Live the Viera lifestyle of ultimate convenience, with A-rated schools, great shopping, a variety of businesses, abundant recreational amenities, quality medical services and places of worship all within minutes of this beautifully master planned community.
Viera (pronounced /vyeh-rah/) is a master planned community located in the central coastal region of Brevard County, Florida. It is part of an unincorporated section adjacent to the Melbourne, Florida area. For census purposes, it is divided between the Census Designated Places of Viera East and Viera West. At the 2010 census, Viera East had a population of 10,757, while Viera West had a population of 6,641.
Geography
The Viera area borders 8 miles (13 km) along Interstate 95 starting at exit 195 and extending south 3 miles (5 km) beyond exit 191. It encompasses 14,500 acres (5,900 ha). About half of this has been set aside for conservation.
Neighborhoods
The community consists of 58 neighborhoods in two areas named Viera East and Central Viera. Included are three adult communities, Brennity at Melbourne, Grand Isle, and Heritage Isle, along with a military retirement community, Indian River Colony Club.
The neighborhood communities of Central Viera are Addison Village, Arrivas Village, Fairway Lakes at Viera, North Solerno, Sonoma, South Solerno, Stadium Villas, Stoneridge, Summer Lakes, The Highlands, Three Fountains at Viera, Wickham Lakes, and Wyndham at Duran.
In 2014, Addison Village was the newest in Central Viera, with its first community, Strom Park, currently under development then. The North and South Villages of Solerno include Capron Trace, Charolais Estates, Chelford, Colfax Landing, Cortona, Daintree, Eason Landing, Gatwick Manor, Indigo Crossing, Levanto, Ravencliffe, Sunstone, and Terramore.
The neighborhood communities of Viera East are Bayhill, Crane Creek, Cross Creek, Fawn Ridge, Hammock Lakes, Hammock Trace, Heritage, Heron’s Landing, Mission Bay, Osprey Landing, Osprey Ridge, Six Mile Creek, The Greens at Viera, The Lakes at Viera East, Viera East Golf Club, and Villages of Viera East.
Viera East Golf Club includes the communities of Aberdeen, Addington, Ashton, Blackheath, Brightwood, Canterbury, Collingtree, Durban Park, Oaklefe, Parkstone, Stratford Place, and Woodhall. Villages of Viera East includes the communities of Auburn Lakes, Bennington, Somerville, Templeton, and Wingate Estates.
History
The land was developed by the Viera Company, a subsidiary of A. Duda and Sons. On August 4, 1989, ground was broken for the new community of Viera, the name deriving from viera meaning “faith” in the Slovak language in honor of family patriarch Andrew Duda, who emigrated from what became Slovakia in 1912. Starting in 1990, the Duda family has owned the property along I-95 and began turning the Cocoa Ranch into a new town with a mix of land uses, including a variety of housing types, offices, medical and industrial parks, shopping centers and recreational facilities. The family has donated a total of 622.7 acres (252.0 ha) of land to various organizations.
The Viera Development of Regional Impact (DRI) was approved in 1990 for about 3,000 acres (1,200 ha), making up Viera East. In 1992 construction began on what would become Viera East. In 1995, a 6,000-acre (2,400 ha) expansion was approved by Brevard County as a Substantial Deviation to the original DRI. Application was made for Substantial Deviation #2 in 2006 and was approved to plan for the final expansion of the community. The 11,567-acre (4,681 ha) expansion will include 5,112 acres (2,069 ha) to be set aside as managed protected land, conservation areas, parks and open space.
The Viera Wilderness Park (5,112 acres (2,069 ha) to be set aside during the expansion) will join with the 44,000-acre (18,000 ha) River Lakes Conservation Area, which includes 14,000 acres (5,700 ha) of Cocoa Ranch purchased by the St. Johns River Water Management District in 1999. Additional acres will be set aside within development areas to serve as conservation, parks and open space bringing the total actively managed protected land in the expansion area to over 50 percent of the total area.
Economy
Since its inception in 1989, Viera has attracted more than 100 businesses and over 4,000 permanent jobs, including financial services, health care, other professional services and retail establishments.
A. Duda & Sons, Inc. continues to raise cattle on the West Viera property as well as a portion of the River Lakes Conservation Area.
Retail
The Avenue Viera, an open-air shopping center, opened in 2004. It contains over 100 shops/restaurants and a multiplex movie theater. There are several nationally known restaurant chains and department stores.
Industry
Viera has several organizations, government offices and non-profits, such as the Brevard Zoo, Brevard Public Schools and Viera Hospital.
The first Park-N-Ride lot, in unincorporated Brevard County, is located there.
Government offices
The county’s administration complex is located in Viera 1 mile (1.6 km) west of Interstate 95. The government branches and offices include the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners, County Manager, Planning and Development, Housing and Human Services, Public Works, Public Safety, Health Services and Clinic at Viera, Children’s Medical Services, Utility Services, and the Metropolitan Planning Organization. The Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Justice Center and the Brevard County School Board offices are also located within the administrative complex.
Tourism
The developer of the property, the Viera Company, hosts a variety of events each year for both the community and for the Central Brevard area. Several main events include the Spring Bunny Hop, the July 4th Great American Celebration and the holiday tree lighting event. National charities such as the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and the March of Dimes Walk for Babies have achieved success in the community.
Government
Federal representation
The Viera area is within Florida’s 8th congressional district represented by Bill Posey.
State representation
Within the boundaries of Viera, the State House (District 30); the State Senate (District 24)
County
The Viera community is located within an unincorporated portion of Brevard County, District 4.
Community Development Districts and Master Community
Viera East Community Association (VECA) is a not-for-profit corporation formed in accordance with the Viera East Community Declaration and is the Master Association for Viera East. It is administered by a five-member Board of Directors and is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the hardscaping, landscaping and irrigation systems on most major roadways throughout Viera East, and in certain parks and recreational facilities. VECA is also responsible for overseeing the Modifications Review Committee (MRC).
The Viera East Community Development District is a local, special-purpose government entity authorized by Chapter 190 of the Florida Statutes as amended, and created by ordinance of Brevard County as an alternative method of planning, acquiring, operating and maintaining community-wide improvements in planned communities.
Sports
Golf
Duran Golf Club, an 18-hole golf course, opened in 2005. It is located in Central Viera. It encompasses 130 acres (53 ha) in the neighborhoods of Fairway Lakes at Viera and Wyndham at Duran. The 10,000-square-foot (930 m2) British West Indies-style clubhouse contains a restaurant. The center includes a 30-acre (12 ha) complex with a practice range, target greens, pitching greens and a putting green.
Viera East Golf Club opened in 1993 and is located in Viera East. It winds through the neighborhoods of Parkstone, Oakefe, Canterbury, Brightwood, Addington, Durban Park, Blackheath, Aberdeen, Woodhall, Collingtree, Stratford Place and Ashton.
Baseball
The Washington Nationals use Space Coast Stadium for their yearly spring training schedule during February and March. Major league players such as Stephen Strasburg pitched during the 2011 spring training season.
The Brevard County Manatees use Space Coast Stadium during the summer months and are a single-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Florida State League All-Star game was played in 2010, the second time in five years.
Parks
Viera Regional Park
Constructed on 125 acres (51 ha) donated by the Viera Company, Viera Regional Park has a community center, a fully equipped playground, three tot lots, 8 acres (3.2 ha) of lakes, a walkway system, two lighted Little League baseball fields, two lighted “major league” baseball fields, eight soccer pitches (2 lighted), lighted tennis and basketball courts, and two youth softball courts.
The Suntree-Viera Lightning Mighty Mites, an under-10 football team, won the Offense-Defense National Championship in 2009.
In 2010, two soccer clubs with a total of 1,200 members vied for space on recreational ground.
The Suntree-Viera Lightning Bantams, an under-13 Football Comp team, won the OD National Championship in January 2011.[citation needed]
Community parks
Viera has six community parks and a number of pocket parks within each neighborhood. In Viera East, Clubhouse Park, Suseda Park and Woodside Park have children’s play equipment along with adjoining trail systems. In Central Viera, Eastwind Park, Westwind Park and North Solerno Park contain modern play equipment with pools for local neighborhood communities.
Recreation
The Brevard Zoo and the 200-acre (81 ha) Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands of Viera are located at the south end of the community.
Education
Viera has three elementary schools, three feeder middle schools, a charter school, and a high school. Plans for a Viera middle school have been included with the DRI plans for the community. Each of Viera’s schools has received “A” grades since Florida’s grading process started, and each has received other state and national honors as well.
Viera Charter School Year Opened: 2013 Viera Charter School is a Southern Association of Colleges and Schools-accredited K-8 grade charter school. As a STEM Academy school it partners with the Florida Institute of Technology to provide students with STEM activities. The school is rated ‘A’ by the School Board of Brevard County and the State of Florida.
Primary Schools
Ralph M. Williams, Jr. Elementary School Year Opened: 1999 Williams was awarded the 2009 National Blue Ribbon Schools Program Award. The school is rated ‘A’ by the School Board of Brevard County and the State of Florida.
Manatee Elementary School Year Opened: 2003 Manatee was chosen as a Statewide Music Demonstration School in the 2010-2013 calendar period. The school is rated ‘A’ by the School Board of Brevard County and the State of Florida.
Quest Elementary School Year Opened: 2004
Secondary Schools
Delaura Middle School, John F. Kennedy Middle School, and Ronald McNair Magnet Middle School are the feeder chain schools associated with the current boundaries for all Viera elementary schools.
Viera High School Year Opened: 2006 Viera has over 1.4 million in scholarships for academic and athletic excellence. It received the Science research Best of Show Environmental Science Award. The school is rated ‘A’ by the School Board of Brevard County and the State of Florida.
Public safety
The local Brevard County Fire Rescue station 47 is the county’s Specialized Response Truck dealing with HAZMAT incidents county wide. In 2011, the county opened Station #48. This station is the county’s only special operations/hazardous materials responding and training station. #48 is also home to a 9-11 memorial which includes a piece of steel from the fallen World Trade Center towers.
Suntree is one of the most desirable communities in Brevard County. Suntree is known for recreational retreats such as golf courses, parks, and nature preserves all located near neighborhoods. There are two large community parks with playground equipment and ball fields. You’ll find bike paths and pedways winding their way through the community and two 18-hole golf courses. Suntree consists of over 4,500 households offering a diverse selection of homes of many different values from apartments, townhomes, and condominiums to one and two-story single-family homes.
Suntree has many great nearby places for family fun. Suntree is a neighbor to the spring training complex of the Washington Nationals. Once the boys of summer move on to the regular season in Washington, Space Coast Stadium becomes home field for the Brevard County Manatees. Suntree is located just minutes from Port Canaveral where you can sail off into the sunset on a 3, 4, or 7 day voyage. Suntree is a convenient 45 minute drive to the attractions of Orlando like Disney, Universal, Sea World, and Cirque du Soleil.
Suntree currently has two elementary schools with some of the highest test scores in the County. We have a County Library, and are within minutes of Brevard Community College, Melbourne Campus, The Brevard Zoo, The King Center for the Performing Arts, shopping and top-rated dining establishments. In fact, Suntree is centrally located is only a short drive to Brevard´s beautiful beaches, to an Intracoastal waterway access, the Melbourne International Airport and less than an hour drive to Orlando International Airport. Other nearby attractions include The Kennedy Space Center, Brevard Museum of Art & Science, Henegar Center for the Performing Arts, Brevard Symphony, and historic downtown Melbourne and Cocoa.
You’ll find shopping centers, restaurants, doctors, dentists and many other conveniences within Suntree. In close proximity are the Veterans Administration Clinic, Viera Hospital, the Brevard County Government Services Complex, the Brevard County School District’s administrative offices, new stores such as a Wal-Mart Super Center, Super Target and The Avenue at Viera, a major new shopping center housing restaurants, a wide variety of stores, and a 16-screen stadium seat cinema center.
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