Two big luxury apartment complexes near Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital will come online this summer, with residents moving into Verity in July and into The Vivien in August.

When complete, the new communities will provide housing for more than 1,100 people in 465 apartments, with hospital employees and people downsizing from the island forming major contingents.

“We saw a burst of activity as people headed back north,” said Tom Cavanaugh, developer of the ultraluxe Vivien complex on Indian River Boulevard, just south of 41st Street.

“Our leasing office won’t open for a couple of weeks, but people have found us by word of mouth and said, ‘I want this unit and here is my money. See you in the fall.’ They want an apartment to come back to.”

The Vivien will bring to market 189 apartments and townhouses with lease rates from $2,280 a month for a 792-square-foot one-bedroom, up to $4,874 for sprawling 3-bed/3-bath, 2,000+-square-foot apartments with soaker tubs and offices.

A limited number of 3-level townhomes will be offered for $6,599 per month, with prices subject to change.

“We are offering much bigger and more luxurious units than Vero has seen before,” said Cavanaugh, president of PAC Land Development. “They are spectacular apartments with every gadget known to man, including high-end appliances and waterfall islands in the kitchens with the most expensive, vein-matched quartz countertops.”

When apartment lease rates pushing $5,000 were announced last year, there was some skepticism in the real estate community about whether that would be too rich for Vero’s blood, but Cavanaugh told Vero Beach 32963 that the larger units have been the most popular during the word-of-mouth leasing phase.

“What Tom is building is an excellent fit for our market,” said commercial real estate broker Keith Kite, who was Cavanaugh’s broker when he bought the project site in 2022. “It’s a product that doesn’t exist in Vero Beach and really fills a void.”

Besides islanders who have cashed out of their 32963 houses and are ready to ditch the hassles of home ownership, Kite expects professional singles and couples who work at Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital and in other medical offices on 37th Street to be another group of tenants.

The complex will include private garages and carports, and a huge clubhouse with separate yoga and spin rooms, a game room, golf simulator, spa and steam room.

Outside in a sheltered, lakefront courtyard will be pickleball courts, lounging areas and “a resort-style heated saltwater swimming pool,” according to PAC Land.

“We also have air-conditioned storage space – up to 10 feet by 30 feet, for people who are downsizing out of larger homes and have furniture or family heirlooms they want to hang onto,” said Cavanaugh, who was down from his Winter Park headquarters to check on the project.

Cavanaugh said his whole leasing staff will be coming down to Vero in the next week or two, when the onsite leasing center opens.

“We will be ramping up our marketing efforts and plan to deliver the first 40 apartments by Aug. 15,” he said. “After that, new units will be released monthly until completion, baring significant rain delays.”

Since 1985, PAC Land has developed more than $1.5 billion worth of luxury apartments, specializing in high-end projects in quaint Florida towns, according to Cavanaugh. He said he plans to keep the leased-up Vivien in his property portfolio. The community will be managed by Pegasus Residential, a company that has been managing PAC Land’s properties for 20 years.

“It is an excellent company with good quality people who understand luxury living and customer service,” Cavanaugh said. “We have tremendous interest from up north, from people looking to retire in Florida, and I’ve noticed as I get older myself, I get a little needier, so customer service will be paramount at The Vivien.”

Less than 1,000 feet west of The Vivien, on 11th Street, a stone’s throw from the hospital, the 276-unit Verity development will welcome its first residents in July, according to property manager Darlene Gagnon, opening in phases as buildings get certificates of occupancy, same as Cavanaugh’s project.

The leasing center was slated to open this week, but 24 units have already been snapped up, most by people working at the hospital or adjacent medical offices.

Though not quite as upscale and island centric as The Vivien, Verity also offers a step up in luxury compared to older Vero Beach apartments.

“The 18-acre community will offer one-, two- and three-bedroom luxury apartment homes featuring designer interiors, quartz countertops, stainless steel and energy-efficient appliances and full-size washers and dryers,” according to the project website.

There’s a cool-looking clubhouse with an elegant oval swimming pool and pickleball courts. Also a social lounge, 24/7 fully equipped fitness center and dog park.

Rent starts at $1,970 per month for a one-bedroom apartment and goes up to $3,055 for a 1,369-square foot 3-bed/2-bath unit. Gagnon said 2-bed/2-bath units have been the most popular so far.

Developed and built by Thompson Thrift, a massive real estate development company that does its own construction, the project took shape quickly after groundbreaking last year, with eight large residential buildings along with 10 or 12 other buildings that include the clubhouse, leasing office and garages.

“It is wonderful to see all the new construction in this area, providing new homes for people close to the beach and the hospital,” Gagnon said.

Though luxurious, the least expensive Verity units get into workforce housing territory and Quail Valley general manager Kevin Given has toured the complex with his employees’ housing needs in mind.

Quail is building a large racquet and lawn sport complex a block from Verity and Gagnon said she gave Given “a VIP hard-hat tour” to familiarize him with the community.