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Seaside Commercial District: Updates Summer 2020

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TeresaSoWal Guide
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Seaside News
April 18, 2020
Seaside | Seaside Commercial District will remain closed

Seaside Commercial District will remain closed
Posted on APR 18, 2020 in COVID-19



Photo Courtesy of Kurt Lischka, Moon Creek Studios

April 18, 2020

Seaside, Fla. – Today, Seaside Community Development Corp. (SCDC) announced to Seaside Merchants that the Commercial District will remain closed after April 30, 2020. In a letter written to key stakeholders below, SCDC states they will work as a community to create milestones to reopen, assuring health and safety remain their priority. The letter concluded with naming task members and a call to action for each merchant to reach out to share ideas and concerns before the collaborative meeting is initiated.


Hello Seaside Merchants,

As we peek into the weeks ahead there is truly only one thing we know for certain, we must put health and safety first as a community. As many of you know, we formed a Mitigation Team due to the Covid-19 Crisis. Our first order of business was education ultimately resulting in the formal closure of Seaside Commercial. Since then, the Mitigation Team has been meeting remotely almost daily, cycling through crisis management tasks.

The Seaside Commercial District is the heart and soul of our town. While travel bans may soon be lifted, the commercial district is not opening at the end of April. We set April 30 as a future date to review as the situation dictated. The date of reopening is not yet clear, and that is why we would like to invite input from our merchant community.

We have created a task team comprised of merchants to meet with SCDC’ Mitigation Team early next week. We will discuss measures SCDC is thinking about to keep health and safety first when we do reopen. This task team will help us examine the plan and contribute invaluable insight. We anticipate this collaboration will result in guidelines for all merchants to create your own plan that works for the reopening of your business. We recognize that every merchant has unique challenges to address. Fundamentally, you know your business will ‘look’ different as we gradually reopen. By creating milestones as a community, we will remain on purpose and reopen our beloved town together.

More information to follow.
Seaside | Seaside Commercial District will remain closed

Replies

94
James BentwoodBeach Fanatic
#2
Another bold move by Seaside. It will be interesting to see what happens at state level, especially with rentals.
RL41Beach Lover
#3
Another bold move by Seaside. It will be interesting to see what happens at state level, especially with rentals.

Agreed. Seaside has taken the lead from the beginning, making tough but necessary decisions and has set the example for 30A.

I think vacation rentals need to continue to be banned for May, but it’s hard to see DeSantis doing this. If the beaches start to re-open and vacation rentals are allowed to restart, we may see a scenario in May that is.....not good.
liz coats avatar
liz coatsBeach Lover
#4
Agreed. Seaside has taken the lead from the beginning, making tough but necessary decisions and has set the example for 30A.

I think vacation rentals need to continue to be banned for May, but it’s hard to see DeSantis doing this. If the beaches start to re-open and vacation rentals are allowed to restart, we may see a scenario in May that is.....not good.
There's just one little problem with "taking the lead" and making tough decisions. The businesses that are closed during all this don't have any money coming in, and their employees aren't working and their bills need to be paid.
Jim Tucker avatar
Jim TuckerBeach Fanatic
#5
There's just one little problem with "taking the lead" and making tough decisions. The businesses that are closed during all this don't have any money coming in, and their employees aren't working and their bills need to be paid.
As is the case for millions of others and most everyone in SoWal.
RL41Beach Lover
#6
There's just one little problem with "taking the lead" and making tough decisions. The businesses that are closed during all this don't have any money coming in, and their employees aren't working and their bills need to be paid.

Nobody is disputing that. That’s why they’re tough decisions.
BeachKrab avatar
BeachKrabBeach Comber
#7
Hopefully all the rent Seaside has been collecting will be waived while they choose to stay closed.
lesson25 avatar
lesson25Beach Comber
#8
I can not see this being the yard stick for all businesses through out 331, 30A and Highway 98. Rental companies, housecleaning companies, Restaurants and Bars that rely on alcohol sales frequently for their bottom line are the one s most likely taking the gut punch right now. I can not see all businesses getting in line with Seaside throughout Walton County. I hope and pray for the best for all in Walton County.
Ty Webb avatar
Ty WebbBeach Lover
#9
I can not see this being the yard stick for all businesses through out 331, 30A and Highway 98. Rental companies, housecleaning companies, Restaurants and Bars that rely on alcohol sales frequently for their bottom line are the one s most likely taking the gut punch right now. I can not see all businesses getting in line with Seaside throughout Walton County. I hope and pray for the best for all in Walton County.

Agreed. Let Seaside remain closed as long as they want. The rest of the county should open now.
Teresa avatar
TeresaSoWal GuideAuthor
#10
I can not see this being the yard stick for all businesses through out 331, 30A and Highway 98. Rental companies, housecleaning companies, Restaurants and Bars that rely on alcohol sales frequently for their bottom line are the one s most likely taking the gut punch right now. I can not see all businesses getting in line with Seaside throughout Walton County. I hope and pray for the best for all in Walton County.
Seaside is only responsible for their own town,bbeach and merchants. But they have helped guide our community in certain ways since the beginning of the pandemic. The state of Florida and Walton County will make the decisions for our beaches, rentals, restaurants and businesses. South Walton Beach towns, resorts, hotels and businesses will be waiting and watching for these changes and will announce their updates. Everyone is eagar to open up as soon as possible and with care for employees and the community.
E5150Beach Lover
#12
Why is Seaside still going to be locked down? Bet the business owners there are P.O.'d.
James BentwoodBeach Fanatic
#13
Why is Seaside still going to be locked down? Bet the business owners there are P.O.'d.
There are businesses open there that have never shut down. I know the landlord and tenants are working together. There are a ton of commercial tenants all over this town having troubles. You've made several posts about Seaside. What's your deal? Business owner or employee?
Teresa avatar
TeresaSoWal GuideAuthor
#14
Seaside is our community downtown that attracts big crowds in the season. They have a great deal of responsibility for the decisions they make. They take it seriously and I respect their leadership immensely. They were the first to make decisions based on science and facts, then take necessary action. Seaside owners and management team will always do what they must to protect everyone: merchants, employees, visitors, guests, locals and anyone who visits our area.

Several restaurants have been open and serving takeout for all this time while the commercial district remains closed. Go support them. They would appreciate it. Some of the restaurants decided to close for the time being as they work on plans for future operations.

Merchants will be back when they are prepared to handle crowds and not before. They are working on reopening with a new normal and they will continue to help provide leadership for our entire area.

The chapel and seaside foundation have been working to help employees and businesses in addition to other steps taken to relieve hardship and help their own during this time. You can read about the town's preparation and response on their website. You can also donate.
seasidefl.com

Seaside News
In a letter written to key stakeholders below, SCDC states they will work as a community to create milestones to reopen, assuring health and safety remain their priority. Seaside | Seaside Commercial District will remain closed

Seaside | The Chapel at Seaside is Fundraising
On March 27th, the Chapel initiated a fundraising campaign to provide financial support to laid off or furloughed workers of Seaside-based businesses. The campaign, anchored by $100,000 matches from the Robert Davis Family Foundation and from the Chapel, was very successful, raising over $300,000 and allowing support of over 260 workers from 30 businesses.
Jim Tucker avatar
Jim TuckerBeach Fanatic
#15
They know as sonn as they open they will be inundated with people. Seaside is closed to protect people from themselves. It's a good thing they are run by thinking and caring people instead of greedy people or corporation.
Dawn avatar
DawnBeach Fanatic
#16
It's a tough position to be in to be the most popular spot in SoWal. Even after everything closed people were going there. They even had to close the amphotheater. I wouldn't be surprised if they open under the 25% rule but they also know there will be people coming and hanging out like they always do. Not an easy solution.
E5150Beach Lover
#17
There are businesses open there that have never shut down. I know the landlord and tenants are working together. There are a ton of commercial tenants all over this town having troubles. You've made several posts about Seaside. What's your deal? Business owner or employee?
I have no "deal". Neither. Kid.
E5150Beach Lover
#18
They know as sonn as they open they will be inundated with people. Seaside is closed to protect people from themselves. It's a good thing they are run by thinking and caring people instead of greedy people or corporation.
LOL.
James BentwoodBeach Fanatic
#19
I have no "deal". Neither. Kid.
haha "kid" nice put down. What would you do? Show some "manliness" instead of postshots.
RL41Beach Lover
#20
They know as sonn as they open they will be inundated with people. Seaside is closed to protect people from themselves. It's a good thing they are run by thinking and caring people instead of greedy people or corporation.

Agreed. Putting the virus to one side for a second, just as a general remark, the number of people in Seaside during the season is almost out of control.

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