Three Corners gets a fourth extension. What the Dec. 8 deadline means for Vero Beach neighbors.

If you have crossed the 17th Street Bridge in the last ten years, you have seen it. A big piece of city-owned waterfront where the old power plant used to stand. For years, the plan has been to turn it into a place people actually want to go. It is called Three Corners.

Now the City Council has given the developer more time to work out a deal. It is the fourth extension. Here is what happened, what the project is, and why it matters even if you never plan to eat dinner there.

What Three Corners is

Three Corners is 38 acres of city-owned waterfront at the foot of the 17th Street Bridge, according to the weekly Vero Beach 32963. It was home to the city's "Big Blue" power plant, which closed in 2015. The city's sewer plant still runs on part of the land and is slated for demolition in 2028.

The proposed project is about $250 million, according to WQCS. The idea is a waterfront destination with restaurants, hotels, shops, parks and other uses. Earlier reporting also described a marina and public waterfront access. The city approved a concept plan for the site in 2022.

The city does not plan to sell the land. Vero Beach 32963 reported that the city plans a 99-year lease, and that City Manager Monte Falls said a sale would violate the city charter.

Why the deal keeps getting more time

Lease negotiations started in March, when the developer put down a $50,000 good-faith deposit and a 120-day negotiation clock began. Since then the council has extended that clock again and again. Vero Beach 32963 reported that the third extension ran to October 12.

Before that third extension, Falls asked the developer in a September 1 email for a revised concept plan, a revised construction schedule, a business pro forma and documents showing a sufficient financing plan. Vero Beach 32963 later reported that Falls said the missing information had been received.

The new extension gives the city more time to review updated funding information, WQCS reported. Clearpath has been meeting with city staff weekly over Microsoft Teams. The city now wants more face-to-face talks, with Mayor John Cotugno as its liaison.

Not everyone on the council is relaxed about it. Councilmember Linda Moore told WQCS this may be "the last extension that I would be super comfortable with" without more financial certainty. Councilmember Aaron Vos pointed to the site's infrastructure challenges and said walking away from the project would be difficult and time-consuming.

Clearpath president Randy Lloyd defended his team's ability to deliver. He told WQCS the proposal includes off-site improvements to Indian River Boulevard and to access along 17th Street, which add significant cost.

Why a homeowner should care

• It is your land. Three Corners is owned by the City of Vero Beach, which means city residents own it together. What happens there shapes the riverfront for decades under a 99-year lease.
• Traffic and roads. The developer's proposal includes work on Indian River Boulevard and access along 17th Street. If you use the bridge or the boulevard, those changes would touch your daily drive.
• The sewer plant. The city's sewer plant sits on part of the property and is slated for demolition in 2028, so the site is tied to bigger city utility plans.
• It is an election issue. Vero News reported on October 16 that the Three Corners extensions came up as a key issue at a candidate forum for the three City Council seats on the November 3 ballot. Our October 17 article lists the candidates and voting dates.

What to do: how to follow Three Corners yourself

1. Mark December 8 on your calendar. That is the City Council meeting where both sides are expected to report back on the negotiations.
2. Read the agenda before each council meeting. Agendas and minutes are posted in the Agenda Center on covb.org. The next City Council meeting on the city calendar is Tuesday, October 27.
3. Watch the meetings. The city's official channel, CTYVB-13, is linked from the covb.org home page.
4. Speak up if you want to. Council meetings are where residents can be heard. If you are not sure how public comment works at a given meeting, call City Hall at 772-978-5151.
5. Stick to the record. Read the city's own documents and the local reporting linked below, and skip the rumor mill on social media.

Three Corners has been talked about for a long time. December 8 is the next date when Vero Beach residents should hear whether the talks are getting close to a lease the council can vote on.