Design of new Coral Springs downtown project made public this week

Coral Springs, Florida – The developer of a new Coral Springs downtown project known as Village Square presented this week its preliminary plans — showing for the time what the nearly two-block complex with apartments, a grocery store, and other retail buildings would look like.

The Coral Springs Community Development Agency got a first glimpse of the site plans for the project by the development company, Amera, on the northwest corner of Sample Road and University Drive.

During the meeting, the agency’s Vice-Chair Andy Kasten asked about the possibility of filling the grocery opening with Sprouts Farmers Market.

Kristi Bartlett, the city’s economic development director, advised there is no letter of intent signed, therefore that is not confirmed.

“It’s tentative as of now,” Bartlett said.

The long-planned project would be across the street from Cornerstone, another major development complex on the southwest side of the same intersection.

According to the proposed site map, Village Square would consist of two sections separated by a roundabout.

One would have three apartment buildings, a parking garage, pool, amenities building, and “future building.”

The other would have three smaller retail buildings and a larger retail building where the grocery store would be located.

“We’re seeing some positive movement, and that’s a good thing,” Bartlett said.

Plans for Village Square picked up momentum in October after the City Commission agreed to take the first steps to sell land from the former city hall building on Sample Road and Coral Hills Drive that is needed for the project.

At that time, Amera also announced that it had reached a deal to take over the land where the existing shopping center sits on the northwest corner of Sample Road and University Drive.

Village Square still needs approval from the commission for various components of the project, Bartlett said.