Living in Florida's Space Coast
Pelican Creek Estates
Pelican Creek Estates is a compact pocket of 1960s ranch houses on the east side of central Merritt Island, entered from North Banana River Drive. Four of the five homes front navigable canal, most of it with no fixed bridge between the dock and the Banana River. There is no association. The streets are short, they dead end, and they are named for birds.
Pelican Creek Estates In Merritt Island, Florida
The neighborhood hangs off the east side of North Banana River Drive between State Road 520 and State Road 528, in the 32952 ZIP code. Yates Drive, Pelican Drive, Davis Drive, Richardson Road and Albatross Street are the whole of it, and three of those streets simply stop at the water. There is no loop and no cut-through, so the only cars on these streets belong to people who live here or are visiting someone who does.
Boat access is the entire proposition. Four of the five homes have canal frontage with a dock, and three of them are recorded with no fixed bridges between the seawall and the Banana River. That means air draft is not the constraint it is almost everywhere else on the island. A tower boat, a flybridge or a tall antenna that would never clear the Sykes Creek route runs straight out of here to open water.
From the Banana River you have two directions. North takes you to the Canaveral Barge Canal and then through the Canaveral Lock into Port Canaveral, which is free and takes twenty to thirty minutes to transit. South opens the wide part of the Banana River toward the sandbars. That combination, plus real seawalls and dock frontage of around seventy five feet, is why owners here hold onto these properties for a long time.
The houses themselves are modest and honest. Built between 1960 and 1967, ranch proportions, concrete block with stucco, shingle roofs, single story, two car garages. Living area runs 1,512 to 1,967 square feet with 1,739 in the middle, three or four bedrooms and two baths. Lots are 0.17 to 0.26 acres. Three homes have an in-ground pool. Public water and public sewer serve the neighborhood, which is not universal on Merritt Island.
Expect to pay for the water rather than the house. Price per square foot runs around $324, the highest figure of any comparable central island pocket, on homes that average under 1,800 square feet. The range is $390,000 to $724,000 with $490,000 in the middle. Homes take about eleven weeks to go under contract, because the buyer pool is specifically boat owners, and sellers have generally settled near 95 percent of the original number.
Pelican Creek Estates At A Glance
Pelican Creek Estates by the numbers.
| Detail | What you get |
|---|---|
| Detail | Value |
| Location | East off North Banana River Drive, central Merritt Island, FL 32952 |
| Built | 1960 to 1967, median 1963 |
| Home size | 1,512 to 1,967 square feet, median 1,739 |
| Bedrooms | 3 to 4, median 3 |
| Lot size | 0.17 to 0.26 acres, median 0.19 |
| Construction | Concrete block and stucco, shingle roof, single story ranch |
| Association | None. No dues, no covenants, no architectural review |
| Utilities | Public water, public sewer |
| Waterfront | 4 of 5 homes on navigable canal with Banana River access |
| Bridges | Three homes recorded with no fixed bridges to open water |
| Docks and seawalls | Private docks on 4 homes, seawalls on 3 |
| Pools | 3 homes with an in-ground pool |
| Garage | 2 spaces |
| Price range | $390,000 to $724,000, median $490,000 |
| Price per square foot | About $324 |
| Streets | Yates Drive, Pelican Drive, Davis Drive, Richardson Road, Albatross Street |
| Age restricted | No |
Pelican Creek Estates Details
Air Draft Is Not Your Problem Here
Most Merritt Island canal neighborhoods route boats under a bascule or a fixed span. Homes here run to the Banana River without a fixed bridge in the way, which is why owners with tall boats pay a premium to be on these streets.
Seventy Five Feet Of Frontage Is Typical
Canal frontage on the order of seventy five feet gives you room for a dock, a lift and a place to turn the boat around. Check the seawall condition and its cap, because these walls date from the original build in some cases.
Short Streets That Go Nowhere
Yates, Davis and Albatross end at water. Sidewalks run along parts of the neighborhood and mature landscaping shades the front yards. If quiet matters more to you than square footage, this layout delivers it.
Public Sewer, Not Septic
Both water and sewer are public here. Across much of Merritt Island you inherit a tank and a drainfield, so this removes an inspection item and a long term replacement cost from the equation.
Small Houses, Big Water Prices
At roughly $324 a square foot, you are paying for frontage rather than living area. Homes average under 1,800 square feet. Buyers who want a large house on the water should be looking further north on the island.
Groceries And Dinner Within Walking Distance
The stretch of North Banana River Drive between State Road 520 and State Road 528 has stores and restaurants close enough to reach on foot from parts of the neighborhood, which is rare for an island canal street.
Homes For Sale In Pelican Creek Estates
What is currently for sale in Pelican Creek Estates. Read the bridge and frontage details on each property first, because that is where the value sits.
Pelican Creek Estates Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Pelican Creek Estates?
On central Merritt Island in the 32952 ZIP code, east off North Banana River Drive between State Road 520 and State Road 528. Yates, Pelican, Davis, Richardson and Albatross make up the neighborhood, and several of them end at the canal.
Can I get a big boat out of Pelican Creek Estates?
In most cases yes. Four of the five homes front navigable canal and three carry a no fixed bridges designation to the Banana River. Verify the specific route from the specific dock, since not every lot on every street has the same clearance.
Is there an HOA?
No. There is no homeowners association, no dues and no covenants. Property standards fall to Brevard County code enforcement, since Merritt Island is unincorporated and has no city government of its own.
How do I reach the ocean from here?
North on the Banana River to the Canaveral Barge Canal, then through the Canaveral Lock into Port Canaveral. The lock was built in 1964, is the largest navigation lock in Florida, is free to use and takes roughly twenty to thirty minutes to transit.
What do homes cost in Pelican Creek Estates?
From about $390,000 to $724,000, with the middle near $490,000. That works out to roughly $324 a square foot, which reflects the water access rather than the size or age of the houses.
How old are these homes?
They were built between 1960 and 1967, with 1963 in the middle. Expect original block construction with updates layered on. Roof age, electrical panel, plumbing material and seawall condition are the four things to look at closely.
Do docks and seawalls need a permit?
Yes. Brevard County Planning and Development handles them as a Residential Marine Construction permit, with separate Natural Resources review for shoreline work and a survey less than 180 days old. Ask whether any existing structure was permitted.
Is the neighborhood in a flood zone?
Flood zone is determined parcel by parcel. Brevard County Public Works, Floodplain Administration, at (321) 617-7340 is the county's official repository for the FEMA flood map panels and issues written determinations and elevation certificates.
Yates and Pelican Drive off North Banana River Drive, Merritt Island 32952
From State Road 528, exit onto North Banana River Drive and run south roughly two to three miles. From State Road 520 you come north about a mile instead. Either way the turns east are Pelican Drive, Richardson Road, Davis Drive and Yates Drive, with Albatross Street tucked in among them. Each one runs a short distance and ends at the canal or the river.
The central island location is the practical draw. Cocoa Beach sits about twelve minutes to the east over the 520 causeway. Port Canaveral runs about twenty minutes north and Kennedy Space Center about twenty five. Kelly Park East and its four lane public ramp are a short drive up North Banana River Drive if you ever need to trailer. Orlando International Airport is roughly fifty five minutes west on the Beachline.
Near Pelican Creek Estates In Merritt Island
Considering Pelican Creek Estates?
Before you write an offer here, we should measure your boat against the actual route from the actual dock, and look hard at the seawall. My partner Nichole and I have been through these canals and know which lots turn a big hull comfortably and which ones do not. Call or text (321) 212-7676 and we will go look at the water together.
