Living in Florida's Space Coast
Fowlers Plat
Fowlers Plat is a short run of custom houses on Fowler Drive, a left turn off Newfound Harbor Drive south of State Road 520. Lots are consistent at roughly 0.37 to 0.40 of an acre, which is large for this part of the island. Homes date from 1996 through 2017, three of the last four came with an in ground pool, and there is no association.
Fowlers Plat In Merritt Island, Florida
Fowler Drive is the whole of it. You head south on Newfound Harbor Drive from State Road 520, turn left onto Fowler, and the houses line up along both sides. Some listings and long time residents call the street Fowler Estates, which is the same place. Because there is only one street and it does not connect anywhere, the traffic is limited to residents, and the lots are wide enough that the street never feels tight.
The houses were built one at a time between 1996 and 2017, which is why they do not repeat. Living area runs 1,867 to 2,693 square feet with the middle near 2,194, in three and four bedroom plans with two to three baths and two to three car garages. Construction is stucco over block, mostly with shingle roofs, though there is a tile roof on one and a metal roof on another. Twelve foot ceilings, split plans, vaulted living areas and long paver driveways show up repeatedly.
Lot size is the quiet advantage. At roughly 0.37 to 0.40 of an acre, these parcels are two to three times the size of a typical Merritt Island subdivision lot from the same era. That is what makes room for the outdoor kitchens, in ground fire pits, outdoor showers, privacy fenced yards and saltwater pools that keep appearing on this street. Views are wooded or over your own pool deck rather than water, and the tree cover on several parcels is mature.
Utilities follow the south island pattern: public water with septic tank. Natural gas is available on the street, which is worth noting because much of Merritt Island is not served, and it changes what you can do with a range, a pool heater, a tankless water heater and a generator. There is no association, no dues, no architectural committee, no gate and no age restriction. County code is the only rulebook, since Merritt Island has no city government.
Pricing has covered $490,000 to $940,000 with the middle near $635,000 and about $290 a square foot. Homes have gone under contract in roughly 34 days and sellers have been settling near 94 percent of original asking, so there is modest room to work. Annual tax bills range from about $746 for a long homesteaded parcel up to $4,685, with the middle near $3,100. Take the low end as a warning rather than a promise, because a sale resets the assessed value.
Fowlers Plat At A Glance
Fowlers Plat at a glance, one street and some unusually large lots.
| Detail | What you get |
|---|---|
| Location | South Merritt Island, Fowler Drive off Newfound Harbor Drive south of State Road 520, ZIP 32952 |
| Built | 1996 to 2017, most homes around 2001 |
| Home size | 1,867 to 2,693 square feet, about 2,194 typical |
| Bedrooms | 3 to 4 |
| Bathrooms | 2 to 3 |
| Lot size | 0.37 to 0.40 acre, about 0.375 typical |
| Construction | Stucco over concrete block, shingle roofs with tile and metal exceptions, single story |
| Association | None. No dues, no board, no architectural review |
| Pools | In ground pools on three of the last four homes, including a saltwater pool |
| Outdoor features | Outdoor kitchens, in ground fire pit, outdoor shower, privacy fencing, paver drives |
| Waterfront | None. Views are wooded or over the pool deck |
| Garage | 2 to 3 bays, typically 2 or more |
| Utilities | Public water with septic tank, natural gas available |
| Streets | Fowler Drive, also referred to locally as Fowler Estates |
| Gated | No, and not age restricted |
| Time to contract | About 34 days, settling near 94 percent of original asking |
| Taxes | Roughly $746 to $4,685 a year, middle near $3,100 |
| Price range | $490,000 to $940,000, around $290 per square foot |
Fowlers Plat Details
Lots Two To Three Times The Norm
At about 0.375 of an acre, these parcels are far larger than what most Merritt Island subdivisions from the same years offer. That is the difference between a pool that fits and a pool deck that touches the fence on three sides.
Houses Built One At A Time
Construction ran from 1996 to 2017 with no single builder stamping the street. You get tile roofs next to shingle, twelve foot ceilings next to vaulted, and paver drives of different lengths. Nothing here looks like the house next door.
Natural Gas On The Street
Gas service is available here, which is not true across most of Merritt Island. That opens up a gas range, a gas pool heater, a tankless water heater and a standby generator without a propane tank buried in the yard.
Outdoor Living Already Built
Outdoor kitchens, an in ground fire pit, an outdoor shower and full privacy fencing turn up on these parcels. On a third of an acre those things fit without crowding the pool cage or the septic drainfield.
No Association To Answer To
There are no dues, no board, no design committee and no gate. Boat and trailer parking, fence styles and additions follow Brevard County code, which you can read in advance rather than negotiating with a volunteer committee.
Newer Systems Than The Neighbors
Nineties and two thousands construction means no cast iron drain lines and no aluminum branch wiring. Your inspection focus becomes roof age, air handler, pool equipment and the septic system, all of which are quotable before you close.
Homes For Sale In Fowlers Plat
Current availability on Fowler Drive. This is one street with a small number of houses, so turnover is limited and the ones that appear tend to be individual rather than interchangeable.
Fowlers Plat Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an HOA on Fowler Drive?
No. Fowlers Plat has no homeowners association, no dues and no architectural review. Brevard County code governs setbacks, fences, additions and accessory structures because Merritt Island is unincorporated and has no city government.
How large are the lots?
Roughly 0.37 to 0.40 of an acre and remarkably consistent from parcel to parcel. That is a large lot by Merritt Island standards and it is the main reason buyers seek out this street over the smaller subdivisions nearby.
Is Fowler Drive on city sewer?
No. Homes here use septic tanks with public water, which is standard for this part of south Merritt Island. During due diligence have the tank and drainfield located and inspected, confirm the permitted capacity for the bedroom count, and get the last service record from the seller.
Is natural gas available?
Yes, gas service reaches this street, which is unusual on Merritt Island. It supports a gas range, pool heat, tankless water heating and a standby generator, and it is a genuine differentiator when you compare this street against similar houses elsewhere on the island.
Do the homes have pools?
Most of them. Three of the last four properties to change hands had an in ground pool, one of them saltwater, and several also carry an outdoor kitchen or a fire pit. The lot size is what makes those additions practical here.
Are any of these homes waterfront?
No. There is no canal, river or lake frontage in this plat. What you get instead are wooded lots and pool views. Newfound Harbor and the Banana River are close by if boating access is what you are after.
How fast do homes sell here?
About 34 days to contract, with sellers settling near 94 percent of original asking. That is a normal pace with a reasonable amount of negotiating room, and it reflects a small street where each house is a little different from the last.
What are property taxes?
Annual bills have run from about $746 up to $4,685 with the middle around $3,100. The low figure belongs to a long homesteaded parcel with a capped assessment. Budget from the purchase price, because a sale resets the assessed value.
Fowler Drive, Merritt Island 32952
Fowlers Plat sits in the 32952 ZIP code in south Merritt Island, off Newfound Harbor Drive below State Road 520. From the causeway you head south on Newfound Harbor Drive, pass the earlier side streets, and turn left onto Fowler Drive. The street is short and the houses sit back on wide frontages, so it reads as more rural than the drive time to the retail corridor would suggest.
State Road 520 is a short run north and puts Cocoa Beach east across the Banana River and Cocoa, US 1 and Interstate 95 west. State Road 528 is further north for Port Canaveral, Kennedy Space Center and the roughly one hour drive to Orlando International Airport. Heading south instead, the Pineda Causeway crosses to the mainland at Interstate 95 exit 188 and east to State Road A1A. Groceries and restaurants sit along South Courtenay Parkway.
Near Fowlers Plat In Merritt Island
Considering Fowlers Plat?
A third of an acre with a pool, natural gas and no association is a specific combination, and Fowler Drive is one of the few places on the island that offers it. My partner Nichole and I can tell you which houses on this street have been updated, which septic systems have been serviced and what a seller is likely to accept. Call or text (321) 212-7676 and we will look at it together.
