ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – The results of a community survey for the future of the World Golf Village are in and will help St. Johns County Commissioners in the next steps of the property’s redevelopment process.
Commissioners asked for the community’s feedback on what to do with the World Golf Village (WGV) property in September 2023.
The county chose to purchase 37 acres of the property for $5.5 million in April over selling it to a private company so that city leaders would have control over what happens to the site.
The buildings considered for redevelopment include the former World Gold Hall of Fame, a 64,113 square foot multi-purpose building, and the World Golf Hall of Fame IMAX Theater, a 17,865 square foot movie theater. The county said the movie theater equipment will stay in the building.
The county said in a proposed agreement that the departure of the World Golf Hall of Fame was a “turning point” for the community, opening the door for the opportunity to reshape the development of the property that aligns with the community’s vision and needs.
In the survey, just over half the participants agreed with SJC maintaining ownership while 14% opposed the county’s ownership.
Nearly 5,000 people participated in the survey with over 90% representing St. Johns County residents.
The survey results were included in a presentation that will be discussed at Tuesday’s commissioner’s meeting.
RELATED: St. Johns County buys 37 acres of World Golf Village property for $5.5 million
Residents said the IMAX theater and dining were the top two reasons for visiting the WGV.
Over 70% of participants said they appreciated the scenery and ambiance when asked about their experience at the WGV. And 41% said they liked the convenience and accessibility of the property.
When it comes to the future of the site, 63% wanted to keep the IMAX theater open, while 73% said the World Golf Hall of Fame building should be converted for other purposes. Another 59% said 21 World Golf Place (where the PGA Tour productions were housed) should be turned into a professional or corporate space.
The county views the WGV property as a place with great potential to be a moneymaker for SJC.
“Given the location of the WGV and distance from International Golf Parkway, the redevelopment of 1 World Golf Place and 21 World Golf Place should focus on creating a destination attraction, which would include a combination of businesses, all aimed at serving a high-end clientele. The intention is to create a critical mass of entertainment, retail, and restaurants venues sufficient to draw visitors into the WGV and provide an enticing mix of activities for residents. Redevelopment of this area should be strategically oriented towards revenue generation and expanding the economic base for the County,” the county said in the presentation.
The county said the commission should begin the process of seeking bids from qualified developers and conduct a financial feasibility study on the best future use of the WGV.
Read the entire “World Golf Village Properties: Long-Term Vision” survey results below: