At Monday’s Osceola County Board of County Commissioners meeting, the Manhattan development team of Edward J. Minskoff Equities Inc. and Sciame Construction/Development, along with SHoP Architects presented their vision of what NeoCity’s City Center would look like to the Osceola County Board of County Commissioners.
This is the developer’s first major project in the state of Florida, and they’re proposing a 21st century development plan for Osceola County’s NeoCity. NeoCity’s City Center will be the business, entertainment, residential, and community center of the County’s NeoCity campus.
Sciame, with a 47-year history of completing a wide range of architecturally significant buildings and interior spaces told the board that his company has the proven track record to move forward with what will be a magnet venue/hub within NeoCity that attracts people from throughout the nation.
Sciame, who is leading the effort to refine and develop the project, brought on Edward J Minskoff Equities (EJME) as co-developer and SHoP Architects to bring their global expertise and best practices from a broad portfolio of work.
“These world-class developers design, develop, maintain, and refurbish some of the most recognizable buildings around the world,” said Board Chairman Brandon Arrington. “And for them to be leading the efforts to develop NeoCity’s City Center is further confirmation that NeoCity is a regional game-changer.”
Sciame brought aboard EJME on as co-developer because of its extensive experience developing, leasing, and managing commercial properties in major urban centers. The CEO of EJME, Edward Minskoff, formerly ran Olympia & York (USA) the developer of the famed 7.5 million square foot World Financial Center on Manhattan’s Hudson River waterfront.
Sciame noted, “This is a unique opportunity to work with a visionary county that has invested in jump-starting a project which enables our team to create a model for how people will live, work and play in the future. Having worked with EJME for over 15 years, we knew their track record of brilliantly turning large development opportunities into reality – always with an eye towards improving the built environment with great architecture and world class art. SHoP Architects, with their global expertise and forward-thinking approach, was our first choice to help us curate the county’s vision.”
Edward Minskoff commented, “The NeoCity City Center development is so exciting because Osceola County is growing fast and smartly, and the county leadership has paved the way for NeoCity to attract companies that will deliver well-paying technology jobs to the community. The NeoCity combination of R&D activity, tech education, primary chip fabrication, rich cultural amenities and varied recreation options sets it apart from other like planned developments that are primarily focused on renting apartments.”
“I am very excited about the development team and what they are bringing to NeoCity. Their emphasis on built environment, open spaces, and art are a winning combination. I look forward to seeing the designs as they are developed. This will be unlike anything Osceola County has seen before,” Osceola County Commissioner Cheryl Grieb shared after Monday’s Board meeting.
In January Osceola County received a $6 million grant from the State of Florida for a key piece of transportation infrastructure to elevate its NeoCity technology district.
“The Florida Job Growth Grant Fund dollars fast tracks work on the new road – known as NeoVation Way. The road will ideally position the County and its partners to better market the NeoCity complex to potential investors and development interests, provide new, high-wage job opportunities to residents in a cutting edge “live-work-play” community,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said during a tour of NeoCity.
“Expanding domestic manufacturing capability is important for Florida and our nation,” said DeSantis. “The strategic investments we are making today will help bring microchip and semiconductor manufacturing back to our state at a time when the supply chains are more fragile than ever.”
“The forward-thinking plan incorporates cultural, civic, workplace and retail experiences, an active waterfront, and thoughtful sites for connection and community,” said SHoP Architects founding principal William Sharples. “NeoCity meets the challenges of the future with intelligence and beauty—even in the first phase, all the elements of a great city are there.”
Since Osceola County’s commitment to making a 500-acre technology district, known as NeoCity to diversify its economy. the county and its regional partners have invested over $273 million to make NeoCity the hub to Central Florida’s burgeoning semiconductor industry, which includes the Osceola County School District’s NeoCity Academy, located next to the Center for NeoVation.
For more information about NeoCity visit NeoCityFl.com.
