Here in Florida, we’re fortunate to have a climate fairly conducive to open-air developments, yet they’ve come and gone in terms of development trends, specifically for retail.

Take for example the CocoWalk retail center in Coconut Grove. Originally built in 1990 as an outdoor lifestyle center, the space essentially fizzled out. There simply wasn’t enough foot traffic to keep the retail center sustainable. Rather, shoppers preferred to head over to Aventura with the larger, multi-level indoor shopping experience it offered.

Fast-forward to the present, and open-air is once again in demand. While this may be in part due to the pandemic, it is also a reflection of people’s changing habits and lifestyles.

Outdoor, mixed-use development is appealing because it offers accessibility to all the places we most frequent – home, work, restaurants and retail. A development center that offers it all helps create a seamless experience for people who live, work, or visit the space. It also helps anchor the community and create a gathering place for tourists and locals alike.

In the past couple of years, CocoWalk has undergone massive redevelopment efforts as it recommits itself as an open-air, mixed-use lifestyle center with space for office, retail, restaurants, and entertainment.

Open-air is back for business. Combining indoor and outdoor elements to create a shopping experience is what pulls consumers away from their phones, tablets, and computers and into stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues.

As you evaluate opportunities for expanding your mixed-use development projects, consider how you might incorporate open-air elements into your build. At Seacoast Construction, we can help you take your vision to the next level. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and discuss your project.