FORT PIERCE — Brightline is eyeing downtown waterfront property for a rail station hotel, residential and retail development, and parking, said City Manager Nick Mimms.

The H.D. King site is "a desirable location," Mimms told the City Commission in a memo Tuesday, because of its "proximity to a walkable downtown, beautiful waterfront and multi-modal transportation."

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Brightline on Aug. 27 asked officials in Fort Pierce, Sebastian, Stuart and Vero Beach to submit proposals within 60 days showing viable station locations and community support.

A Fort Pierce station could be located across from the main H.D. King site, on the west side of Second Street on land now used for overflow parking, Mimms told the commission Tuesday.

Vero Beach officials already have said they're uninterested in a Brightline station, Sebastian is undecided and Stuart continues its opposition to Brightline service altogether.

Brightline spokeswoman Ali Soule on Wednesday declined to discuss details of any talks with Fort Pierce officials and of any plans Brightline and its parent company, All Aboard Florida, have for the H.D. King property.

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In Miami, Brightline's MiamiCentral development includes office towers and high-rise apartments. In Fort Lauderdale, plans were announced in July for a 14-story office tower near the station. And in West Palm Beach, a 24-story apartment tower is being built as part of the station project.

The Fort Pierce City Commission took no vote but gave consensus for Mimms to submit a proposal.

“Let them know that we are interested but we won’t be easy,” Mayor Linda Hudson said.

Fort Pierce will seek support for a local station from Port St. Lucie and St. Lucie County officials; the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County; and the Tourism Development Council of St. Lucie County, Mimms said.

Fort Pierce's stance on Brightline — in comparison to that of its neighbors — may benefit the city, Commissioner Tom Perona said. The city never joined Indian River and Martin counties in their ongoing effort to stop the expansion of Brightline through the Treasure Coast.

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“We have always kept the door open that a station could come to Fort Pierce,” Perona said after Tuesday's meeting. “I think that is in the city’s favor.”

For the last decade, Fort Pierce has been attempting to redevelop the 8-acre H.D. King site into a mixed-use project with residential, retail, dining, a hotel and parking.

The commission in May rejected two development proposals, saying both missed the mark by not offering a high-end hotel and residential units similar to the Renaissance condo complex downtown.

Despite interest from Brightline, the city will continue seeking developers for the King site, Mimms said.

“There is no stopping. We will pursue both options until we find the best redevelopment for the H.D. King property that meets what the citizens of Fort Pierce want for their downtown,” Mimms said.

The city is advertising for proposals and hopes to develop a short list by January and have all bids in by April.

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Brightline already is running service between Miami and West Palm Beach. The railroad has obtained all the necessary government approvals for its phase 2 — from West Palm Beach, through the Treasure Coast and on to Orlando International Airport.

That phase 2 construction should begin within months, Brightline President Patrick Goddard told TCPalm in an interview last month, and rail service to Orlando is expected to begin in early 2021.

Brightline already has asked the state to extend its service from Orlando to Tampa.