Live/Work/Play

Eustis Mixed-Use Development

Scope

New Construction
Urban Redevelopment

Location

Eustis, FL

size

85 Housing Units
92 Hotel Rooms
80,000 SF Retail
128-Car Parking Garage
99 Surface Parking Spaces

Responsive to a Request for Proposals developed by the City of Eustis, Silling Architects immersed themselves in study of this rich and historic downtown in order to develop a sensitive and meaningful development concept. Historically known as the Orange Capitol of the World, the city has reimaged itself as “America’s Hometown” with a mission of restoring urban housing opportunities within its core and reanimating its streets with the activity of new retail, hospitality, and entertainment space.

 

The three city block development restores vibrant, walkable street edges catalytic to a viable revitalization plan. Building densities, both in footprint and height, are greatest where the project engages the existing marketplace of Magnolia Street, and step down in scale and as the site transitions to the existing residential neighborhoods to the northeast. Building character explorations led to a current, more relevant language for urban, mixed-use architecture.

Modified garden-style apartments and studios with varying options for private rooftop terraces sit atop the highly permeable, flexible modules of retail spaces at the street level. Open car-courts with sustainably designed green space form the core of the housing blocks, while a boutique hotel, conference center, and parking structure address the vehicular gateway of the city and capitalize on sunset views to Ferran Park and the many sailboats on the lake beyond.