting,” said John Peyton, president of Gate Petroleum Company. “GATE is proud to own, develop and manage numerous premier properties in North Florida, including the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, Deerwood Park, Southpoint Office Park, Kendall Town Center and Deerwood Center. The Durbin Park development will bring long overdue amenities to one of the fastest growing counties in the country.”
In addition to retail, office and residential space, planners said, Durbin Park will feature an abundance of green space, lakes, walking trails and family entertainment offerings. Gatlin Development will oversee the retail development portion of the project.
“In my 40 years in the development industry, I have never seen a project with as much potential as Durbin Park,” CEO Frank Gatlin said. “The large amount of land and the unique topography will allow us to create a destination that features abundant shopping options, dozens of dining experiences and exciting, family-fun entertainment offerings all within a backdrop of hundreds of acres of lakes and green space.”
The full development will be built in four phases. Phase I – located on an 80-acre parcel west of the new 9B/2209 interchange – will include approximately 700,000 square feet of retail space anchored by at least three big box retailers. It is projected to open during the second quarter of 2018.
Phase II, located east of the 9B/2209 interchange and adjacent to I-95, will include lifestyle retailers, restaurants, entertainment components and a Bass Pro Shops. It is expected to follow Phase I by 12 to 18 months. The Shopping Center Group will serve as leasing agent for the project.
“The Durbin Park project is the culmination of years of effort between the County and GATE to bring high quality mixed-use development to St. Johns County,” St. Johns County Administrator Michael Wanchick said. “Not only will it provide convenient retail and office opportunities currently not available to St. Johns County residents, it will also help keep sales tax dollars local and support county-wide programs and services. We are excited to watch the project come to fruition and positively impact St. Johns County on many levels.”
