Press Release
August 7, 2018 1:00 p.m.
Vertical construction begins on Amelia Island’s luxury 113-home master planned community
AMELIA ISLAND, FLORIDA (Aug. 6, 2018) – Crane Island Real Estate, LLC announced today the four homebuilders, design talent and infrastructure progress at Amelia Island’s Crane Island, a low impact, 113-home master planned community that will significantly increase the number of deep water home sites and slips directly on the Intracoastal Waterway.
Since breaking ground earlier this year, the following infrastructure has been completed on Crane Island: 47 platted home lots, asphalt roads, sidewalks, signage, natural gas, city water supply and sewage system. By this fall, power, street lighting, cable and high-speed Gigabit Internet connectivity will be installed.
This month, construction will begin on the first Crane Island homes, with resident move-ins slated for Spring 2019. The second phase, which includes 66 platted home lots, will also be delivered in Spring 2019. The entire project will be completed in 2024.
“We are all inspired by the opportunity at hand – the incredible chance to sustainably develop one of the last parcels of Intracoastal Waterway land on Amelia Island,” said Jack Healan Jr., developer of Crane Island. “We’ve been intentional in our selection of each company that will join the Crane Island family. Design matters at Crane Island, and each team member will contribute to our shared vision of creating a community where every home will offer a beautiful gift to the street.”
The 185-acre community incorporates innovative water and energy conservation techniques such as bioswales (an alternative to retention ponds) that minimize its footprint on the environment. The developers and homebuilders are carefully conserving as much of the natural maritime forest as possible.
The architecture of Crane Island will take its cues from the canopy of Ancient Oaks accented with Spanish moss and palm fronds, and embodies a low country, coastal luxe aesthetic. Four architectural styles will gently guide the custom home designs. Photos of the four architectural styles are available here: https://see.craneisland.com/architecture.
Homebuyers are afforded the opportunity to design a custom home from scratch or to engage with the Crane Island Portfolio Homes Program. This unique, time-saving program offers predesigned plans that the buyer can personalize to his or her liking by working with Crane Island’s talented homebuilders and architects. Custom home prices range from the $700’s to $3 million plus, and lot options include deep water Intracoastal Waterway, parkside, forest and marsh. Floorplans from the Portfolio Homes Program are available here: https://craneisland.com/floorplans/.
The Crane Island homebuilder and architectural teams are:
Pickett Construction and Allison Ramsey Architects: Jacksonville-based Pickett Construction is known for its quality custom homes in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia. The hands-on, family-run business works closely with its clients to deliver beautiful, innovative designs. This week, Pickett Construction will submit for a construction permit on its first home (details and imagery are available here: https://see.craneisland.com/Jekyll2). Pickett Construction has partnered with Allison Ramsey Architects, a Beaufort, South Carolina-based firm known for designing homes that have been featured in Garden & Gun, Coastal Living, HGTV Dream Home and more.
DF Luxury Homes by Marcus Meide and Markalunas Architecture Group: The custom homes division of Dream Finders Homes is known for classic architecture and craftsmanship that blends seamlessly with the natural surroundings. Although DF Luxury Homes has partnered with Markalunas Architecture Group to develop its model home, as well as its first showcase home, the homebuilder will also team up with other highly acclaimed architectural firms. Markalunas Architecture Group is a thoughtful and creative design firm that will apply its experience with luxe communities such as Palmetto Bluff to Crane Island.
Riverside Homes and Michael Stauffer Architect: Riverside Homes is a locally owned homebuilder focused on creating homes that are unique in character and function based on the homeowner’s lifestyle. Riverside Homes has partnered with Michael Stauffer Architect, a Fernandina Beach local who expertly weaves the area’s rich history and aesthetic into his timeless designs.
Cam Bradford Homes and Tim Brown Architecture: By listening closely and welcoming input at every step, Cam Bradford Homes creates homes that make a personal statement – a place that incorporates distinctive vision and style. Cam Bradford Homes has partnered with Tim Brown Architecture, a design team known for its modern farmhouse style. The duo will build a 5,000-square-foot waterfront showcase home with an estimated cost of $3 million.
With approximately 20 to 25 percent of each home’s square footage dedicated to porch space, all Crane Island homes will maximize exposure to the island and feature a variety of stunning porches, a signature experience for the community.
“Life on the porch will be a huge differentiator for Crane Island,” said Healan. “We are building an ‘island within an island’ – a walkable community filled with homes that rekindle America’s love affair for porches and neighborly interactions. We look forward to seeing Crane Island come to life over the next several months.”
In addition to community-oriented homes, Crane Island will feature a centrally located park that will play host to community events and spontaneous social gatherings; a clubhouse and chef’s catering kitchen; an infinity pool overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway; a state-of-the-art fitness center; bocce courts; and a day dock with kayak and paddle board storage. Crane Island will also be home to several community docks and an 8-foot wide trail for pedestrians, bikers and golf carts that provides direct access to the beach.
Outside the gated community, Crane Island residents will enjoy the City of Fernandina National Historic District, which spans 50 blocks of specialty shops, boutiques, historic sites and restaurants. Residents will also have access to two nearby marinas, as well as the opportunity to join the prestigious Amelia Island Club, which features two golf courses, 23 clay tennis courts, two fitness facilities and a luxury beach club with dining, pool and beachside services.
About Crane Island:
Crane Island is a luxury 113-home master planned community on Florida’s Amelia Island, a part of the Sea Islands Chain of barrier islands on the Atlantic Coast. With over 3,500 feet of Intracoastal Waterway frontage and over 4,000 feet abutting salt marshes, the 185-acre site is the last parcel of waterfront land on Amelia Island. The sustainable community will preserve approximately 100 acres, including the majority of the mature maritime forest – a unique feature that creates seasonality within the coastal environment. Upon completion, Crane Island will more than double the home sites available on the Intracoastal Waterway.
With the first phase now open and phase two well underway with an expected completion in early 2019, Crane Island will emerge as a connected island hamlet that celebrates the site’s history and natural surroundings, complete with a bird sanctuary, community park, gardens, walking and biking paths, day dock and beach access. At Crane Island, every home will offer a beautiful gift to the street with approximately 20 to 25 percent of space dedicated to the porch experience. Custom homes range from the $700’s to $3 million plus. For more information, visit craneisland.com.
About the Developers:
The vision for Crane Island was born from two longtime friends and business executives, Saad Wallan and Jack Healan Jr. It’s the first new development in the area offering deep water access to the Intracoastal Waterway in 15 years. Both Wallan and Healan are committed to honoring and protecting the island’s storied past and natural environment, and building a timeless, connected community where life begins and ends on the front porch.
Wallan, an international businessman, brings experience from his tenure in the automotive, aviation and real estate industries. Healan, former President of the Amelia Island Company, is highly regarded for his 30-plus years of involvement in the development of Amelia Island Plantation, Marsh Lakes and Brady Point Preserve. In 2012, they formed a partnership to pursue real estate opportunities. Recognizing Crane Island as Amelia Island’s final waterfront property, the partners purchased it in 2014. The community is slated for completion in 2024.
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Media Contact:
Liana Moran
The Wilbert Group
770-905-9915
Several questions/comments?
1. Survey maps show the legal name as Craney Island. When was it changed to Crane Island, by whom and why?
2. If this property had originally been in the city limits, would the city’s land development code allowed a PUD within the coastal high hazard area or is this a case of development agreement under the county’s less restrictive regulations?
3. Agreement called for the developer to pay for the cost of a roundabout at Bailey Road and Amelia Parkway. Since this has already been done, was there any contribution?
4. Agreement says an option would be for the county to take over responsibility of the public park. With the annexation does this right transfer to the City?
5. What about the eagles nest on the island?
6. Does anyone think the construction might unearth clues to solve the mysterious disappearance of Miss Mary Alice Broadbent?
7. Does this put more pressure on the City for the relocation of fire station #2 ?
Represents quite a bump to the City’s (and county’s) property tax revenues as the development occurs. Big boost for impact fees as well?
Translation: We are about to bull doze some marsh land and put a golf course-esq development on it.
Responsible new development is good and adds to the quality of life.
Gerald, indeed it is as well as adding a lot of revenue to the property tax coffers. However the planned development is a far cry from the original owners plans for more than 400 homes on the island and a 90-slip marina dug out of the interior of island. A unique site and the pre-sales seem to indicate a very strong demand. Each sale comes with an avigation easement where the owners can’t complain about the noise from the airport.
I am willing to give you that responsible new development is good…in places it is needed. Someplace like Callahan would be a place that might benefit greatly from “good” new
development. There really is no need for any further “new” development on Amelia Island. Linking new island development to a higher quality of life for others on the island I think is a false pretense. I think you should rephrase the statement to: Responsible redevelopment is good and adds to the quality of life for island residents..new development not so much.
This is a press release. Why can’t we get pictures of the ongoing construction taken by local news people? I do appreciate Dave’s comments and I would like to add there are some archaeological sites that are supposed to be mitigated. These sites are near the nesting area. I would like to see a current picture of the well where I believe Sara Alice Broadbent met her demise. We got lots of pictures of the airport construction from Healan’s relative. Now, let’s see some current pictures of Crane Island. Dene Stovall
Dene, when I was involved in some of the early litigation around the classification of wetlands, my recollection was that from a report by the state that while there was an acknowledgement of some Indian middens on the island, they were not declared historically significant. I heard claims that there could have been a mission established there by the Spanish but never saw anything to document that fact. My understanding from a mutual friend is that Nick Deonas has a lot of knowledge about some of the island’s features such as the well.
“6. Does anyone think the construction might unearth clues to solve the mysterious disappearance of Miss Mary Alice Broadbent?”
Did you notice they’ve named their central pedestrian thoroughfare/dry retention field after Miss B, “Alice Park”?
https://craneisland.com/alicepark-2/
I find all of Dave Lott’s questions interesting & hope someone can answer them. Another thing, are folks who buy there going to complain about the airport noise…do they know what they’re in for?
There is a perpetual avigation easement in place that states Crane Island residents have to live with the airport/aircraft noise, vibrations, fumes, etc. The residences will have noise reduction windows. There are limits to lighting on residences that might interfere with airport landings. The list goes on. Thank you to Mrs.Hunter for the link to some current pictures of Crane Island.
Exactly, so how much sense does the deveoper’s statement make: “ ‘Life on the porch will be a huge differentiator for Crane Island,’ said Healan.” I know, let’s go outside to the porch so we can hear the planes better.
As is the current norm, pictures of the development on the island show that the tree protection zones (and barriers) are not properly established and placed and if left as they are the trees will suffer significant damage as a result of the construction activities. The tree ordinances written by the county and city are frequently ignored and the current practice for marking which trees to “save” often leads to “mistakes” made on purpose by the developers. One only needs to look at the hotel project on Sadler Road (good on the county for holding that developer accountable) and the Sea Cottages development on Sadler closer to the beach to see misplaced barriers around trees. The city has yet to enforce their code on the proper placement of the tree protection zones around what is now some of the last remaining large oaks that close to the beach.