Ponte Vedra Recorder · November 20, 201430 Community News

Carrie ReschThe Recorder

Design plans for phase 2 of the Saw-grass Village renovation process are in the final approval stage and construc-tion for the new phase should begin early next year, according the Ervin Lovett Miller firm, the planner, archi-tect and landscape architect oversee-ing the shopping center renovation.

The long-awaited renovation of the shopping center that was construct-ed in the mid 1980s has been split into phases in order to shift existing merchants to new locales while con-structing new building facades. The ultimate goal of the redesigned shop-ping center is to make a modern, vi-able shopping village that has a more functional layout, according Russ Er-vin, ELM founding partner and lead designer of the project.

ELM plans to continue the style and fundamentals established in phase 1 of the Sawgras Village redevelopment, which included the construction of a state-of-the-art Publix shopping center and CVS. That project was completed in the fall of 2013.

Phase 2 renovations will have one important difference.

With the new phase of construction, businesses will remain open during most of the reconstruction as opposed to the area being completely closed off as it was in the initial phase. That in itself creates some unique challeng-es – “a jigsaw puzzle” as Ervin puts it where all the pieces will eventually come together and be connected by Village Main Street that will ultimately run from the A1A entrance to the PGA Tour Boulevard entrance.

The project involves phasing out the process so that as each phase is built and tenants and businesses are moved, the next step will be taken.

The layout of the shopping center will be changing as well into a more understandable building-block pat-tern, Ervin said, acknowledging that

the original shopping center is out-dated and somewhat dysfunctional in layout and was difficult for visitors to navigate.

The new design will ultimately help to alleviate the confusion and make the space which was seen as two di-vided areas into one cohesive walk-able and drivable shopping district.

The Village Main Street will be a “shopping street” where boutiques and shops storefronts face each other to create a much more dynamic shop-ping experience, according to Ervin.

Additionally, up to six new free-standing buildings will be added, each with their own personality that will ultimately speak to each other archi-tecturally, Ervin said. The purpose be-hind the design is to give each build-ing a unique look to avoid an overall monotonous look with the intent of tying the buildings together architec-turally will help to create a village at-mosphere, according to Ervin.

The motif established in phase 1 will continue into phase 2. The style requested was fresh and modern with rich materials and white brick to re-flect the beach environment and the Ponte Vedra area, Ervin said.

The firm will be applying for per-mits the first of the year to begin phase 2 construction.

carrie@opcfla.com(904) 686-3939

Work on Sawgrass Village phase 2 to begin next yearBusinesses will remain open during renovations, architect says.

minimum is $15 per person. For more information, visit www.

gamblerogersfest.org.

Hall & Oates return to the St. Augus-tine Amphitheatre

Daryl Hall and John Oates are coming back to the St. Augustine Amphitheatre to perform on Sat-urday, Dec. 6, at 8 p.m. They last performed here in 2013.

Tickets are currently available to the general public for $39.50-89.50 at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre box office, www.ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets or by phone at (800) 745-3000.

For more information, visit www.staugamphitheatre.com.

Swamp Radio ChristmasSwamp Radio, a live radio show

celebrating Northeast Florida culture through stories, interviews and music, will present “A Swamp Radio Christmas” on Tuesday, Dec. 23, at 7:30 p.m. in the Lewis Auditorium at Flagler College.

The episode will explore holiday traditions in the St. Augustine area and will give audience members an opportunity to connect with the past, celebrate the present and keep an eye toward the future.

Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for students, seniors and military. Lewis Auditorium is located at 14 Granada St. in downtown St. Au-gustine. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.swam-pradiojax.com.

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