Seaside...Welcome or Not

Sounds like you already know that riding your bicycles on private streets is not permitted.

I heard through the Grapevine last night that the powers to be at Seaside decided after all this commotion about the privacy stuff there that as of January 15th they are closing off all access to the Seaside community and posting security guards at all entry points and have further added that they intend to wall off the community and put broken glass on top of the walls to prevent people from climbing over. 30-A will no longer be a thoroughfare and should any none resident or guest want to enter must pay for a daily pass. Now?. You heard it through the Grapevine?.

Gardening1970, as an owner in Seaside I would completely expect that you are welcome to ride your bike around Seaside and enjoy the town. It would truely be sad if we got to the point where that was not allowed.

From everything I have heard as an owner, the issue is not with visitors that enjoy the town, park cars correctly, and don't take advantage of the hospitality which Seaside has historically been know for.

There are clearly those visitors that step over the line and that might be why there has been a bit of a knee jerk reaction.

These are the realities we have to deal with:

-Parking is an issue and homeowners and guests of theirs should have priority to park next to their homes. Many visitors could care less about this common courtesy. New parking opening up may help this a bit.

-The bollards that were put on the eastern boarder of Seaside were there strictly to prevent construction cut through traffic that occurs during the busy months and boom times of last few years. Seaside streets are not designed for that kind of traffic especially with many small children on foot and on bikes. I also was told Fire Dept had been consulted before they went up.

-Numerous homes near Seaside, but not in Seaside, make it clear to their guests that they have full use of all Seaside facilites, when they don't pay one cent to repair, rebuild, insure, etc them. Some even claim they are in Seaside to make more rental income. Full wedding parties have come from outside Seaside to use the walkovers, without any permission. This is what has gotten things so out of hand.


I know there is a middle ground that should be achievable, but 10% of the inconsiderate visitors have made it difficult for all the owners as well as the 90% of visitors we welcome with open arms.

Just my 2 cents

Thank you for your post Coast is Clear. You are a very gracious owner. I understand the dilemma, and like you, I hope a middle ground is achievable.

Sounds like you already know that riding your bicycles on private streets is not permitted.

I had no idea...I always assumed that I was contributing to the beauty of their streets by riding through. (*snort!*)

I was glad that Coast is Clear posted that we are invited, if not permitted.

Ok folks, I am now Mad as H@%$ and I ain't gonna take it no more! I say we all go to Publix and get our 100 Bag Lipton Tea and meet at the Bowl in Seaside and toss our Lipton Tea and have a Seaside Tea Party! Come on SJ this is right up your Access path LOL!

Seasides Future skyline!

People using things incorrectly is always an issue and there are always those oh-so-classy and polite folks who ruin it for everyone else. Big difference between addressing chronic problems and the mine, mine, mine mentality we keep hearing more and more of - and not just in Seaside.

I have no problem with security running off non-seaside guests people who claim a private beachside pavillion as their wedding reception location or adding to the HOA coffers by towing any inappropriately parked cars. Based on my personal observations, towing the cars parked in the delivery zone by Bud and Alley's and the 5 minute parking in front of the post office would reap $$$.

I've also never had any problems with Seaside's roads despite the signs that were recently removed, (helps that my vehicle isn't an overside SUV w/ a fully loaded rear rack) and on the occasions I've needed to have a semi or large vehicle use the road, I've just popped the sign out.

However, I have definitely seen an attitude shift in Seaside. I don't know if it is the new management company or a couple rotten apples, but it has definitely changed. There are still a lot of wonderful people and businesses there, but the mood is changing, and not for the better.

However, I have definitely seen an attitude shift in Seaside. I don't know if it is the new management company or a couple rotten apples, but it has definitely changed. There are still a lot of wonderful people and businesses there, but the mood is changing, and not for the better.

I thought this was discussed previously, but I swear, people are becoming either more self-absorbed, or just plain rude. My father lives in a gated community in Sarasota and has said that it is getting worse there with people and the rules and the nitpicking.

Scooterbug44, you bring up a good point on changes at the management company which I definitely feel has not helped the situation. We do not use them for our rentals because there was clearly the feeling that they were in it for profit only and could care about little else. Kinda takes away that sense of community when going for the last buck is highest priority.

As a more general observation, having property values go up as much as they have has obviously narrowed the market as to the types of people that can afford homes along 30-A. I have always felt that getting that high a percentage of type A personalities in one area can't be a good thing. In Seaside I think it could be even worse.

It is sad but true, our world is becoming a "me" society. It is all about one's self, numero uno. Screw everyone else, people are looking out for themselves only.
I hate to see this happen, but I don't believe that Seaside is the only area affected by this. Just my 2 cents!
I feel sorry for the people who have businesses there, they are the ones that are working hard and will be the ones hardest hit if people do not feel welcomed in the area.

My wife and I visited the Seaside shops yesterday, We even went to Fired Up...Talk about that in a sec... But what we saw after reading all these post on this thread was a very warm and friendly community mixed with residents, guest, and even tourist with the local businesses open with lots of activity. I Love Seaside, I think the folks that are having issues most likely have had the "BAD" experience and have a nasty taste in their mouth. I much can't blame some for feeling the need to protect the place they as well Love and invested in. I say that a thread like this when read by "Outsiders" who are thinking about coming to our area, would probably think Seaside equals prudes and mean signage. Keep in mind in order for "Tourist to get to Seaside they must travel through other communities as well, so its not just a "Seaside Issue" it is a community issue. Just a little food for thought.

Now our Fired Up visit, These folks have it going! The wife and I will return and enjoy what they have to offer. The young lady was very nice and very informative! It was a wonderful experience! Hope others that read this at least stop by and see the beautiful things that they have to offer! and pricing is not that bad! Great job Fired Up! and staff!

Thank you Seaside.. Your beautiful and lovely!

It is sad but true, our world is becoming a "me" society. It is all about one's self, numero uno. Screw everyone else, people are looking out for themselves only.
I hate to see this happen, but I don't believe that Seaside is the only area affected by this. Just my 2 cents!
I feel sorry for the people who have businesses there, they are the ones that are working hard and will be the ones hardest hit if people do not feel welcomed in the area.

It is definitely not limited to any one specific area. If you travel anywhere you will see it. Just recently there was a major brawl at Disney between Pop Warner athletes and the parents. It got so bad Disney asked them to leave the resort property. I mean good grief when kids and their parents start a brawl and have to be removed, it is very sad.

But then in my opionion, our nation's leaders are all about themselves, why should the rest of the country be any different.

How about biking? In years past, my family has enjoyed bike rides through Seaside and Watercolor streets - not everyday - just once or twice during our week there to enjoy the architecture and beauty of the neighborhoods. We also stop for drinks and snacks and shopping. We do not use beach accesses, and we're always respectful, especially since we understand the roads and property belong to others. When we bike through in April and June this year, are we in danger of being told to leave?

If you stay off Tupelo you should be OK.
I walk through Seaside all the time and everyone is friendly, but I do avoid the gazebo on Tupelo.

Paula: you can pay an annual fee to Seaside for pools and tennis courts. there is a pool they cover during winter and it is heated (spidey took swim lessons there one winter).

you can pay to use Rosemary Beach fitness center, and tennis facility. I don't know about pool.

Thanks, Toots. I'll be checking into short-term use of pools at Seaside/Rosemary Beach at some point - it would be nice to have access to a heated pool in the cooler months.

If you stay off Tupelo you should be OK.
I walk through Seaside all the time and everyone is friendly, but I do avoid the gazebo on Tupelo.

What's wrong with Tupelo? Is there an especially tough gang of owners in that area?

What's wrong with Tupelo? Is there an especially tough gang of owners in that area?

Yep! There are some nice people who own on Tupelo, but a couple of owners there stirred up this whole mess. Note that the offensive "sandwich" signs first appeared on Tupelo Street.

Yep! There are some nice people who own on Tupelo, but a couple of owners there stirred up this whole mess. Note that the offensive "sandwich" signs first appeared on Tupelo Street.

Member of the Tupelo Street Gang flashing the "Sandwich Sign"





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Wow. I had heard that high-rise commercial buildings were going to replace Bud & Alley's, Perspicasity, and the entire beachside commercial area where B&A et. al. now exist. It would take some deep pockets to replace all of that with private residences. However, from what I've seen, the deep pockets get deeper, and everyone else is struggling.;-)

Welcome to GrownUpsVille, good to see you finally made it.

A few moons ago, I questioned on this very forum the entire high density, "gosh isn't this great" concept of New Urbanism. I got both roasted (lamb) and patted on my wool.

But isn't this the sense of community and love, Beech Rummer, that you spouted off about? Get ready to open up your arms, Babe(y), the dense get denser and the rich support density.

Then fly back to exurbian Atlanta.

I thought this was discussed previously, but I swear, people are becoming either more self-absorbed, or just plain rude. My father lives in a gated community in Sarasota and has said that it is getting worse there with people and the rules and the nitpicking.

Squish people into communities with fake security gates, which do make you feel enclosed, and expect harmony?

I find this whole situation very sad. Seaside was where we stayed for many years, even when we stayed somewhere else we visited there to shop and have dinner. I always felt welcomed in true southern hospitality. Exclusion wasn't part of the small town feeling we fell in love with.

I was there a lot this past weekend. Nothing but nice everywhere I went...

Sadly, the "it's mine and I won't share" attitude isn't confined to Seaside. But we're all more than a little disappointed to find it cropping up there. It makes a mockery of New Urbanism.

that attitude has NOTHING to do with the constructs and concept of new urbanism. that is merely a local selfishness that is cultivated by narrow-minded developers.

real urbanism and NEW urbanism offers an architectural and planned answer to sharing space and the movement and behavior of people.

seaside as well as other local developments fight their plan and architecture by attempting to force different behavior using signs and, as we have heard here, aggressive behavior. these are antithetical to the philosophy and basic tenants of new urbanism.

It is sad but true, our world is becoming a "me" society. It is all about one's self, numero uno. Screw everyone else, people are looking out for themselves only.
I hate to see this happen, but I don't believe that Seaside is the only area affected by this. Just my 2 cents!
I feel sorry for the people who have businesses there, they are the ones that are working hard and will be the ones hardest hit if people do not feel welcomed in the area.

it's not that way everywhere, i promise. the minute you leave that area, you will see there are plenty of good, unselfish people in the world who think of their communities and neighbors first and understand the benefit of an open society. people who know how to balance their own concerns with the concerns of their neighbors and do the best for the area. it's sad, but go spend more than 6 months somewhere else and your optimism about the world will be renewed.

What's a 'sandwich' sign? I just got the red x.

What's a 'sandwich' sign? I just got the red x.

A ?sandwich board? sign is a folding sign that?s typically placed on a sidewalk or street in front of a business establishment advertising a theatrical event, lunch special, etc. They first appeared on Tupelo Street in Seaside saying ?Slow, Children at Play.? They quickly spread to other parts of Seaside and were staggered along the streets so cars had to swerve to avoid them. The intent was to discourage outsiders from using Seaside streets. Walton County recently declared they were a code violation and had them removed.