Eustis City Confirms Second Bid for Community Center Property

Residents of Eustis face a new development in the ongoing debate over the future of the Eustis Community Center. City officials confirmed on Tuesday that a second redevelopment proposal has been submitted for the property. This comes as the city moves to change the land-use designation for the site at 601 Northshore Drive.

The City of Eustis stated in a written response that one additional proposal was received before the October 23 deadline. City staff is currently reviewing that document. The city now holds two proposals for the waterfront property: the original concept and this new submission.

City officials are also pursuing an amendment to the Future Land Use Map. The current designation for the property is Public Institution. The proposed change is to Commercial Business District. This shift would expand the types and intensity of development the city could consider on the parcel. The amendment does not select a developer or approve a specific project.

The original proposal, known as the Aquilo Waterfront District, was presented by AQ Mixed Use Lake Eustis, LLC. The concept is a mixed-use development estimated at $70 million in private investment. It includes a boutique hotel, residential units, restaurants, and commercial space. The city authorized staff to begin discussions with this team in August, but no sale has been approved.

The land-use change is being pursued as part of the Downtown Master Plan adopted in 2025. That plan identifies the Community Center property as a catalyst site for redevelopment. Officials said the amendment establishes a planning framework for future possibilities. It is not dependent on the Aquilo proposal being selected.

Local residents are watching the process closely. Gail Isaac-Thomas, a lifelong resident, stands near a yellow public hearing sign outside the building. She told News 6 that the sign signals a potential loss of the facility. “That’s a takeaway sign. That’s how I read it,” Isaac-Thomas said. She argued that if the city wants to replace the center, it must build a replacement first.

Lisa Graves, another resident, said the center brings people together. She pointed to weddings, dances, and meetings held at the facility over the years. For many residents, the building represents a public gathering space that has served the community for generations. They are concerned that the land-use change moves the property closer to commercial redevelopment.

Public hearings are scheduled for November 5 at Eustis City Hall on 10 N. Grove Street. The Local Planning Agency will meet at 4 p.m., followed by the City Commission at 6 p.m. The commission will consider the land-use amendment on first reading only. It cannot receive final adoption at that meeting. A second reading and other approvals are still required.

City officials emphasized that the November 5 hearings will not determine the final fate of the Community Center. No property sale has been approved, and no developer has been selected. Any eventual sale would require City Commission approval of a contract at a public meeting. The city stated that the facility remains open and is accepting reservations.

The Community Center hosted 179 events last year. The city’s five-year Capital Improvement Plan identifies approximately $700,000 in required maintenance work for the building. If redevelopment moves forward, the city must address what happens to public functions and waterfront access. Currently, no legal terms govern those arrangements because no agreement has been reached.