Seagrove Market Trees Coming Down Today?

oh it definitly is going to happen.... it's in phase one.... building starts in phase two and the market will be gone...... but it will be quite awhile until phase two starts. i have heard it from the horses mouth, so to speak.

oh it definitly is going to happen.... it's in phase one.... building starts in phase two and the market will be gone...... but it will be quite awhile until phase two starts. i have heard it from the horses mouth, so to speak.

Thanks - tell the horse not to kill the messenger.

I just wish that some of the developers who want the highest and best use for their property, would find a way to have that without destroying everything on the property...

this makes me physically ill just as I was ill when the huge oak tree (at what had been Anthony's Tractor
at the corner of Musset Bayou and Highway 98) went down...and now what do we have there: an empty strip mall, with lights that burn all night; and the parking lot is used as overflow for the restaurant across the street...is that really highest and best use?

if the hotel is not going to be built for awhile, why did the trees come down today...just to concrete over the sand or are they still planning to build the underground parking garage...

oh how I wish we had a tree ordinance here!

I just wish that some of the developers who want the highest and best use for their property, would find a way to have that without destroying everything on the property...

this makes me physically ill just as I was ill when the huge oak tree (at what had been Anthony's Tractor
at the corner of Musset Bayou and Highway 98) went down...and now what do we have there: an empty strip mall, with lights that burn all night; and the parking lot is used as overflow for the restaurant across the street...is that really highest and best use?

if the hotel is not going to be built for awhile, why did the trees come down today...just to concrete over the sand or are they still planning to build the underground parking garage...

oh how I wish we had a tree ordinance here!

In real estate terms, "highest and best use" means most profitable.

In real estate terms, "highest and best use" means most profitable.

Yes, I am well aware of that...

but, profit in dollars doesn't always mean ultimate profit...balancing old with new, nature with human and respect for 100-plus year old trees has much more value in many minds...we just don't have enough of those minds in these parts IMO.

One can always make money, but (apologizes to Joyce Kilmer) only God/Nature can make a tree.

I went to the very first public meeting about the Viridian Hotel, possibly four or five years ago, and the developers, some really good local folks, had plans that we very, very cautious of retaining most of those great trees. They even had an arborist study them and ways to minimize the impact the building would have on them. There was to be a coutyard that would preserve some of them. Due to the dynamics of an economic meltdown, the plans of the Viridian have morphed more than just a little bit, and I have no idea what the building will look like now. (But I hope they don't try to call it the V.)

It does hurt to see great trees torn down. Also, we have to brace ourselves for something possibly even sadder: the eventual demolition of the Seagrove Village Market... it will happen someday (not too soon.)

I went to the very first public meeting about the Viridian Hotel, possibly four or five years ago, and the developers, some really good local folks, had plans that we very, very cautious of retaining most of those great trees. They even had an arborist study them and ways to minimize the impact the building would have on them. There was to be a coutyard that would preserve some of them. Due to the dynamics of an economic meltdown, the plans of the Viridian have morphed more than just a little bit, and I have no idea what the building will look like now. (But I hope they don't try to call it the V.)

It does hurt to see great trees torn down. Also, we have to brace ourselves for something possibly even sadder: the eventual demolition of the Seagrove Village Market... it will happen someday (not too soon.)

I thought a courtyard had been the plan...I wonder what happened? It seems in the present economic state, there would have been even more incentive to scale down and preserve the courtyard and the trees. I wonder if there was even any thought of relocating them to some place in the forest or one of the state parks?

I wish South Walton had a historical society, and that somewhere on the beach we had a building (maybe the Seagrove Market building) that could be preserved and some of the things from the way the beach used to be could be put on display, along with a collection of photographs chronicling the history of the 30A area.

I feel sad when I think of what we had here and how with one fell swoop of a bulldozer or a chain saw, so much of it is gone forever ... to be replaced by one more condo building or another empty strip mall...I am sad when I think how my grandchildren will never know the dunes and the tiny beach side buildings and the people who loved it just the way it was because they were in awe of what nature had given us. IMO it is unfortunate that we did not have enough vision to preserve more of it by integrating it into the plans for "progress." I am glad for what has been preserved in the parks and the forests and by individuals here and there. I just wonder what the unforeseen consequences of this much development will ultimately be...today when I drive around it does not feel as though we have been good stewards of the land.

I can only echo all of your statements; those trees 'were' truly amazing - could they have been moved?! For the owners: I hope the Viridian is wildly successful.

does anyone know what they did with the trees? did they just bulldoze them down and haul them off to burn?

was any consideration given to relocating them?

Here's some before pictures

When we were practicing in Miami, we collaborated with another husband and wife team on a project in the design district where there were these magnificent oak trees on our site - the developer COULD have chosen to take them down but he is such an enlightened client to begin with that he readily accepted to keep these. We were thrilled. Here is the result - project name: Oak Plaza.

The thin smear

of civilization demands that all things old and of any "real" value be destroyed less the citizenery remember and take issue.

Boycott the damn hotel, the bar the dining facility...make them pay in the only coin of value - profits.

Screw'em all. IMHO

When we were practicing in Miami, we collaborated with another husband and wife team on a project in the design district where there were these magnificent oak trees on our site - the developer COULD have chosen to take them down but he is such an enlightened client to begin with that he readily accepted to keep these. We were thrilled. Here is the result - project name: Oak Plaza.

Oh Chickpea, I know there are so many ways to do this--it breaks my heart that we lose so much beauty unnecessarily. When I think of all the years we enjoyed that space and those trees and all the storms and all the time those little trees had survived...

Thank you for sharing this beautiful spot.
Those guys were lucky to have you on the project.

I thought a courtyard had been the plan...I wonder what happened? It seems in the present economic state, there would have been even more incentive to scale down and preserve the courtyard and the trees. I wonder if there was even any thought of relocating them to some place in the forest or one of the state parks?

I wish South Walton had a historical society, and that somewhere on the beach we had a building (maybe the Seagrove Market building) that could be preserved and some of the things from the way the beach used to be could be put on display, along with a collection of photographs chronicling the history of the 30A area.

I feel sad when I think of what we had here and how with one fell swoop of a bulldozer or a chain saw, so much of it is gone forever ... to be replaced by one more condo building or another empty strip mall...I am sad when I think how my grandchildren will never know the dunes and the tiny beach side buildings and the people who loved it just the way it was because they were in awe of what nature had given us. IMO it is unfortunate that we did not have enough vision to preserve more of it by integrating it into the plans for "progress." I am glad for what has been preserved in the parks and the forests and by individuals here and there. I just wonder what the unforeseen consequences of this much development will ultimately be...today when I drive around it does not feel as though we have been good stewards of the land.

South Walton does/did have a historical society. Remember the Coastal Heritage Foundation? Unfortunately, virtually all of the folks who started it are now history themselves, and only a few people care anymore. What is left of it lives on, on display at the Coastal Branch Library.

I can only echo all of your statements; those trees 'were' truly amazing - could they have been moved?! For the owners: I hope the Viridian is wildly successful.

I don't know what to think about the Viridian. If we had to lose the trees, and eventually the market too, I guess I should hope it was not for naught. But in my gut I hope they lose every dime they ever had, have now, or will ever have. Not very Christian-like, I know and I will pray that I can adjust to this.

What would the McGee family think...

50 years old is a perilous time for buildings - and with them their site, including trees. Our sense of things doesn't usually think of them as "historic" yet, and they may indeed be run down.

It usually takes at least one fairly dramatic demolition to get people thinking seriously about historic preservation. My old neighborhood in Memphis became a national historic district in 1984, AFTER 200 houses were flattened in 1968 (at 50 years old!) for a disputed freeway project that was subsequently stopped in the US Supreme Court.

It's quite possible to champion preservation AND encourage sensitive development. My old neighborhood in Memphis now features 200 NEW houses, designed to look like they were built in 1920. There were design standards put into place to make this happen, of course. And they included a prohibition on removing existing trees over a certain diameter. Google "Evergreen Historic District Memphis". There's even a wikipedia entry...

Old Seagrove is historic now, and will be more so in the future. It's not too late to protect what's left.

PS, anyone who complains about design standards inhibiting commercial success would be ignoring Seaside, Rosemary, Watercolor, and Alys. Sorry, that boat don't float...

and on a simpler and more practical note, does anyone know if you can successfully transplant those oaks? I've got my eye on a couple of particularly gnarled ones on lots that I expect will eventually get developed. Would sure like to have them at Casa TreeFrog.

South Walton does/did have a historical society. Remember the Coastal Heritage Foundation? Unfortunately, virtually all of the folks who started it are now history themselves, and only a few people care anymore. What is left of it lives on, on display at the Coastal Branch Library.

I don't remember. Maybe that was before I moved back? I do know the display in the Library...my grandson loves to hear about the "boat"...it would be nice to revive some interest in the history, before allof us who remember it, are history.

and on a simpler and more practical note, does anyone know if you can successfully transplant those oaks? I've got my eye on a couple of particularly gnarled ones on lots that I expect will eventually get developed. Would sure like to have them at Casa TreeFrog.

I agree with you, it is certainly possible to build around historic neighborhoods and incorporate the new with the old, it's done all the time. and many places have tree ordinances to save trees, especially old ones...it's just a matter of choice.

I tried to transplant one of those sand oaks away from the beach, and that did not work. The tree expert I spoke to about it, said they would transplant, but only do well in the same kind of soil. So, if it's the sandy soil down here, they should transplant fine.

I don't know what to think about the Viridian. If we had to lose the trees, and eventually the market too, I guess I should hope it was not for naught. But in my gut I hope they lose every dime they ever had, have now, or will ever have. Not very Christian-like, I know and I will pray that I can adjust to this.

What would the McGee family think...

I understand how you feel--

Is my memory wrong or did the Hotel Viridian development get going a few years ago and then stop? Now it is up and running again? Someone told me that the Seagrove Market was going to relocate at some point. The developers should run an ad somewhere saying "free old trees to good home" and I bet people would flock there. If you think about it there aren't any "hotels on 30A" if you don't count the Watercolor Inn. All of this makes me think about Hotel Saba.

Transplanting a mature tree probably costs a fortune.

Andrew G is probably right but there is no harm in trying.

Transplanting a mature tree probably costs a fortune.

Maybe so, but there's no way in my lifetime I could plant a sapling and get one of those wonderfully gnarled trees in my yard before I croak, unless I live to about 150.

I was just thinking it would be better trying to save one of them than just plucking them out of the ground with a backhoe and tossing them into some pile.