After years of calling for a new vision and plan for the South Federal Highway corridor, residents of the southeastern gateway to Delray are starting to see lots of activity.

All four corners at Linton Boulevard and U.S. 1 have significant developments planned.

Consider:

• Delray Plaza, long the anchor of the area is rumored to be adding an LA Fitness. Some residents are concerned about losing the Regal 18, for 20 years the go-to place to see a movie in Delray.
• On the southwest corner, a new SunTrust Bank and Chick-Fil-A have been approved. The SunTrust will be constructed in what is now the parking lot of the existing SunTrust bank. Chick-Fil-A will occupy the site where the bank currently sits.
• Nearby Linton Towers has been purchased by a partnership controlled by CDS International Holdings, owner of Atlantic Plaza downtown.
• A much anticipatedTrader Joe’s is the lead tenant for Delray Place  on the southeast corner.
• On the northeast corner, construction is underway on a new Fresh Market. A new Mexican restaurant is also planned. Also on the northeast corner, a new Chase Bank (on an outparcel of the Old Harbour Plaza) is planned. The bank will be 3,550 feet with a two-lane drive thru.

Meanwhile, other key parcels along South Federal Highway are undergoing renovation projects.

Ed Morse Cadillac—construction is underway on a new 2,180 square foot body shop. A used card building will be removed to allow for a reconfiguration of a parking lot.

Delray Honda—the owner of the dealership is acquiring commercial property on the west side of South Federal Highway just north of the current location to build a new state of the art facility.

A new Wal-Mart is being built in a shopping plaza on the south end of the corridor in an existing shopping center.

And Out of Denmark, a well-known Delray restaurant, that has been on hiatus for a number of years is coming back to the corridor.

Still, a couple of sore spots remain. The leadership of  the nearby Tropic Isle Civic Association recently met with city planners and economic development officials to urge that the city clean up some properties including an old dealership and a former hookah lounge which burned down.

The association is asking that the properties either be cleaned up or demolished.

The lounge was subsequently demolished.

The group also wants increased landscaping in the medians, compliance with landscape codes from commercial properties and better signage.

The neighborhood has also informed the city of what they would like to see in the area.

Desired uses include:

• Restaurants, high end national chains
• Indoor amusement and recreation facilities
• High end car dealerships
• Hotels
• Office buildings, if the ground floor is retail, food service or a commercial use.
• Movie theater
• Walk in medical clinic
• Mixed-use multi-family projects with retail/commercial on the first floor
• Businesses that support car dealerships

Uses that would not be favored include:

• Any 24-hour businesses
• Pawnshops, astrologists, fortune tellers
• Adult entertainment, including gambling or hookah businesses
• Flea markets
• Big box retail over 50,000 square feet