Martin County's Mall Redevelopment Study Stirs Debate Over Treasure Coast Square's Future

Ron Gustafson has watched water leak into his MVP Sport Cards shop inside Treasure Coast Square Mall and kept selling anyway — because, as he puts it, the model works. But he doesn't pretend the building is fine.

"I think it's in neglect," Gustafson said. "I think with some effort and the right management, this could turn around."

That tension — a mall still drawing customers yet showing signs of wear — sits at the center of a quiet debate now circulating in Martin County after public records confirmed the county commissioned a 2023 planning study that explored dramatic changes to the Treasure Coast Square site, including apartments, an amphitheater and open-air green space.

Martin County Administrator Don Donaldson said the exercise was never meant to set policy. "The county's 2023 study was a long-term planning exercise intended to explore a range of potential scenarios, not a proposed or approved redevelopment plan," Donaldson said in a statement. The study was never presented to the Martin County Board of County Commissioners, according to public documents.

Simon Property Group, which owns and operates Treasure Coast Square, pushed back on any suggestion that a transformation is imminent. "Treasure Coast Square is thriving and is more than 97% leased," Simon said in a statement to the Sentinel. "There is no large-scale redevelopment planned."

Simon added it had no involvement in developing or approving the county's study.

Shoppers interviewed at the mall this week expressed cautious support for upgrades but drew a clear line at housing. "It'd be nice to have a nicer mall to go to," said Kimberly Grucza. "I don't like the idea of apartments, just because we already have so many."

Liz Permar was more open-ended. "I think a facelift is good," she said.

For tenants like Jessica Henry, owner of Plantitude and Flame, the stakes are more direct. She supports an open-concept redesign — on one condition. "I hope if it goes through, they do more open-concept stores where we're still able to have our business," Henry said.

The mall represents an important economic driver for Martin County, serving the community with jobs, retail and essential services, Donaldson said. He added that any future redevelopment discussions would require "extensive collaboration with Simon, community stakeholders and local leaders."

No vote, public hearing or formal proposal is currently scheduled before the Martin County Board of County Commissioners, officials said.

This article was generated with AI assistance using publicly available information. It was reviewed and approved by a human editor before publication. TC Sentinel uses AI writing tools in accordance with FTC guidelines.