Dragon Point conceptual design plans are taking shape
PALM BAY — On architects' computer monitors, 3-D models of a modern Dragon Point mansion and Rojak, a menacing 60-foot, two-headed dragon, continue taking shape for construction next year as one of America's most unique homesites.
Don Facciobene is the Palm Bay general contractor who bought the long-abandoned 0.86-acre estate in mid-January for $800,000. Today, he is pursuing permits and tweaking designs for his future waterfront residence at the southernmost tip of Merritt Island.
“The environmental side of it is nearly permitted,” Facciobene said, spreading a Dragon Point grading-drainage site plan across his office desk.
“Now, we’re working on the civil side: the particulars regarding rainfall storage on-site; the size and shapes of retaining walls and seawalls; pervious surfaces; impervious surfaces,” Facciobene said.
“There’s something that happens on this project every day. We’ve been working on it for 11 months,” he said. “We’ve done some very complicated commercial projects. But as far as a residential project, this is the most complex we’ve done.”
Like a narrow knife splitting the Indian and Banana rivers, Dragon Point's geography defies modern zoning and land-development regulations.
Before building, Facciobene said he must secure permits for seawalls, stormwater management, the septic system and other infrastructure from seven regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Johns River Water Management District, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Brevard County Natural Resources and Florida Department of Health.
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Facciobene said six people in his company are working on Dragon Point, bolstered by a trio of consulting engineering firms. Computer modeling of the home started in early March and is refined weekly, with tweaks continuing on the interior floor plan.
He hopes to wrap up infrastructure permitting by January or February, then finish architectural design work and obtain a building permit by April.
Construction should last 18 to 20 months. If all goes well, he hopes Dragon Point will be finished by the fourth quarter of 2017.
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“This is such a special, unique property. It’s not like you or I permitting a house. It’s taking that much time," said Jim McMillan, Facciobene's business development executive. McMillan formerly worked as Palm Bay's assistant to the city manager for economic and business development.
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McMillan, a Micco artist, designed Rojak as a "Universal/Disney-type dragon" that will face a life-sized statue of a Ais Indian warrior clutching a torch. The two-headed reptilian beast will feature theatrical fire-breathing displays, glowing eyes and remote-controlled LED lighting. For example, McMillan said Rojak may glow red, white and blue on the Fourth of July.
Rojak will replace his mythical mother, Annie, the quirky nautical landmark that guarded the point from 1971-2002 before collapsing during a storm. The property is named Dragon Point on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration navigational charts.
Facciobene said Annie was built of wire mesh and plaster, so she lacked structural strength. Conversely, Rojak will be crafted atop a foundation and designed to withstand high winds.
“It’s similar to building an inverted pool. It’s basically reinforcing steel with wire mesh and ‘shotcrete,’ or concrete that’s blown onto a surface. And then it’s detailed with plaster. And then it’s painted,” he said.
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Overgrown vegetation cloaks much of Dragon Point today, and boaters at B-Pier at the Eau Gallie Yacht Club can see daylight through portions of the home's rotting ruins. Five "No Trespassing" signs are visible from the pier, as are the surviving shattered sea-foam green fragments of Annie.
Like Warren McFadden, who owned Dragon Point from 1981-2003, Facciobene plans to host community fundraisers at Dragon Point. He will install an elevator and "level" all ground-floor elevations to make the mansion accessible for special-needs guests — workers will raise the outdoor pool deck more than 2 feet.
“We are interested in helping special-needs children,” he said.
Fundraisers will benefit Promise in Brevard, Palm Bay East Little League and the Dragon Point-themed nonprofit Annie and Kids Arts and Education Foundation, among other groups. Don Facciobene Inc. is the general contractor for Promise in Brevard's $15.8 million residential campus for 126 special-needs adults near the Hammock Landing shopping complex in West Melbourne. A groundbreaking ceremony takes place Nov. 9.
In the meantime, McMillan continues tinkering with Rojak 3-D computer modeling and a merchandising strategy, including the website rojakpoint.com.
“Rojak is a special dragon. The undercurrent of that is, it’s more than a statue. It’s a legend. When we’re all gone, Rojak will remain," McMillan said.
Contact Neale at 321-242-3638, rneale@floridatoday.com or follow @RickNeale1 on Twitter
The Rojak legend
Annie the dragon had four hatchlings — Joy, Sunshine, Charity and Freedom — who were added alongside the iconic statue in 1982 by Miami "warlock" artist Lewis VanDercar.
Unknown to the public, Annie's fifth hatchling, Rojak, was born with two heads. His mother hid him in a magical passage beneath the water's surface, fearing he might not be accepted because he was so different.