High rise condos coming to SoWal

I see on the "county commissioner site" as it's now named that four out of five commissioners live north of the bay.

And as a footnote, I think this is an excellent reason for Kurt to run for County Commissioner next election cycle.

And as a footnote, I think this is an excellent reason for Kurt to run for County Commissioner next election cycle.

I'd rather have certain parts of my anatomy get caught in a garbage disposal. :shock:

One of the ousted County Commissioners committed political suicide because of an issue with the school board. There was a petty tiff about a piece of property that the school board had an easement on. This commissioner chose to take the issue public, which affected Butler Elementary School and the buses. This same commissioner is also involved with developing property, so I don't think it was the "developers lobby" that ousted him.

Our current commissioner from 30-A, Cindy Meadows, is probably the most anti-development commissioner we have. She won handily in South Walton. Scott Brannon won largely from the Freeport vote. There was a whole other issue in Freeport about the other ousted county commissioner and some property. He tried to close the local swimming hole to locals who had used it for years. The good ole boys didn't take too kindly to that. Scott Brannon is a developer, but there are a whole lot of developers arounds here.

I'd almost forgotten about the bus easement incident. Still can't figure what he hoped to gain from that all. It's not like the school board was actually going to land swap with him for anything valuable.

Tim Pauls is a horses patoot. 2 weeks after he got elected he started complaining about the job and said he would never run for re-election. Who knows why he did. EGO EGO EGO maybe :roll: .

He won election by telling the Peach Creek Alliance how great they were and that he would fight for them. Two years of lip service by him and fighting by the citizens to prevent heavy industry on Peach Creek. It came down to a vote and TP conveniently left on vacation.

He wasn't man enough to not run, instead he sabatoged his own campaign by picking on kids.

I'd almost forgotten about the bus easement incident. Still can't figure what he hoped to gain from that all. It's not like the school board was actually going to land swap with him for anything valuable.

Tim and I have something in common. I just purchased a piece of land, and guess who decided to pave a road on it last year? That's right, the blank, blank County. Apparently, they don't survey the property prior to paving. Go figure. I wont be shutting down the school buses, nor will I be running in a public election if I decide to baricade my property. However, I do understand Tim's frustration.

I'd rather have certain parts of my anatomy get caught in a garbage disposal.

Good, it's settled then. Kurt's my write-in candidate. And after you win we could sell Hollywood on a TV series. We could call it "The Commish: SWE" (South Walton Edition) with plots taken from Kurt's real-life daily struggles to be the best South Walton commisioner ever. And every show would end with Kurt saying "I'd rather have parts of my anatomy caught in a garbage disposal."

Good, it's settled then. Kurt's my write-in candidate. And after you win we could sell Hollywood on a TV series. We could call it "The Commish: SWE" (South Walton Edition) with plots taken from Kurt's real-life daily struggles to be the best South Walton commisioner ever. And every show would end with Kurt saying "I'd rather have parts of my anatomy caught in a garbage disposal."

Wonder if he'd still have time for the boards Probably doing most of the time

Hey Lenzoe! What happend to Blinky (3 eyed fish )

Hey Lenzoe! What happend to Blinky (3 eyed fish)

Blinky's been temporarily benched. I'm still searching for my true "permanent" icon/avatar, but I reserve the right to bring him back when I'm feeling in a particularly mutant-like mode. I really like your's.

Blinky's been temporarily benched. I'm still searching for my true "permanent" icon/avatar, but I reserve the right to bring him back when I'm feeling in a particularly mutant-like mode. I really like your's.

Thanks, but not my choice. My original avi drew the ire of some very vocal, nasty (but rarely posting) board members. So Kurt found me a new one that wouldn't cause so many problems. I like the little guy though

I guess we could always pull an Edward Abbey if they started building them.

(Edward Abbey is a crazy author, who wrote fabulous tales against the evils of development and the cancerous growth of "civilization.")

I enjoyed "The Monkey Wrench Gang."

There's a Florida author by the name of Carl Hiasson, who wrote at least one children's book along a similar theme with a Florida setting. The book was Hoot. Just got done reading it to the kids the other night.

At least Hoot had a happier outlook for the protagonists than Abbey's book.

I've heard that the new county commissioners are pro-development, and they will abolish the 50-foot height limit in SoWal. Supposedly there are over 2 dozen projects already drawn up that are waiting to be approved once the code is changed.

Anyone think this will happen or if it's a good idea?

Where did you hear this, and is there any truth behind it? This would be a huge change to the comprehensive plan. I can't imagine any current property owners would be for this.

... I can't imagine any current property owners would be for this.

Oh, I can think of a few.

Oh, I can think of a few.

I guess I should have said small-scale owners that don't want to see their property devalued by the high-rise condo going in next door to them.

Course the owner of the tract of land large enough to do the high-rise on might have a differing view.

I guess I should have said small-scale owners that don't want to see their property devalued by the high-rise condo going in next door to them.

You are right in that most people around here would raise stink. However, regarding the "devaluing" of smaller pieces of property, I think the opposite would happen. I think people would eventually sell out in "group" packages to the developers for outrageous amounts of money. More units can be sold by going up.

(If I hear any truth of the rumor of lifting the height restrictions, you will see a photo of me, in the newspapers, raising H_LL on the Court House steps.)

However, regarding the "devaluing" of smaller pieces of property, I think the opposite would happen.

Really? That seems counter-intuitive to me. Do you think, comparing apples-to-apples properties, that Destin has higher values than SoWal? I figured they'd be lower largely due to the density issue. Last time I tried to compare, that's they way it seemed to me. But it's hard to get a real feel for it just comparing MLS listings.

You certainly make a valid point, which is difficult to argue, but I think the surrounding smaller parcels would also be bought and combined into larger projects. Developers will have to pay top dollar to buy these smaller pieces, but I think you will find them willing and able. South Walton would look like Manhattan from a distant view -- Tall buildings surrounding the State Forest (Central Park). If this ever happend, maybe we could have all tourists park in Freeport and create a bus system, or scooter and bicycle exchange to help keep the traffic down.

You are right in that most people around here would raise stink. However, regarding the "devaluing" of smaller pieces of property, I think the opposite would happen. I think people would eventually sell out in "group" packages to the developers for outrageous amounts of money. More units can be sold by going up.

(If I hear any truth of the rumor of lifting the height restrictions, you will see a photo of me, in the newspapers, raising H_LL on the Court House steps.)

:clap_1: :clap_1:

Early this morning, I received late notice, that at today's 8:00am Board of County Commissioners' meeting they would have discussion of restricting the height limit on buildings north of the Bay. I had to leave the meeting early, and did not get to hear the discussion or discission of one was made. Anyone happen to know?

It was news for me to learn that Walton County's height restriction on buildings applied only to property in Walton County south of Hwy 98. I know Eglin AFB has problems with high rises, especially north of the Bay. Some time ago, I remember a person on the Freeport Planning Board telling me that the City of Freeport also has a problem with high rises due to not having firetrucks that could handle extinguishing fires from buildings with heights greater than 50ft. I am sure we will read about the meeting in Carol's article in the Walton Sun on Saturday, but if you know, I would like to hear. I will get a copy of the minutes, but it generally takes a week or so for the County to record them.

I believe the height limit was extended from 98 to the South shore of the bay a couple of years ago.

I believe the height limit was extended from 98 to the South shore of the bay a couple of years ago.

That would make sense because the area that was up for discussion was north of the Bay.

The 30A corridor has experienced an amazing rise in value due to the lack of high rises, in my opinion. While it is getting more crowded each year, it is still calm in comparison to other beach resort areas. Allowing high rises is definitely a bad idea as it will serve to dillute the unique beach village feel that has been created in the area and thus slow the value growth in real estate.

The 30A corridor has experienced an amazing rise in value due to the lack of high rises, in my opinion. While it is getting more crowded each year, it is still calm in comparison to other beach resort areas. Allowing high rises is definitely a bad idea as it will serve to dillute the unique beach village feel that has been created in the area and thus slow the value growth in real estate.

That's what I'm saying! Increased density is comparable to dilution in stock ownership. The fact that it isn't wall-to-wall people on the beaches (yet) is a feature and a quality that needs to be preserved or everyone looses.

That's what I'm saying! Increased density is comparable to dilution in stock ownership. The fact that it isn't wall-to-wall people on the beaches (yet) is a feature and a quality that needs to be preserved or everyone looses.

Agreed, Looks like the PCB pre-construct's are coming down in price. There looks to be hundreds for resale right now.

I saw some renderings of a Flatiron building on the DPZ webpage, that will be built at Alys Beach for office and retail units. As it looks, it may be pushing the limits of the height restriction.

~Brian.