DEBARY, Fla. — DeBary is taking another step toward transforming its downtown, with plans to demolish a long-dilapidated former Bank of America building and redevelop the two-acre property.
The city recently took ownership of the property after years of code enforcement issues and is now working with a developer on plans to turn the site into a new community destination.
City Manager Carmen Rosamonda said the process of taking control of the property took about five years.
“Through code enforcement, we waited our time to get enough leverage,” Rosamonda said. “We initiated foreclosure and the city ended up purchasing the property. We turned it over and we signed a contract with a developer.”
The existing building is considered beyond repair and is expected to be demolished. Preliminary site plans include restaurants and retail businesses while preserving the existing parking lot and potentially adding a park or gathering space.
Rosamonda said the city hopes to attract businesses such as breweries, sports bars and coffee shops.
“I expect to see breweries, I expect to see maybe sports bars, I expect to see coffee shops,” Rosamonda said. “More of that social type of retail that our folks can gather with.”
The project is part of a larger effort by DeBary to revitalize the 17-92 corridor and create a new downtown hub and Main Street area.
Rosamonda said the city wants to find new uses for vacant or underutilized properties along the corridor.
“And every building that’s either vacant or not purposed, that’s one of our goals — is to repurpose it and to keep our corridor beautiful,” she said.
Rosamonda said the developer has experience working on retail projects involving businesses such as Publix and Starbucks, which she said gives the city confidence that the redevelopment can move forward efficiently.
“They’re very in tune with developing retail development,” Rosamonda said.
The city expects residents to begin seeing new businesses, including restaurants, breweries, and coffee shops, on the property within the next year or two.
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