Rio Marine Village Has Been Given A Green Light!

The Martin County Commission recently gave unanimous approval to the town of Rio, Florida for the final site plans for the first two phases of Rio Marine Village and for the Preserve, which will turn 30 acres of land into a Rio Town Center. Phase 1 of Rio Marine Village will consist of 178 apartments over eight buildings, four townhomes in one building, work/live units across two buildings, a marina clubhouse, a pool, docks, and a public path and square. Phase two will consist of a retail building, two buildings for restaurants, one mixed use building, boat slips, and boat storage. The photograph on the left shows part of the area along the St. Lucie River, directly across the river from Stuart, Florida that will be redeveloped. And why is this a big deal? It is because behind that blue tarp used to be the location of a very popular restaurant called Jack Baker's Lobster Shanty, with the Pelicans Nest Marina directly in front of it.

Jack Baker's was a family favorite. Every time my sister Susan and I came down to Stuart to visit our mother Mary at her condo in Stuart, we would have dinner there. It was a wonderful setting with a great view of the marina and the St. Lucie River beyond, as seen in the photograph on the right that I took of Susan and my mother back in 1995. That restaurant would always have an "early bird special" until 5:00 P.M., and let me tell you, it was sometimes touch and go getting there and getting our order in before 5:00. But we always seemed to make it. Sadly, in 2004 Hurricane Frances, a category 2 storm, scored a direct hit on Stuart on September 5th. Three weeks later Hurricane Jeanne, a category 3, came ashore at the exact same spot as Frances, causing a lot of damage. Jack Baker's Lobster Shanty, the marina, and many other structures throughout the area were badly damaged. Jack Baker's and the marina never reopened, and the land they sat on has been vacant for 21 years. It took a long time for Rio Marine Village to be approved, but finally, construction will begin this coming spring. And about time. I'm pretty sure Jack Baker's won't be back, but hopefully a place just as nice will take its place.