Seaside...Welcome or Not

**elgordoboy** · 02-25-2008, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by WaltonGOP

Seaside is a community. 30-A is a county road. The roads in Seaside are privately owned and maintained. It sure seems it places the business owners in a position. They need the traffic to survive, yet those that live there do not want the traffic. Competing interests, I guess.

I am starting to think that quite a few people in south Walton really want to live in a gated community, yet they want to do so without the costs, thus proactive government code enforcement. More and more several of you are starting to come off as isolationists to me.

Evidenced by posts in this thread?

**Goddessgal** · 02-25-2008, 02:49 PM

Perhaps some of the problems with the lookie-loos (I love that term, BTW, Scooterbug!) is that there is not another alternative to enjoy the architecture and atmosphere. Seaside is very architecturally significant. I used to work in an architecture library and we had many slides of not only Seaside's public and private structures, but town-planning, etc. I wonder if paid outdoor walking tours (appropriate and well-done) could provide an outlet? Some of the neighborhood associations could get involved, and it would help pay in some small way for upkeep? I have enjoyed tours like this in Houston and Savannah. It gives lookie-loos positive direction, and residents a positive way to promote their community. Just a thought...

**scooterbug44** · 02-25-2008, 03:02 PM

I think they sometimes do walking tours as part of the Seaside Institute events, but I doubt that they would be willing to start frequent tours considering the current "anti-public" mindset. One guy has a fit if you take a picture of his house - even has a sign up, which is why I make sure to take a picture of it every time I am there w/ a camera!

Walking and biking are much easier ways to see the area IMO, especially since you can't see a lot from a car unless you're in a convertible.

**SHELLY** · 02-25-2008, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by scooterbug44

One guy has a fit if you take a picture of his house - even has a sign up, which is why I make sure to take a picture of it every time I am there w/ a camera!

OK, I'll bite....let's see the photo.

.

**Sandcastle** · 02-25-2008, 08:38 PM

Originally Posted by scooterbug44

I think they sometimes do walking tours as part of the Seaside Institute events, but I doubt that they would be willing to start frequent tours considering the current "anti-public" mindset. One guy has a fit if you take a picture of his house - even has a sign up, which is why I make sure to take a picture of it every time I am there w/ a camera!

Walking and biking are much easier ways to see the area IMO, especially since you can't see a lot from a car unless you're in a convertible.

Guess what street he lives on.

**scooterbug44** · 03-12-2008, 02:01 PM

What do they think they are accomplishing w/ the blank white folding signs?
Is the FD letting them do those because a truck can easily run them over in an emergency?

The stupid signs upped their traffic count - I turned in just to see what they said and was so annoyed I then took a scenic tour of Seaside!

Some of the folding signs are also located in line with the sidewalk. People have enough trouble w/ bikes w/out obstacles in the pathway!

**Teresa** · 03-12-2008, 07:44 PM

I frequently visit and shop in seaside. we stroll around the neighborhood, play in the grass, have coffee, pick up dinner, load up on goodies from modica, and just play tourist enjoying the town. I am totally unaware of any signs or any person not welcoming our presence. maybe I choose not to notice. but I have never ever noticed anything that kept me from enjoying the town. (no doubt I just don't look for these things... I don't see them at all).

**Geo** · 03-12-2008, 08:16 PM

I've lived here for a year. I am always proud to take friends and family to Seaside and I really enjoy going there. I am bothered by the signs in theory but ignore them in practice...

But I am having a hard time with the security guards walking around in bright red bouncer polo shirts with SECURITY on the back and military/SWAT style fatigues and boots...

IMHO- if they were truly and solely there to protect someone/something from someone else/something else then they would arguably be far more effective if they worked undercover...

They are there for show- as a deterrent. This might make sense in many places throughout the US (e.g. shopping malls, baseball parks, parades, etc.)...

BUT IN SEASIDE? C'mon...

So ask the tough question-
What are they trying to deter?

Let's be honest here...
I believe they are trying to deter-

People from ignoring those signs. People from going down those streets. People from stepping on those beaches...

Go ahead. Set me straight...

G

**Sandcastle** · 03-12-2008, 08:24 PM

I noticed that the �Private� signs on the beach at both ends of Seaside were gone last weekend. Also, there was a Walton County lifeguard stationed on the beach at the end of the public walkover between Seaside and Watercolor.

**SWGB** · 03-13-2008, 12:26 AM

Originally Posted by Sandcastle

I noticed that the �Private� signs on the beach at both ends of Seaside were gone last weekend. Also, there was a Walton County lifeguard stationed on the beach at the end of the public walkover between Seaside and Watercolor.

The lifeguard stand was coming. That is why they built the bathrooms and additional parking between Seaside and WC. Nothing like a life guard popping a squat in the dunes.

The interesting part will be owners and (some) guests at Seaside and WC reactions to "the public" using the beach in that area.

As for the sandwich boards, aren't they on public property if they are south of the bike path? Doesn't that make them abandoned litter?

**Smiling JOe** · 03-13-2008, 07:40 AM

I believe that scooterbug said that the sandwich board signs are in the middle of the sidewalk, not south of.

**scooterbug44** · 03-13-2008, 07:44 AM

As of this morning all of the signs are either partially in the designated "multiuse path" area or south of it.

It's been a while since driver's ed - how many points are folding signs?

**Smiling JOe** · 03-13-2008, 08:00 AM

Just make sure a small kid is hiding inside or behind the signs before your car accidentally runs over the sign. Seriously, it is that time of year when the kids and grown kids, aka - adults, dart out into the road from behind parked cars and trucks, so when you drive down 30A or any of these neighborhoods, please drive slowly with one foot prepared to hit the break. Just expect a kid to pop out from behind every parked car. Last week, I had a lady pull out into the road on her bicycle, right in front of my car. I wasn't going fast and was able to stop. Her husband who actually stopped to see if traffic was coming before crossing, about had a heart attack, and looked rather surprised at his wife's inability to ride a bicycle around traffic. Be Safe!

**scooterbug44** · 03-13-2008, 08:09 AM

My vehicle speed in Seaside during the season/evening would best be described as "idle". The only pedal that gets used is the brake!

With the combo of people unaware that the road they used to get there functions as a road even when they're not driving, the quality attempts at parallel parking, less than stellar bike skills, cars parked next to the road, and pedestrian traffic that place is a mine field!

**Jdarg** · 03-13-2008, 08:17 AM

Originally Posted by scooterbug44

My vehicle speed in Seaside during the season/evening would best be described as "idle". The only pedal that gets used is the brake!

With the combo of people unaware that the road they used to get there functions as a road even when they're not driving, the quality attempts at parallel parking, less than stellar bike skills, cars parked next to the road, and pedestrian traffic that place is a mine field!

I am always surprised by how many people park along 30A- with half of the car sticking out into the road. Every day last week I had to wait for oncoming traffic to pass so I could drive around a "car butt".

After the Mermobile was totaled along 30A last year, I don't know why anyone would park along there- to many drivers not paying attention, and too many kids on bikes that are going to crash into your parked car and ding it up!

**Cheering472** · 03-13-2008, 08:21 AM

Originally Posted by jdarg

I am always surprised by how many people park along 30A- with half of the car sticking out into the road. Every day last week I had to wait for oncoming traffic to pass so I could drive around a "car butt".

After the Mermobile was totaled along 30A last year, I don't know why anyone would park along there- to many drivers not paying attention, and too many kids on bikes that are going to crash into your parked car and ding it up!

My thoughts exactly.

**besafe** · 11-15-2008, 01:10 AM

Susan Vallee, writings are dead on, UNTIL the editing from the powers of Seaside,, made the whole Seaside Times seem BLAH, Not Susan's fault it is the ego's that control the town, who hires a H.R. person to control, the gold standred of New Urbanism. The latest issue Winter 2008 had a article written by a person who wrote "SEASIDE STLYE" over five years ago, is this book in paperback. We all need to thank Susan, and help her, have the forum to write, without censorship by the owners and G.M of a town thats not a town and a place that is a minor dot in the real world, but for some reason it works, not by how perfect Seaside is, but it for the most part, the battle of good verses evil, for old school people its like Mad Mags. "SPY vs. SPY............................Stop all the insane issues and feel blessed to have what we all have, and let people express themseleves in writings, and lets get on the bandwagon to bring true non-altered new on the tiny little street we live on

**ShallowsNole** · 11-17-2008, 08:36 AM

Originally Posted by besafe

Susan Vallee, writings are dead on, UNTIL the editing from the powers of Seaside,, made the whole Seaside Times seem BLAH, Not Susan's fault it is the ego's that control the town, who hires a H.R. person to control, the gold standred of New Urbanism. The latest issue Winter 2008 had a article written by a person who wrote "SEASIDE STLYE" over five years ago, is this book in paperback. We all need to thank Susan, and help her, have the forum to write, without censorship by the owners and G.M of a town thats not a town and a place that is a minor dot in the real world, but for some reason it works, not by how perfect Seaside is, but it for the most part, the battle of good verses evil, for old school people its like Mad Mags. "SPY vs. SPY............................Stop all the insane issues and feel blessed to have what we all have, and let people express themseleves in writings, and lets get on the bandwagon to bring true non-altered new on the tiny little street we live on

Huh?