Naturewalk - signs of life?

I have been curious. Giant new signs going up on either side of entrance but actual sign insert wasn't in yet when I went by the other day. I suppose Walco planning can fill us in.

Background:
http://www.sowal.com/bb/real-estate-discussion/40705-naturewalk.html

http://www.sowal.com/bb/real-estate-discussion/19819-naturewalk-development-sale.html

http://www.sowal.com/bb/real-estate-discussion/12295-naturewalk-seagrove.html

I'vw always said that best sign of a real real estate recovery around here would be when people were actually building and selling in zombie developments like Naturewalk. Could be we're hitting that point.

I don't know that they're actually building/selling in there - might just be sprucing it up for potential buyers.

I understand a developer bought up a pile of lots in there and may try to start up something. What was that name Shelly used for those people.....:roll:

Y'alls stalking skillz aren't that good.

Looks like it sold around June of 2010 to:

Walton County Record Search

KLP Destin II LLC is registered in West Palm Beach:

www.sunbiz.org - Department of State

Looks like they buy and restart FDIC assets:

KLP Oakhurst LLC | Inside Real Estate | HeraldTribune.com

They look like a huge real estate investment and holding company. It'll be interesting to see Nature Walk built out.

Looks like Seagrove Villas is safe.

There's been an application for redesign of the project with 39,641 square feet of commercial proposed, relocation of an amenity area, and an amendment to the density "to reflect the previously-approved PUD allocation," according to the legal notices. The redesign proposal is going before the Technical Review Committee at 8:30 a.m. on May 4. Since it's considered a major development proposal, it should also be going before the planning commission and county commission later on.

Coming to life....

Looks like Seagrove Villas is safe.

Actually a very nice sign. Bout time!

Following an ad on the NWFDN web site got me to:

http://www.naturewalkatseagrove.com/vacationhome/?gclid=CJ6-yeCji6oCFYHs7Qod70uL2A

Coming Spring 2012 to the WaterColor and Seaside area, NatureWalk's vacation homes will redefine the possibilities for 30A lifestyle - at a price that has never been seen in the area. Only a short bike ride from perhaps the world's most beautiful beaches, NatureWalk will be the haven your family will cherish for generations.

They need to be careful- they're walking the line of describing themselves as near Seaside and/or Watercolor and a part of those developments. But a starting price point in the $350K-$450K range for that location seems like something that could sell a good number of homes at a reasonable pace.

Everyone renting or selling a house says they are near Watercolor and Seaside and a short walk/ride to the beach - considering they can actually throw a tennis ball from Naturewalk and hit Watercolor property they're far more honest than most.

a short walk to the beach? lol thats a good 3/4 -1 mile walk. i bet its a 15 -20 min walk. 400-450k is very expensive for that distance to the beach

That might be further then a mile but if they come in at those price points with a garage and Watercolor finishes I could sell that all day!

Agreed, provided the lots are not postage stamp size. I'm not sure how they are going to pull off such an inexpensive product.

My guess is that they can sell cheaper because they were able to buy it cheap and didn't have to pay for the infrastructure, but I am just guessing.

That might be further then a mile but if they come in at those price points with a garage and Watercolor finishes I could sell that all day!

Do you have any idea what's going to happen to the four eyesores that are are already "built" there? Not too much curb appeal...

Where's the nearest beach access to this development?

http://www.sowal.com/beach-accesses-map

http://www.sowal.com/park/scenic-395-access

Scooterbug is right, they didn't even have to shoulder the burden of paying for infrastructure. That was paid for by floating a bond, which future property owners will be paying. Still, at the $400K price range, those could be some really cool homes once the place is built out.

This reminds me of Prominence near Watersound. You can throw a tennis ball and hit Watersound property there also. No beachfront access except through Deer Lake State Park, also about a mile away, but at least there is a little parking there and facilities. You can see how well this development has done. If people plan to drive to the 395 access and park in the parking lot there they are going to have a serious problem with George, especially after Viridian is built. If you can find anyone to pay north of $400,000 under these conditions I suppose it is true that there is one born every minute.

tsutcli, I know that most people tend to think that people come to South Walton for our beautiful beaches in the summer time. The beach is a big draw, but go look at phase 4 WaterColor, or phase 2 for that matter. Their beach access is located far away, yet those properties still sell, though for less than the other phases. There is so much more to do than go to the beach. In fact, throughout the day in the summer, I see as many people in the parks and pools as I do at the beach. Some developments like WaterColor, offer enough to keep people in their section of the development. I see nothing stopping NatureWalk from doing the same thing. I always thought it was a bad idea for them to try and open that beach club which was even farther from the development. It cost a lot of money and for nothing, since they later learned that they couldn't use it as they had hoped.

What happens when NatureWalk is built out and everyone wants to go to the beach? There is the problem. They will likely go to the end of 395 to the now quiet public access. They will filter over into Seaside, and I see Seaside not liking that. As I see it, the county needs to address the lack of parking at public access as well as transportation systems of getting people to and from the beach. There is already a parking problem at most of the current regional accesses, and it will get worse as SoWal gets built out.

tsutcli, I know that most people tend to think that people come to South Walton for our beautiful beaches in the summer time. The beach is a big draw, but go look at phase 4 WaterColor, or phase 2 for that matter. Their beach access is located far away, yet those properties still sell, though for less than the other phases. There is so much more to do than go to the beach. In fact, throughout the day in the summer, I see as many people in the parks and pools as I do at the beach. Some developments like WaterColor, offer enough to keep people in their section of the development. I see nothing stopping NatureWalk from doing the same thing. I always thought it was a bad idea for them to try and open that beach club which was even farther from the development. It cost a lot of money and for nothing, since they later learned that they couldn't use it as they had hoped.

What happens when NatureWalk is built out and everyone wants to go to the beach? There is the problem. They will likely go to the end of 395 to the now quiet public access. They will filter over into Seaside, and I see Seaside not liking that. As I see it, the county needs to address the lack of parking at public access as well as transportation systems of getting people to and from the beach. There is already a parking problem at most of the current regional accesses, and it will get worse as SoWal gets built out.

I'm not sure we need to worry about NatureWalk getting built out for three or four decades. If they would produce some really good plans for a first class swimming pool, and other great amenities (and perhaps some shopping), they might have a chance, but the only word that comes to mind, right now, when I drive thru there , is blight. The bridges look rough, and the houses even rougher.

If people plan to drive to the 395 access and park in the parking lot there they are going to have a serious problem with George, especially after Viridian is built. If you can find anyone to pay north of $400,000 under these conditions I suppose it is true that there is one born every minute.

If they're building for year round/snowbird buyers, I can see them biting. I mean $350K in my neighborhood gets you about 2300-2500 sf and a 25 year old house that's still got remnants of original decor. Or about 2,000sf for the rare new construction at that point. And we're 5+ miles north of the Destin beaches with somewhat limited dining/shopping in the immediate area, not just down the way from Seaside.

It's a price point that can work for aspirational middle class buyers if they've got the employment issue straightened out or if they don't have to work. And I suspect that those buyers are fine with the distance from the beach if they're getting to live the rest of the SoWal lifestyle.

I'm not sure we need to worry about NatureWalk getting built out for three or four decades. If they would produce some really good plans for a first class swimming pool, and other great amenities (and perhaps some shopping), they might have a chance, but the only word that comes to mind, right now, when I drive thru there , is blight. The bridges look rough, and the houses even rougher.

Ah, but the time to talk about buildout is in the planning stages if you want to be a great community. Murray has great points about parking, infrastructure, and transportation.

I'm guessing if they are priced right building will be swift in there.
We'll see a shift at some point from "I want to be south of 30A" to "I need to be south of 98".
We're going to need triple decker beach access parking just for electric carts.