New Construction Projects in Merritt Island, Florida

Project 1: Cape Canaveral Hospital (Health First Replacement Campus)

• Developer: Health First
• Location: Merritt Island (directly across SR 520 from Merritt Square Mall)
• Type: Commercial / Healthcare
• Units/Size: 268,000 sq ft hospital + 92,000 sq ft medical office building + parking structure
• Status: Under Construction
• Expected Completion: Late 2026 / early 2027 (hospital opening mid-2027 or early 2027)
• Description: Major replacement hospital project including 120 private inpatient beds, 25 ER treatment rooms, 6 operating rooms, designed to Category 4 hurricane standards and elevated for storm surge. Includes associated medical office building and parking. Broke ground in 2024.[1]

Project 2: Fortenberry Apartments

• Developer: Woodfield Development
• Location: 555 Fortenberry Road, Merritt Island
• Type: Residential (Multifamily Apartments)
• Units/Size: 296 units across four-story buildings
• Status: Under Construction
• Expected Completion: Early 2027
• Description: Market-rate luxury apartment community with amenities including pool, 24-hour fitness center, and outdoor kitchens. First major multifamily project in the area in decades; construction progressing with exterior work underway as of early 2026.[2]

Project 3: Island Forest Preserve

• Developer: Maronda Homes
• Location: North Merritt Island (e.g., Moonrise Drive / 6105 Moonrise Dr area)
• Type: Residential (Single-Family Homes)
• Units/Size: Approximately 93 single-family homes planned (various 3-7 bed plans from ~2,000+ sq ft)
• Status: Under Construction / Active Sales (nearing completion/sold out in phases)
• Expected Completion: Ongoing through 2026+
• Description: Gated new construction community offering executive-style homes with options for upgrades, larger lots (~85 ft wide in some cases), and proximity to aerospace employers. Grand opening in 2023; homes actively being built and sold.[3]

Project 4: Egrets Reserve (Egret’s Reserve)

• Developer: Maronda Homes
• Location: North Merritt Island (e.g., Hebron Drive / Cornwall Drive area)
• Type: Residential (Single-Family Homes)
• Units/Size: Single-family homes (4-7 bed plans, up to ~4,767 sq ft)
• Status: Under Construction / Active (phases sold out)
• Expected Completion: Ongoing through 2026+
• Description: New single-family community emphasizing conservation, waterfront/conservation lots, oversized homesites, side-load garages, and metal roofing options in an established neighborhood setting.[4]

Notes: - A proposed 222-unit apartment complex (RangeWater/Merritt Bidco) was rejected by Brevard County Commission in 2026 and is not proceeding.[5] - Other mentions (e.g., EconoLodge site rezoning for multifamily, mall redevelopment concepts, public amphitheater at Veterans Memorial Park, and new Fire Station 40) exist but have limited verifiable details on full-scale new residential/commercial construction status or timelines as of September 2026. Public infrastructure projects like the amphitheater (completed late 2025) and fire station are underway but secondary to the above. - New home listings (e.g., via Homes of America or scattered builds) appear in local portals but lack distinct large-scale project names beyond the Maronda communities.

No additional significant verifiable projects meeting the criteria were identified.