With the immense success of 321 Agency’s Robot Love Exhibition, we usher in the sequel: Robot Love v.2.0, as we prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that sequels CAN be as good as or greater than the originals!
With more art, more music, and more love, we need a more spectacular location, and we have welcomed the support and assistance of Brevard’s own Coy A. Clark who has graciously provided the venue: a vacant, industrial-type building whose façade has been manipulated to showcase the best artists of Brevard. Space Coast Vibe spent some intimate time learning more about Mr. Clark, whose appreciation of the arts and the community goes far beyond just developing the land, but rather deep into the hearts of those who are fortunate enough to get to know him.
SCV: First of all, tell me a little bit about yourself and your business here in Brevard.
COY: I moved here in 1970. I’d been a junior high school principal in Little Rock, Arkansas for six years and then I was a principal here in the Brevard County school district for three years. I decided to go into real estate in 1973 selling commercial properties and opened my own company in 1979. I started developing small properties and little strip centers in 1981, and I’ve developed neighborhood community shopping centers and office buildings which I’ve been able to retain for my investment accounts over the years. Currently I have eleven, with just fewer than 500,000 square feet combined. I’ll just mention a couple of them: The Metro West shopping center, the Reflections office building on the river, the Babcock Oaks office building, the Riverfront Building where Brighthouse is located, Suntree Station, and then some other smaller ones. And I just completed a 71,000 square foot shopping center over on the beachside called Seaside Center that I’m proud to say is now 100% leased. We just finished it. It’s right behind the Pizza Hut where the Winn Dixie used to be. I bought that in 2004 and did a major renovation. It’s actually like a brand new shopping center.
SCV: You also do housing developments?
COY: I do communities as well including Baytree, Portifino Bay, Wickham Forest, Carriage Gate, Glenwood, and there’s about two dozen of them so I couldn’t name them all. But the most recent of them that I have that I’m still marketing is Veranda Place which was the Homeowners and Contractors Association showcase home last fall. It’s on Eau Gallie Boulevard, about a mile and a half east of I-95. I have four custom builders in there. I have Joe DiPrima, Ruttenburg Homes, Stanley Homes, and Lifestyle Homes, and the prices are in the upper $200-$500 thousand range, and we are doing very well.
SCV: To what do you credit the success you’re having with this current market condition?
COY: I think it’s because we are outpacing this market and the reason we’re doing that is because we have large, wooded lots. The lots have a minimum of 100 feet of frontage. Veranda Place is a beautiful, gated community with large lots containing many trees, some lakes and conservation areas, and some great builders. And the location is key. We’re on Eau Gallie Boulevard, which in five minutes we can be at the Viera Mall or we can be at the Melbourne Mall, or we can be beachside, or we can take Wickham Road or I-95, etc.
SCV: Location, location, location!
COY: It’s true. It really works. And the other subdivision that’s also outpacing the market is called Linnwood and that’s on Hollywood Boulevard just north of Eber. D.R. Horton is building in there and they’re doing very well. And for the same reasons; it’s a very convenient location. A mile south you’re at Walmart, a mile north you’re at the mall. And I’m in the West Melbourne school district, the best school district. The prices are in the $140’s -$200’s. That community is also a gated community with nice trees. So D.R. Horton is doing well in there. In the other recent projects that have just completed, I have the upscale, luxury Four Winds condominium which is on the east point down by the Chart House. There are six condominiums there. I’ve sold all those units, but it’s a landmark building in the city of Melbourne.
SCV: And why is that?
COY: Well, it juts out on the point, uniquely designed just for that peninsula, so that virtually every room has a direct waterfront view. It was designed by MAI Architects, David Menzel. They design all of my buildings. And the buildings, if I may say so, are pretty unique and nice.
SCV: Now, about this event coming up, Robot Love v.2.0 that you are participating in, how will the arts be beneficial for your business? What are your expectations?
COY: I’ve always supported the arts. I’m a believer that the arts are needed as part of a community to attract businesses. When my daughter Hailey, who is the artist, and Cliff Chandler approached me about the concept, I knew I had 20,000 square feet vacant. I decided to check my list of tenants waiting to move in…and I didn’t have a list. So it made it an easy decision (laughs). I feel that I can assist in bringing something really wonderful and beneficial to the city of West Melbourne, give something back to the arts, help 321 Agency, the artists, Hailey…it’s just a win-win situation for everyone involved.
SCV: What work have you had to do to prepare for the event, as far as the construction, or deconstruction of the property, or was it already set up?
COY: I’ve had to do very little. It was vacant and 321 Agency has really provided all of the modifications, under the direction of Cliff Chandler. They are making all the preparations necessary to put on the event.
SCV: I assume you are planning on checking it out?
COY: Oh, absolutely! I’m anxious to see it. I intend to invite the West Melbourne Officials, I guess I should say Council and Staff, the tenants of the Metro West Plaza, and other Brevard County Dignitaries.
SCV: If this is a success, will you be participating with other events in the future?
COY: I hope so. Especially since Hailey is getting involved!
Space Coast Vibe and the 321 Agency are grateful to Coy Clark for his vision and his contribution to the community as well as his open mindedness while we graffiti the walls of his rental in the name of art! Robot Love v.2.0 will be open to the public Friday, January 22nd at 6pm.
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TAGS
Robot love, Coy Clark, arts, business |
