The new Daytona Beach fact sheet

Q. What is the "new Daytona Beach"?

A. The new Daytona Beach generally refers to the resurgence of the beachside of Daytona Beach in the area of the Bandshell/Boardwalk/Main Street. A series of projects called Ocean Walk Village either are under construction or planned in this area. Together these projects represent investment of more than $200 million. In addition, several beachfront hotels have been upgraded and a new, traffic free zone on the beach is being created and the beautification of Atlantic Avenue is being planned.

Q. What is Ocean Walk Village?

A. Ocean Walk Village consists of several projects. They include:

• Adventure Landing -- A five-acre, Caribbean-themed family entertainment center that includes wet and dry attractions. Adventure Landing, on Earl Street, has a long-term ground lease with the County’s Ocean Center. Adventure Landing is in its second year of operation in Daytona Beach.

• Ocean Walk Resort – Situated on N. Atlantic Avenue across the street from Adventure Landing, the project includes a 19-story, 300-room tower scheduled to open in February, 2001. A 100,000-square-foot retail area consisting of shops, restaurants and theaters is being planned, as is a second tower.

• Adam’s Mark expansion – Immediately south of the Ocean Walk Resort and across the street from the Ocean Center, the Adam’s Mark expansion includes 306 rooms and 18,000 square feet of ballroom space, meeting rooms and a bar/restaurant. The existing Adam’s Mark has 437 rooms and 33,500 square feet of meeting/function space. The project is scheduled to open in the fall 2001.

• Ocean Center parking garage -- A five-level, $12-million parking facility that contains 1,500 public parking spaces and VOTRAN’s Intermodal Facility on the first floor. Situated on Earl Street, adjacent to Adventure Landing, the County owns the land on which the parking garage is built. Community Development Properties, Volusia Inc. has leased the land from the County. Central Parking Systems operates the garage and manages the parking for all Ocean Center events. The parking garage opened March 1.

• VOTRAN Intermodal Facility – Financed with a $7-million federal grant, the Intermodal Facility on the first floor of the Ocean Center parking garage will serve as a transfer point for VOTRAN buses and trolleys. The Intermodal Facility is expected to open later this year.

• Ocean Center expansion – County officials are exploring the feasibility of adding more convention, exhibit, trade show and meeting space to the County-managed facility. A final decision is expected this year.

Q. What do the Ocean Walk Village projects have in common?

A. Besides being mutually-supportive of each other for long-term success and linked geographically, the Ocean Walk Village projects all were envisioned by the Take Part I and II studies. The Take Part I and II studies were spearheaded by The Chamber: Daytona Beach and Halifax Area and were financed publicly and privately. These studies created a blueprint for the revitalization of the core beachside area of Daytona Beach.

Q What is the new traffic-free zone on the beach?

A. The Ocean Walk Resort and Adam’s Mark expansion projects are dependent upon the family tourism and convention markets for success. Because of the tremendous positive impact on the economy, the County Council created the traffic-free zone from International Speedway and Seabreeze boulevards.

Q.  Are there any conditions to the County Council’s approval of the traffic-free zone?

A. Yes. The County Council agreed to create the new traffic-free zone only when 1,000 additional public parking spaces were created in the immediate vicinity of the traffic-free zone. The Ocean Center parking garage satisfies this condition.

Q. Where is the new traffic-free zone?

A. It is from International Speedway Boulevard, one mile north to Seabreeze Boulevard.

Q. Is the traffic-free zone permanent and year around?

A. Yes.

Q. The Main Street beach ramp falls within the traffic-free zone. What will happen to this beach access point?

A. It will be closed to vehicle traffic with the exception of government vehicles and public safety vehicles. The same is true for all beach access points within the traffic-free zone.

Q. Will any vehicles be allowed in the zone?

A. Beach Services will maintain a traffic lane in the traffic-free zone for use by government vehicles and public safety vehicles. Public vehicle traffic will be allowed to enter the beach at International Speedway Boulevard and proceed south or at Seabreeze Boulevard and proceed north. Both will accommodate exiting traffic.

Q. Where will people park if they desire to go to the traffic-free zone on the beach?

A. They can park in the Ocean Center garage or in public parking on the side streets.

Q. Will there be a charge to park in the Ocean Center parking garage?

A. Yes. The parking rate is $1 per 30 minutes with a maximum daily charge of $5, the same as the County’ s daily beach access fee. The city’s metered street parking rate is 50 cents per half hour with a two-hour maximum time limit. A N. Atlantic Avenue pedestrian overpass connecting the parking garage and Ocean Walk Resort is scheduled to open in 2001.

Q. What will happen to the beach concessions in the traffic-free zone?

A. All concessions will remain, the exception being the motorized vehicle concessions which are being moved out of the traffic-free zone?

Q. Was the traffic-free zone created to protect sea turtles or other endangered species on the beach?

A. The County Council created the traffic-free zone as an economic development stimulus. All provisions of the Habitat Conservation Plan (sea turtle protection) remain in effect and in force in the traffic-free zone?

Q. Where can I get more information?

A. Please call County Community Information at
(386) 822-5062 or (386) 239-7756.