Neighborhood Planning History
Incorporated in 1961, Port St. Lucie has undergone a remarkable transformation in a short period. Originally marketed globally, especially in the Northeast, by the General Development Corporation (GDC) as a retirement haven, the city has grown from a small community of 330 residents in 1970 to an award-winning, full-service city with over 240,000 residents today. This significant growth involved overcoming GDC's inadequate community planning and infrastructure development. The ongoing efforts include one of the nation’s largest municipal septic sewer conversions, building parkways, and retrofitting sidewalks. Crucially, it also involves upgrading and revitalizing the older GDC-developed neighborhoods that lacked names, a sense of identity, gateway signage, edges, neighborhood parks, walkable streets, and social cohesion. This effort is vital for the city's future success, especially with new master-planned communities emerging in the western annexation areas.
With this vision, the City established the Neighborhood Improvement and Community Engagement (NICE) Program in 2017. Through the program, the City helps organize neighborhood meetings, workshops, and training programs where citizens contribute, envision, and plan for their neighborhoods' future.
Awards