Primary commercial and high-visibility location along the 520 Corridor

This core property, with high visibility from the 520 Causeway that runs through Merritt Island between the mainland and the ocean, has great potential. Current conditions, however, with shifts in buying trends over time—exasperated by the pandemic—net a key property needing attention.

The Merritt Square Mall, an indoor shopping mall constructed 50 years ago, is showing its age. There is a distinct lack of landscaping within the mall’s acres of parking area emphasizing the aging appearance of the buildings themselves. Still, the property is well located for traffic, residential and tourism, and benefits from prior MIRA redevelopment projects including 520 Corridor Beautification, the Veterans Memorial Park, and the Lakes at Veterans Memorial Park.

On the very positive side, MIRA along with Brevard County and the St. Johns River Water Management District, have created a catalyst for more cost-effective redevelopment of the aging commercial center.  The Fortenberry Regional Stormwater Treatment System provides an important economic incentive and will allow the mall (as well as surrounding commercial properties, which include smaller strip malls and other business properties) to redevelop without subtracting a significant percentage of their parcel area for on-site storm water retention. Learn more about the Fortenberry Regional Stormwater Treatment System and Stormwater Tie-In Credits here.

To that end, MIRA engaged design consultants to create concept plans currently available for study, as developers consider the direction and support infrastructure that accompanies this opportunity. This study illustrates the possibility of realigning or creating new streets, and creating an outdoor-oriented pedestrian mall concept.

The MIRA does not own the mall property, nor does MIRA intend to acquire it. These concepts only represent a potential vision for the Merritt Square Mall area.