Images of Palm Coast Commercial Growth Through the Pandemic

Today’s pictures vs the latest Google Earth images from nine months ago show that unexpected progress was made, despite several months of the Covid-19 pandemic.

PALM COAST, FL – August 30, 2020 – Google Earth recently updated its overhead images of the Palm Coast area. The new images are dated November 19, 2020. Since many of you have been cooped up with limited unnecessary travel, you may not have noticed the commercial construction activity around town. GoToby.com took its camera on a drive around Palm Coast so you won’t have to.

Here are fourteen different Palm Coast projects that have made significant progress despite the pandemic as evidenced by the comparison of today’s photos to the Google Earth images of only nine months ago. 

SEE THE LOCATION MAP AT THE END OF THE ARTICLE

Let’s start our journey in the northeast section of town on Old Kings Rd North, just north of Matanzas High School. StorQuest is now renting climate-controlled storage space where only dirt and a few shell structures are visible on the Google Earth image.

STOREQUEST TODAY

STOREQUEST 11-19-19 (GOOGLE EARTH)

Head west on Matanzas Woods Pkwy to US 1 where the new traffic rotary was recently opened. You can see that nine months ago, progress had been negligible

US 1 ROTARY TODAY

US 1 ROTARY 11-19-19 (GOOGLE EARTH)

As we drive slowly around the rotary, we notice a new building on the southwest corner of the US 1 and Matanzas Woods Pkwy. The main structure of what will be a gas station, convenience store, and restaurant awaits completion.

GAS STATION/CONVENIENCE STORE/RESTAURANT TODAY

GAS STATION/CONVENIENCE STORE/RESTAURANT 11-19-19 (GOOGLE EARTH)

Cruising down Palm Coast Pkwy NW at Bridgehaven Drive we find an O’Reilly’s Auto Parts store open for business where only a cleared lot was captured by Google Earth nine months ago.

O’REILLY AUTO PARTS TODAY

O’REILLY AUTO PARTS 11-19-19 (GOOGLE EARTH)

The Azure Adult Living Facility (ALF) construction is well underway where nine months ago, only a cleared vacant lot can be seen on the site.

AZURE ALF TODAY

AZURE ALF 11-19-19 (GOOGLE EARTH)

When Island Walk was redeveloped, a Mobil Gas Station was on the left side of the main entrance (across from Starbucks). The Mobil Station was replaced by a new gas station/convenience store. After only a few years, that gas station has been razed (though it still stood vacant nine months ago). A new SunTrust, or should I say Truist Bank, is now under construction there.

SUNTRUST BANK UNDER CONSTRUCTION TODAY

FORMER GAS STATION/CONVENIENCE STORE AT SAME LOCATION  11-19-19 (GOOGLE EARTH)

On Palm Coast Pkwy NE, just east of Colbert Lane is the newly opened Coastal Rehab business. As you can see by the images below, only trees could be seen from above in November.

COASTAL REHAB TODAY

COASTAL REHAB LOCATION 11-19-19 (GOOGLE EARTH)

Beach Village is a Publix-anchored commercial plaza at State Road 100 and Roberts Road. VyStar Credit Union is building a new branch building on a front outparcel next to 7-Eleven. A vacant dirt lot has transformed into a nearly completed building in only nine months.

VYSTAR CREDIT UNION TODAY

VYSTAR CREDIT UNION SITE 11-19-19 (GOOGLE EARTH)

There is much more active commercial construction along the State Road 100 corridor. Behind Tom Gibbs Chevy, several apartment buildings are nearing completion at Tuscan Reserve. During the bubble days of the first decade, the 128-unit Madison Green Apartments were completed. Adjacent and to the west, work began on a condominium community named Tuscan Reserve. When the market plunged, work was suspended after only two structures were completed.

The project is underway again, but not as condominiums. The condos were converted to apartments and work began completing the project as an apartment community with 123 units.

TUSCAN RESERVE TODAY

TUSCAN RESERVE SITE 11-19-19 (GOOGLE EARTH)

A new commercial strip plaza, Airport Commons, is nearing completion at the intersection of Aviation Drive and SR 100. The plaza will be anchored by a Planet Fitness.

AIRPORT COMMONS TODAY

AIRPORT COMMONS SITE 11-19-19 (GOOGLE EARTH)

Across SR 100 from Airport Commons is the newly opened Wawa. Nine months ago, construction had barely begun.

WAWA TODAY

WAWA SITE 11-19-19 (GOOGLE EARTH)

Enter Town Center where two apartment communities are now leasing units.

PALMS AT TOWN CENTER (88 UNITS) TODAY

PALMS AT TOWN CENTER 11-19-19 (GOOGLE EARTH)

CENTRAL LANDINGS (233 UNITS) TODAY

CENTRAL LANDINGS 11-19-19 (GOOGLE EARTH)

Exiting Town Center from Town Center Blvd, we turn left (north) onto Old Kings Road. Shortly after passing Hidden Lakes on the left, we find another ALF, Gold Choice, under construction.

GOLD CHOICE TODAY

GOLD CHOICE SITE 11-19-19 (GOOGLE EARTH)

I hope you enjoyed our drive around town. And look how much gas you saved.

LOCATION MAP