Master Plan Concepts Presented for Historic St. Anastasia Site

Cotleur & Hearing was tasked by the Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency (FPRA) to prepare conceptual master plans for the Old St. Anastasia School for the continued rehabilitation of the historic school building and the 3.5-acre property. Following a recent exterior restoration project completed by the FPRA in phase I, the current project represents the latest phase of the adaptive reuse project aimed at breathing life back into one of the areas influential historic sites intended to anchor the Peacock Arts District.

Cotleur & Hearing’s design team prepared 3 unique conceptual master plans (included below) that focus on the enhancement of the school building and the improvement of the surrounding site exploring alternative spatial arrangements. The concepts focused on varying levels of improvement and redevelopment, implementing the initial feedback collected during a community survey that garnered almost 500 responses from City residents. The St. Anastasia property presents a unique opportunity to celebrate the historic building, enhance commercial opportunities, accommodate new outdoor public spaces, improve circulation, and introduce community-oriented site features centered on a mix of visual, performance, and musical arts.

Cotleur & Hearing’s staff recently participated in a community engagement workshop to present the 3 master plans. These concepts were developed to encourage dialogue and give residents the opportunity to review the potential options, provide feedback, and vote for their favorite options.

C&H’s Aaron Wilbur, Anna Erickson, Maegan Mikkelson, and Hayden Bertone attended the Open House with REG Architect’s Brian Laura and Drew Dell Bovi and FPRA PM Sara Delgado and Director Shyanne Harnage. The session allowed the team to hear directly from the residents, stakeholders, and city representatives regarding desired site uses, accessibility needs, safety considerations, and the types of site amenities that would best support everyday community activity.

Input gathered during the session will inform the continued refinement of the master plans, helping ensure that future design recommendations respond to both the physical constraints of the property and the lived experience of the surrounding community. Attendees were amazed by the quality and creativity of the master plans, a true testament to the talent of the C&H team!