New homes, shops planned for Flea World site

SANFORD, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - After being touted as the “world’s biggest flea market” for nearly four decades, bulldozer-by-bulldozer, the Sanford landmark Flea World is going away.  Eighty of the 120 acres of this property are being redeveloped into mixed-use property known as Reagan Center [map]. 

Randall Morris is the project manager of what the mixed use property will eventually look like.  “Apartments, office buildings and commercial retail and we’ve had great interest from a charter school. We’ll see what happens,” said Randall.

Morris says this is considered a catalyst project.  “It’s Seminole county’s number one economic development project for the whole county by the county commission.  What that project is a catalyst for all of 17-92 the whole route it runs all of Seminole County, and it’s in the center,” said Randall. 

The property sits right across the street from the Seminole County Government Center and Seminole State College.  “It’s a triad for development which we hope will have a halo effect on the rest of 17-92 which as you know is old and undeveloped,” said Randall.

Townhomes on the Ronald Reagan side of the property will be built first.  Ground breaking is scheduled for fall.  Next should come up to 800 apartments, then retail, then office, according to Morris.  “If we keep in the market economy we’re in today, it could be done in five years,” said Morris. 

This is a private project; however, they could be getting some incentives from Seminole County.  “The county is looking at putting their CRA community redevelopment money, we have a grant of 1.4 million we’re asking for,” said Morris. 

That money would help with the cost of demolition, construction of utilities and infrastructure.  RM Strategies and the IBI Group, who are working together on this project won’t find out if they get the county CRA money for a few more months.