Viera, Florida

Viera (pronounced /vyeh-rah/) is a master planned community located in the central coastal region of Brevard County, Florida. It is part of an unincorporated section adjacent to the Melbourne, Florida area. For census purposes, it is divided between the Census Designated Places of Viera East and Viera West. At the 2010 census, Viera East had a population of 10,757,^[1] while Viera West had a population of 6,641.^[2]

Geography

The Viera area borders 8 miles (13 km) along Interstate 95 starting at exit 195 and extending south 3 miles (5 km) beyond exit 191. It encompasses 14,500 acres (5,900 ha). About half of this has been set aside for conservation.^[3]

Neighborhoods

The community consists of 52 neighborhoods in two areas named Viera East (32) and Central Viera (20). There are two active senior communities along with a military retirement community.^{[citation needed]}

The neighborhood communities of Central Viera are Summer Lakes, Sonoma, Stoneridge Townhomes, Wickham Lakes, Fairway Lakes at Viera and Wyndham at Duran.

The Villages of North Solerno include Colfax Landing, Charolais Estates, Ravencliffe, Capron Trace, and Indigo Crossing. These neighborhoods surround the North Solerno Park and are included in the Central Viera Community Association.^{[citation needed]}

The Villages of South Solerno include Terramore, Daintree, Gatwick, Chelford, Eason Landing, Levanto, and Cortona. These neighborhoods surround Eastwind and Westwind Park along Tavistock Drive.^{[citation needed]}

Neighborhood communities of Viera East are Viera East Golf Club, Villages of Viera East, Osprey Landing, Osprey Ridge, Heron's Landing, The Greens at Viera, Mission Bay Apartments, Lakes at Viera East, Grand Isle, Bayhill, Six Mile Creek, Cross Creek, Crane Creek, Hammock Lakes, Hammock Trace, The Heritage, Aberdeen and Fawn Ridge. Hammock Lakes was the first neighborhood completed in 1994.^{[citation needed]}

History

The land was developed by the Viera Company, a subsidiary of A. Duda and Sons. On August 4, 1989, ground was broken for the new community of Viera. Starting in 1990, the Duda family has owned the property along I-95 and began turning the Cocoa Ranch into a new town with a mix of land uses, including a variety of housing types, offices, medical and industrial parks, shopping centers and recreational facilities.

The Viera Development of Regional Impact (DRI) was approved in 1990 for about 3,000 acres (1,200 ha), making up Viera East. In 1992 construction began on what would become Viera East.^{[citation needed]} In 1995, a 6,000-acre (2,400 ha) expansion was approved by Brevard County as a Substantial Deviation to the original DRI. Application was made for Substantial Deviation #2 in 2006 and was approved to plan for the final expansion of the community. The 11,567-acre (4,681 ha) expansion will include 5,112 acres (2,069 ha) to be set aside as managed protected land, conservation areas, parks and open space.

The Viera Wilderness Park (5,112 acres (2,069 ha) to be set aside during the expansion) will join with the 44,000-acre (18,000 ha) River Lakes Conservation Area, which includes 14,000 acres (5,700 ha) of Cocoa Ranch purchased by the St. Johns River Water Management District in 1999. Additional acres will be set aside within development areas to serve as conservation, parks and open space bringing the total actively managed protected land in the expansion area to over 50 percent of the total area.^{[citation needed]}

Etymology

Viera means "faith" in the Duda family's native Slovak language.^{[citation needed]}

Economy

Since its inception in 1989, Viera has attracted more than 100 businesses and over 4,000 permanent jobs, including financial services, health care, other professional services and retail establishments.^{[citation needed]}

A. Duda & Sons, Inc. continues to raise cattle on the West Viera property as well as a portion of the River Lakes Conservation Area.^{[citation needed]}

Retail

The Avenue Viera, an open-air shopping center, opened in 2004. It contains over 100 shops/restaurants and a multiplex movie theater. There are several nationally known restaurant chains and department stores.^[4]

Industry

Viera is home to several large organizations, government offices and non-profits, such as the Brevard Zoo, Brevard Public Schools and Viera Hospital.

Government offices

The county's administration complex is located in Viera 1 mile (1.6 km) west of Interstate 95. The government branches and offices include the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners, County Manager, Planning and Development, Housing and Human Services, Public Works, Public Safety, Health Services and Clinic at Viera, Children's Medical Services, Utility Services, and the Metropolitan Planning Organization. The Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Justice Center and the Brevard County School Board offices are also located within the administrative complex.

Tourism

The developer of the property, the Viera Company, hosts a variety of events each year for both the community and for the Central Brevard area. Several main events include the Spring Bunny Hop, the July 4th Great American Celebration and the holiday tree lighting event. National charities such as the American Heart Association's Heart Walk, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and the March of Dimes Walk for Babies have achieved success in the community.^{[citation needed]}

Government

Federal representation

The Viera area is within Florida's 15th congressional district represented by Bill Posey.

State representation

Within the boundaries of Viera, the State House (District 30) is represented by Ritch Workman; the State Senate (District 24) is represented by Thad Altman.

County

The Viera community is located within an unincorporated portion of Brevard County, District 4. The County Commissioner for this district is Mary Bolin. The Brevard County School Board representative is Karen Henderson (also District 4).

Community Development Districts and Master Community

Viera East Community Association (VECA)^[5] is a not-for-profit corporation formed in accordance with the Viera East Community Declaration and is the Master Association for Viera East. It is administered by a five-member Board of Directors and is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the hardscaping, landscaping and irrigation systems on most major roadways throughout Viera East, and in certain parks and recreational facilities. VECA is also responsible for overseeing the Modifications Review Committee (MRC).

The Viera East Community Development District is a local, special-purpose government entity authorized by Chapter 190 of the Florida Statutes as amended, and created by ordinance of Brevard County as an alternative method of planning, acquiring, operating and maintaining community-wide improvements in planned communities.^{[citation needed]}

Sports

Golf

Duran Golf Club, an 18-hole golf course, opened in 2005. It is located in Central Viera.^[6] It encompasses 130 acres (53 ha) in the neighborhoods of Fairway Lakes at Viera and Wyndham at Duran. The 10,000-square-foot (930 m²) British West Indies-style clubhouse contains a restaurant. The center includes a 30-acre (12 ha) complex with a practice range, target greens, pitching greens and a putting green.

Viera East Golf Club opened in 1993^[7] and is located in Viera East. It winds through the neighborhoods of Parkstone, Oakefe, Canterbury, Brightwood, Addington, Durban Park, Blackheath, Aberdeen, Woodhall, Collingtree, Stratford Place and Ashton.

Baseball

The Washington Nationals use Space Coast Stadium for their yearly spring training schedule during February and March. Major league players such as Stephen Strasburg pitched during the 2011 spring training season.

The Brevard County Manatees use Space Coast Stadium during the summer months and are a single-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Florida State League All-Star game was played in 2010, the second time in five years.

Parks

Viera Regional Park

Constructed on 125 acres (51 ha) donated by the Viera Company, Viera Regional Park has a community center, a fully equipped playground, three tot lots, 8 acres (3.2 ha) of lakes, a walkway system, two lighted Little League baseball fields, two lighted "major league" baseball fields, eight soccer pitches (2 lighted), lighted tennis and basketball courts, and two youth softball courts.

The Suntree-Viera Lightning Mighty Mites, an under-10 football team, won the Offense-Defense National Championship in 2009.^[8][9]

In 2010, two soccer clubs with a total of 1,200 members vied for space on recreational ground.^[10][11]

The Suntree-Viera Lightning Bantams, an under-13 Football Comp team, won the OD National Championship in January 2011.^{[citation needed]}

Community parks

Viera has six community parks and a number of pocket parks within each neighborhood. In Viera East, Clubhouse Park, Suseda Park and Woodside Park have children's play equipment along with adjoining trail systems. In Central Viera, Eastwind Park, Westwind Park and North Solerno Park contain modern play equipment with pools for local neighborhood communities.

Recreation

The Brevard Zoo and the 200-acre (81 ha) Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands of Viera are located at the south end of the community.

Education

Viera has three elementary schools (Ralph Williams, Manatee, and Quest) and Viera High School.

Each of Viera's public schools has received "A" grades since Florida's grading process started, and each has received other state and national honors as well.^{[citation needed]}

Ralph M. Williams, Jr. Elementary School

The school first opened in 1999. It was awarded the 2009 National Blue Ribbon Schools Program Award.^[12] Twelve schools in the state have earned this honor and only 314 schools in the nation.^{[citation needed]} Achieved status as one of the 10 Florida Power-Library Schools (FPLS) that recognize collective approaches to student achievement. The school is rated 'A' by the School Board of Brevard County and the State of Florida.

Manatee Elementary School

Manatee opened in 2003.^[13] It was chosen as a Statewide Music Demonstration School in the 2010-2013 calendar period.^[14] Manatee Elementary received the 2010 Achievement Through Technology and Innovation (ATTAIN) award. The school is rated 'A' by the School Board of Brevard County and the State of Florida.

Quest Elementary School

Quest's awards in utilizing technology in teaching won them the 2009 Achievement Through Technology and Innovation (ATTAIN) award.^[15][16] The school is rated 'A' by the School Board of Brevard County and the State of Florida.

Plans for a middle school have been included with the existing future developments and are in consideration for the future.

Public safety

The local Brevard County Fire Rescue station 47 is the county's Specialized Response Truck dealing with HAZMAT incidents county wide.^[17] In 2011, the county opened Station #48.^[18]

See also

• Viera East, Florida
• Viera West, Florida

References

Coordinates: 28°15′59″N 80°43′44″W / 28.266401°N 80.728934°W / 28.266401; -80.728934

v t e Municipalities and communities of Brevard County, Florida, United States County seat: Titusville Cities Cape Canaveral Cocoa Cocoa Beach Indian Harbour Beach Melbourne Palm Bay Rockledge Satellite Beach Titusville West Melbourne Towns Grant-Valkaria Indialantic Malabar Melbourne Beach Melbourne Village Palm Shores CDPs Cocoa West June Park Merritt Island Micco Mims Patrick AFB Port St. John Sharpes South Patrick Shores Viera East Viera West Unincorporated communities Barefoot Bay Canaveral Groves Courtenay Floridana Beach Indianola Melbourne Shores Scottsmoor Suntree Viera