Crystal River's 579 Development Sees Another Extension

The Crystal River City Council has granted another extension to the developer of the Crystal Square Shopping Plaza, commonly referred to as 579, located on U.S. 19 in Crystal River, Citrus County, Florida. The dilapidated structure, which has been a source of contention for years, was supposed to be renovated and restored to its former glory, but the developer has yet to make significant progress.

The city has shown patience, but the situation has been ongoing for many years, with traffic estimates ranging between 20,000 and 45,000 vehicles daily passing through the area. The city’s leadership has done everything possible to bring this disaster to a positive resolution, with many agreements and failed promises on the part of the property owners. A modern, fully operational commercial center could have potentially brought in additional property and sales tax revenues to the city, a loss the city will never realize at this point.

The city went through all legal hoops and got court approval to take action against the past and current owners. Despite numerous failed promises, the city continues to try for a positive resolution. The situation has hurt the city’s image and possibly discouraged other development, projecting the city as dying, uninteresting, and a poor candidate for investments.

For local residents who have to look at the structure daily, it is far beyond an eyesore. The city’s patience has been tested, and it remains to be seen what the future holds for the 579 development.

Originally reported by Citrus County Chronicle – Crystal River

Sources: Citrus County Chronicle – Crystal River