Port St. Lucie Civic Center

Mayor Patricia Christensen called it the “beginning of a new era.”

Since its opening, though, the $25 million facility has had more success as a recreation center than as the economic anchor of a burgeoning “downtown” in a city built without one.

Its surrounding streets, with names such as Progress Lane and Main Street, are flanked by empty fields.

Its rental facilities have been used 180 times. Rental rates were cut in half late last month.

“The whole idea for this was to stimulate the development of a downtown and obviously the economy has had an effect on that,” said Chuck Proulx, the city’s parks and recreation director.
(more…)

PORT ST. LUCIE — Get pictures of your pet with Santa just before the holidays.

Santa will be available for photos from 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 20 at the Port St. Lucie Civic Center, just off U.S. 1 and Walton Road. Photos cost $7 each. Pets must be in carriers or on leashes.

~Photo courtesy of Gary Coronado, Post photographer

Port St. Lucie Civic Center

PORT ST. LUCIE — Tonight’s gala at the new Port St. Lucie Civic Center is now sold out, city officials said this week.

The gala, called “From Open Space to Endless Opportunities,” is just one of the festivities that was planned this week following the opening of the $25 million civic center at U.S. 1 and Walton Road in eastern Port St. Lucie.

The event, which is black-tie optional, is to honor those who had the vision to conceive of the civic center and implement its creation. It was paid for by sponsors. Tickets were $100 per person, and the event will be held at 6 p.m. tonight in the Emerald Ballroom.

Esther Wertheimer with her sculptures at a gallery opening several years ago.

Tony Arruza

The gallery, which will be unveiled at 6 p.m. today, will feature the talents of local and regional artists. Exhibitions will be held every six weeks, and each new exhibit will open with an early evening reception featuring music, food and beverages.

The first featured artists are Tony Arruza, a photographer, and Esther Wertheimer, a sculptor.

Port St. Lucie Civic Center

City officials opened today a $25 million civic center in the heart of eastern Port St. Lucie. The civic center, a grand building in warm tones of squash and buttercream, will serve as an anchor, they hope, to a greater downtown-style development to rival any in West Palm Beach or Fort Lauderdale.

“This is the beginning of a new era in our city’s history,” said Mayor Patricia Christensen.

The Port St. Lucie Civic Center, which sits at the intersection of U.S. 1 and Walton Road, is a 100,000-square-foot facility with a plaza for concerts and shows, an art gallery, an expansive lobby, a grand ballroom, a conference hall, a fitness center, full-court gymnasium, on-site catering and a cafe.

(more…)