A Wave Of New Development Rolls Across The Gulf Coast
By Joni Williams, Condo Owner Magazine, February 1, 2014
Following two years of record-breaking tourism, the gulf coast is experiencing a surge of new development. Not the condo building boom that dominated the landscape in the 1990’s, but a new sort of economic wave bringing with it resort hotels, at least one major entertainment complex (with several others proposed) and a number of shopping center developments that condo owners visitors and local residents will enjoy in the months to come. Here’s a snapshot of what’s on the horizon:
Build It and They Will Shop
In Florida, an expansion to Panama City’s Pier Park North and a major addition to Destin Commons are slated to open later in 2014.
Pier Park North will host Dick’s Sporting Goods in addition to a number of other new retailers, and the Destin Commons’ addition will be anchored by an H&M store, the first in Northwest Florida, as well as Uncle Buck’s, the eatery and bowling concept from the Bass Pro organization.
Blue Collar Rolls Up Its Sleeves
In Alabama, a popular gulf coast shopping center will serve as a tie-in to the anticipated 520-acre Blue Collar Entertainment development in the City of Foley.
Backed by entertainers Jeff Foxworthy and “Larry the Cable Guy,” along with singer Tony Orlando, the entertainment complex will be located near Tanger Outlets, a popular, high traffic shopping center.
“This will be a very large development that ties into the Tanger Outlets—Tanger has done very well, they have more than 6 million visitors (per year),” said Jeff Rouzie, Foley’s director of economic development. “Part of the game plan is to have a trolley service in place to tie them together.”
Another part of the plan is a new connecting road that is being laid out. “The design for this road is about 85 percent complete,” Rouzie said. “We’ve spent a good bit of money on that design.”
But, the city considers the money well spent since it has plans of its own to build recreational parks on the site. However, the city’s involvement in the project is contingent on having at least one hotel on the grounds. “Our study showed that we need at least 250 to 350 rooms,” Rouzie said, explaining that the recreational facilities in particular necessitate nearby accommodations.
Though the brand isn’t yet being publicly revealed, at least one hotel has stepped up to the plate, according to Rouzie, with plans to provide 160 rooms along with break-out spaces and other amenities.
Because even more hoteliers have expressed interest in the project, including a letter of intent from an indoor/outdoor water park hotel, Rouzie said he’s confident the city’s contingency will be satisfied, allowing the project to go forth.
In addition to the hotels, the complex will eventually contain an amphitheater, retailers, restaurants, amusement rides and other venues, along with the city’s recreational parks.
Though nothing is set in stone at this point, the completion date projected for the city’s facilities and the first two hotels is late spring 2015, with the entertainment center possibly debuting as early as winter 2016. Once opened for business, the complex’s forecast calls for the creation of 1500 to 1800 jobs and $100 million in annual sales.
As for the entertainers, it’s expected they will have namesake eateries, much like Toby Keith’s “I Love This Bar and Grill” at The Wharf. However, Rouzie said, Blue Collar’s notoriety will be doing more than just lending out their names.
“They’re a little more involved,” Rouzie assured, noting that Tony Orlando is one of the principals involved in the deal. At the same time, the entertainers won’t just be business partners, as Rouzie confirmed, “They will perform here.”
Historic Ft. Walton Beach To Get New Landmark
It’s been a long time coming for The Landmark Center in Ft. Walton Beach, Fla. According to Realtor Ken Wright, who is one of the project’s owners, the nearly 50,000-square-foot project slated for Perry Ave. and U.S. Hwy. 98 has changed hands three times since 2006 and undergone various tweaks that now include the addition of a hotel along with planned condo lofts.
“The key was the parking garage,” said Wright. “And it took a few years to pave the way,” he said, referring to issues with the City of Ft. Walton Beach that eventually were ironed out. An official groundbreaking is anticipated for early spring.
The parking garage—the first of its kind in Ft. Walton’s historic area—is expected to go up quickly. “Most of it will be constructed offsite,” Wright explained, and will take about four weeks to complete onsite.
According to Wright, the extra parking is a must, not only because the area has limited spaces, but due to plans that call for a new restaurant, office spaces, a brand-name hotel and 38 loft-styled condo units, as well as the historic downtown’s first rooftop bar.
The hotel wasn’t part of the original plan but the project’s backers decided it was sorely needed in the area. After assessing the “best use” of the property, Wright said, they decided that instead of building only condos, “a hotel was better suited.”
“As far as hotels, we’re very underdeveloped in the Ft. Walton Beach area,” he said.
According to Wright, at least one big-brand hotelier has shown unabashed enthusiasm for signing onto the project, though Wright said that until the deal is finalized, the name won’t be revealed. Meanwhile, the condos are being sold in brisk fashion with deposits on slightly more than half of the 38 units.
“When we go to construction, we’ll go to hard contract,” Wright said. He also believes the scope of the new project will create “tremendous tax dollars for the city,” as well as a ripple effect on the surrounding community. “It will cause a renaissance of the downtown…it’s the shot in the arm that steam rolls,” he said. “We expect that it will create a tsunami of activities, and nearby shopkeepers will upgrade their properties.”
South Walton’s New Resort Hotel is a Pearl
Rosemary Beach (South Walton, Fla.) got its first beachfront hotel in 2013. The Pearl, a 55-room resort hotel, features private balconies, rainfall showers and complimentary WiFi, as well as the latest in contemporary amenities such as an iPad and a Keurig coffee maker in every room, along with Apple TV and Direct TV services.
The Pearl opened in August and has been going strong ever since, said Kelly Snyder of Wagstaff Worldwide Inc., the resort’s marketing firm. “The hotel’s occupancy is really strong,” she affirmed, noting that the “much anticipated” Havana Beach, The Pearl’s onsite, upscale restaurant, has been well received by locals and visitors alike.
True to its namesake, Havana Beach features whimsical photos of Cuba along with a warm, woodsy décor. Its menu is coastal yet eclectic, offering “Mama’s Chicken Biscuits” and “Shrimp ‘N Grits,” in an obvious nod to the South, alongside Cuban black beans, duck, seafood, and choice cuts of steak. Fittingly enough, one of the eatery’s specialty drinks is named for Ernest Hemingway, the 20th century American author known for his love of, and part-time residence in, the island country.
The Pearl is also home to the Sol Luna, with a rooftop bar and eats from a wood-burning oven, and the newest addition to the resort complex is the “Spa Pearl,” where pearls are actually used in many of the spa treatments.
Although it didn’t make its debut until November, part of the “off-season,” Snyder said the spa has been well-received just the same. “The spa is doing extremely well,” she said, emphasizing the word, “extremely.”
Henderson Beach Development Coming to Destin….Maybe
Just west of Rosemary Beach, plans are in the works to build a new resort at Henderson Beach in Destin that include a 170-room luxury hotel, restaurant and spa in addition to retailers. If zoning allows, the resort will eventually add a water park, convention center and residential units.
The project in its entirety isn’t a done deal as of yet, as much of it is pending zoning approval. “Tier I is currently under review,” said Hank Woolard, a planner with the City of Destin, referring to the part of the project that falls into this category. Woolard went on to explain that Tier I allows for commercial projects up to 50 feet and four stories high, which the new hotel is said to be in compliance with.
However, execution of the resort’s future expansion in-full calls for Tier III approval, zoning that allows for a greater height and number of rooms, and according to Woolard, if approved, the project must comply with “certain requirements,” which could lead to some tweaking or fine tuning of current plans outside of the Tier I portion of the project.
The development’s sought-after Tier III approval comes just as the city is in the process of amending its Tier III code, rendering it, as Woolard described, “more quantifiable and predictable.” It also gives the developers more options. He also pointed out the Henderson Beach project now may choose to continue to seek approval under the current code, or wait until a revised set of standards are in place, which is expected early in 2014 pending the city council’s approval in February.
Woolard explained that the date a development officially seeks approval determines which set of rules apply. As such, he said, it’s expected that the Henderson Beach project will seek approval under the proposed revised Tier III code. “If they want to follow through with Tier III approval,” he said, “they’ll probably want to apply under the updated standards.”
Parton’s Project in Destin Remains A Mystery
With ties to the legendary country superstar Dolly Parton, it’s arguably one of the most talked-about land deals in Destin, and also one of the most mysterious. Although it’s no secret that Parton’s affiliate company, World Choice Investment snagged four side-by-side properties between Commons Drive and U.S. Highway 98, development plans—if indeed there are any—have remained a mystery as Parton’s company remains mum on the subject.
World Choice Investments contact information proved to be that of Parton’s venture, the Dixie Stampede, in Tennessee, where calls were repeatedly ignored. Though willing to speak, local government officials had little information about the deal, citing a lack of recent activity.
Though located in Destin, the co-joined parcels actually fall under the jurisdiction of two governing municipalities. “Some of it is in Destin and some of it is in Okaloosa County,” Woolard said, adding that the city of Destin will “let Okaloosa take the lead.”
Okaloosa County officials confirmed that the property formerly occupied by a bank that fronts U.S. Highway 98 is under its jurisdiction, while recalling a meeting held last April where Parton’s business entourage bounced around the idea of hosting a “live show.”
“It wasn’t going to be a theater, it was going to be a live show, but I don’t know for sure if that’s going to happen,” said Okaloosa County Planner Marissa Martinez, recalling the discussion at the meeting and striking down rumors of a “theater” coming in.
“The developer mentioned that they wanted to open in May 2014,” Martinez said, but she confirmed there has been no activity regarding the property since, save for a demolition permit issued to remove the bank. The building, however, remains intact.
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