Living in Florida's Space Coast
The Groves
The Groves is a tiny pocket of custom houses on Gator Drive and Dundee Drive, the first turn east off North Courtenay Parkway once you cross the barge canal heading north. The homes date from 2002 to 2004, they sit on lots from half an acre to nearly an acre and a half, and there is no association, no dues and no architectural review.
The Groves In Merritt Island, Florida
Cross the Canaveral Barge Canal northbound on State Road 3 and Gator Drive is the turn on the right. Follow it east and it becomes Dundee Drive. That is the extent of the plat, a handful of custom homes on old grove ground in the 32953 ZIP code. You are on North Merritt Island the moment you clear the bridge, which changes the density, the lot sizes and the pace of the streets immediately.
Lot size is the headline. Parcels here run from 0.53 acres up to 1.44 acres, and the largest one is genuinely private, with woods on more than one boundary. That is estate-scale ground within four minutes of a major highway interchange, which is an unusual combination anywhere in Brevard County. Views out the back are trees rather than a neighbor's screen cage, and one property fronts a non-navigational canal.
The houses are early 2000s custom builds, all single story, all under shingle roofs. Living area runs 1,599 to 2,892 square feet with 2,742 typical, three to five bedrooms, two or three baths, and two or three garage bays. Finishes reflect the era and the budget: formal dining rooms, granite, forty two inch cabinetry, butler's pantries, breakfast nooks. Two homes have an in-ground pool, one of them gas heated with a waterfall and an outdoor shower.
There is no homeowners association here, no dues and no covenant enforcement. Sewer is septic on all three properties and water is public, which is normal for this side of the barge canal. Storm shutters rather than impact glass are the common protection. Since Merritt Island is unincorporated, Brevard County code enforcement is the only authority over property standards, and boats and recreational vehicles park at the house.
Pricing here has been softer than the North Merritt Island average. The range runs $436,000 to $790,000 with $687,000 in the middle, or roughly $273 a square foot. Homes take about eleven weeks to go under contract, and sellers have generally settled near ninety percent of their original asking number. In a neighborhood this small a single motivated seller sets the tone, so timing matters more than usual.
The Groves At A Glance
The Groves, in brief.
| Detail | What you get |
|---|---|
| Detail | Value |
| Location | Gator Drive and Dundee Drive off North Courtenay Parkway, North Merritt Island, FL 32953 |
| Built | 2002 to 2004, median 2004 |
| Home size | 1,599 to 2,892 square feet, median 2,742 |
| Bedrooms | 3 to 5, median 4 |
| Bathrooms | 2 to 3, median 3 |
| Lot size | 0.53 to 1.44 acres, median 0.57 |
| Construction | Stucco with a brick accent on one home, shingle roof, all single story |
| Association | None. No dues, no covenants, no architectural review |
| Utilities | Public water, septic sewer |
| Pools | 2 homes, one gas heated with a waterfall |
| Waterfront | One home on a non-navigational canal. No boat access from the lots |
| Storm protection | Storm shutters on two homes |
| Garage | 2 to 3 spaces, 3 typical |
| Price range | $436,000 to $790,000, median $687,000 |
| Price per square foot | About $273 |
| Streets | Gator Drive, Dundee Drive |
| Age restricted | No |
The Groves Details
An Acre And A Half Is Possible Here
The largest parcel in the neighborhood runs 1.44 acres. On an island where a fifth of an acre is the norm, that is a different category of property entirely, with room for a shop, a coach, a garden and still a buffer of trees.
First Turn North Of The Bridge
Gator Drive comes up almost immediately after the barge canal crossing. That puts State Road 528 about four minutes away and Kennedy Space Center fifteen, while still placing you in the low density half of the island.
Custom, Not Production
Three houses, three different footprints. These went up lot by lot in the early 2000s with formal spaces, granite, tall cabinetry and butler's pantries. Compare them on floor plan rather than on a builder model name, because there is no model line.
No Association At All
Nothing to pay and nothing to comply with. Park what you want where you want. The corresponding risk is that your neighbor has the same latitude, so drive the street at different times before you commit.
Trees Instead Of Neighbors
Two of the three homes look out at woods. Privacy of that kind is the reason people buy on this side of the barge canal, and it is worth confirming which adjoining parcels are actually protected from future clearing.
Softer Pricing Than The North Island Average
Sellers here have typically settled near ninety percent of the original asking number after about eleven weeks. In a three home neighborhood, that pattern means a prepared buyer has real leverage when something does come up.
Homes For Sale In The Groves
Whatever is currently available in The Groves is shown here. With three houses in the plat, months can pass between opportunities.
The Groves Frequently Asked Questions
Where is The Groves in Merritt Island?
On North Merritt Island in the 32953 ZIP code. Take State Road 3, North Courtenay Parkway, north over the Canaveral Barge Canal, and Gator Drive is the first turn to the east. Gator becomes Dundee Drive inside the neighborhood.
Is there an HOA in The Groves?
No. There is no homeowners association, no dues, no covenants and no architectural review. Brevard County code enforcement is the only oversight because Merritt Island is unincorporated.
How large are the lots?
From 0.53 acres to 1.44 acres, with 0.57 acres typical. These are grove-scale parcels rather than subdivision lots, which is what separates The Groves from most of the island.
When were the homes built?
Between 2002 and 2004, with 2004 the most common year. All are single story custom builds under shingle roofs, which puts them under the post 2001 Florida Building Code.
Is there boat access from The Groves?
No. One property fronts a non-navigational canal, but there is no navigable frontage and no community ramp. Public ramps at Kiwanis Island and Kelly Park East are the practical options, and both are a short drive south.
What do homes cost here?
From about $436,000 to $790,000, with the middle near $687,000 and roughly $273 a square foot. Lot size accounts for a large share of the difference between properties.
Are homes on septic?
Yes, all of them, with public water. That is standard north of the barge canal. Locate the tank and inspect the drainfield during due diligence, particularly on the larger lots where the system may sit well away from the house.
How do I check flood zone and elevation?
Call Brevard County Public Works, Floodplain Administration, at (321) 617-7340. That office holds the county's official FEMA flood map panels and issues written flood zone determinations and copies of elevation certificates by parcel.
Gator Drive and Dundee Drive, Merritt Island 32953
From State Road 528 take the Courtenay Parkway exit north. You cross the Canaveral Barge Canal within a mile, and Gator Drive appears on the right shortly after. Follow Gator east and the road becomes Dundee Drive, ending among the homes. The barge canal is the dividing line on Merritt Island, and everything about the character changes once you are on the north side of it.
Access is better than the setting suggests. The Beachline interchange is roughly four minutes back down Courtenay Parkway, which puts Orlando International Airport around fifty minutes west. Kennedy Space Center is fifteen to twenty minutes north, Port Canaveral about twenty five, and Cocoa Beach around thirty by way of State Road 528 or the 520 causeway. Merritt Square and the hospital sit ten minutes south.
Near The Groves In Merritt Island
Considering The Groves?
Acre-scale lots this close to the Beachline do not come up often, and in a three home neighborhood you cannot wait for one to appear on its own. My partner Nichole and I approach owners directly when a buyer's requirements are clear enough to be worth the call. Reach us at (321) 212-7676 and tell us what you are actually after.
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