Eastern Lake Outfall Parcel Purchase

Yes that's why I said small amount of $.

I'm sure an owner or appraiser would try to jack it up to high hell because of the high cost of gulf front but a strip of sand that you can't build on should have a low value for eminent domain. You can't even sell the sand off of it so you can't even add that value to it.

So,
What dollar amount would you suggest is offered?

So,
What dollar amount would you suggest is offered?

$100/foot

$100/foot

Front foot? Or square foot?

$100/foot

If a front foot of dry sand is worth so little, why is it causing such a ruckus?

All this discussion it fairly moot, by several hundred years. Property, no matter how valuable or how worthless, is bought and paid for many, many, many, many, many, many times through the years, each time, getting more valuable. The more land that is developed surrounding it, just makes pristine land more rare, thus more valuable. If Walton County had not bought these parcels, with TDC funds, in a particularly good deal, then these parcels would have been worth more money tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow.

Front foot? Or square foot?

Front foot. Square foot varies to much and would be too hard to determine.

All this discussion it fairly moot, by several hundred years. Property, no matter how valuable or how worthless, is bought and paid for many, many, many, many, many, many times through the years, each time, getting more valuable. The more land that is developed surrounding it, just makes pristine land more rare, thus more valuable. If Walton County had not bought these parcels, with TDC funds, in a particularly good deal, then these parcels would have been worth more money tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow.

We're talking about determining what it costs to remove private property rights and giving it back to the public where it belongs. It would be a process of taking, not giving. Although some money would be given in fairness.

Eminent domain, the concept of taking personal property for the good of the public, is a drastic step that few governments are prepared to do. It then puts the government in the precarious position of stating what is "good for the public". It starts long legal battles and probably ends up with the government paying a little bit above "fair market value" anyway. That's exactly what happened with this straight purchase, and was negotiated in several months rather than years.

Eminent domain, the concept of taking personal property for the good of the public, is a drastic step that few governments are prepared to do. It then puts the government in the precarious position of stating what is "good for the public". It starts long legal battles and probably ends up with the government paying a little bit above "fair market value" anyway. That's exactly what happened with this straight purchase, and was negotiated in several months rather than years.

We need to take steps to correct the mistakes of the past. Some would view ED as drastic. I'm sure we paid way more than fair market value for this piece. What is fair market value of unbuildable land that is underwater?

Lake View do you know what the county paid? I thought I saw $3.2 millon but that may have been something else.

Regardless of whether or not it should have been sold originally or not, the fact is that it was and the current owners paid their money for what they own. That is no different from farmland, a warehouse or your house. So, if you want to own it or take it from them, either way you must fairly compensate them for it. The beachfront is a special case in that the general public has been allowed for decades by the previous and current owners to use the white sandy beach and thus has established a "customary use" of that beachfront. Currently some beachfront owners wish to end this practice and so we will be required to litigate to firmly establish exactly which parcels the public has an established right to use. Meanwhile, purchasing beachfront property at fair market value removes all doubt about the public's rights and removes the bitterness and hard feelings that litigation will undoubtedly produce. I firmly believe that in Walton County the public has established a "customary use" of the white sand beachfront but anyone who tells you they know what a court will do or how it will rule is lying or crazy and beach access is too important to our economy and way of life to put all our eggs in that basket. So purchasing every foot we can at reasonable prices is a good "plan B" and smart public policy.

I believe the $3.2 M was for the Russell property (AKA the tan remodeled house ) directly east of Eastern Lake Outfall and I also think Kurt may have access to a recent aerial map. The Head and Harrell property is directly west of the outfall and was purchased for significantly less.

Just having fun is correct. Russell parcel was $3.2 M financed for 10 years at 0 interest. Head/Harrell parcel was $600,000 but was increased somewhat. Not certain of final amount.

Just having fun is correct. Russell parcel was $3.2 M financed for 10 years at 0 interest. Head/Harrell parcel was $600,000 but was increased somewhat. Not certain of final amount.

850,000

Front foot. Square foot varies to much and would be too hard to determine.

So you feel fair value for that property is about $10,000.00 (ten thousand dollars).
All I can say is WOW.

So you feel fair value for that property is about $10,000.00 (ten thousand dollars).
All I can say is WOW.

Considering the beach belongs to the people like the sun and the stars I think that is more than fair. Whoever thinks they own it now is a fool. It should be the same as a rube holding a deed to the Brooklyn Bridge.
There won't be any beach left soon enough so it's moot.

Considering the beach belongs to the people like the sun and the stars I think that is more than fair. Whoever thinks they own it now is a fool.

Why do I imagine incense...black light posters....The Moody Blues playing on a scratchy record player...puff...puff...pass....

Did we buy a public beach or a body of water. Today it all seems to be covered in water.

It's been covered in water, off and on, for hundreds, if not thousands of years, and it was bought using the tax money of hundreds of thousands of people that have and will enjoy it for hundreds, if not thousands of years.

Did we buy a public beach or a body of water. Today it all seems to be covered in water.

Look at it this way Suzanne...if its covered in water it prevents vendors from using 50% of the purchase, free of charge, to set up un-used beach chairs and umbrellas.

That's a plus in my opinion but a hefty price to pay.

The good news is that people LOVE that outfall area. Since these parcels are paid for with TDC funds (not our taxes, but tourist bed taxes), our visitors will have full enjoyment, the County can handle whatever the needs of the outfall area might be without having to concern themselves with private property owners "owning" the land underneath the outfall, and residents will have full enjoyment of the area as well.

Did we buy a public beach or a body of water. Today it all seems to be covered in water.

As long as the public loves playing in it, probably doesn't matter that much whether it is dry sand or shallow water.

The good news is that people LOVE that outfall area. Since these parcels are paid for with TDC funds (not our taxes, but tourist bed taxes), our visitors will have full enjoyment, the County can handle whatever the needs of the outfall area might be without having to concern themselves with private property owners "owning" the land underneath the outfall, and residents will have full enjoyment of the area as well.

We all already had full enjoyment of that area. And most beach areas.

According to the video from the Mon Sep 20 BCC Mtg, the Eastern Lake Deal with Peter Russell is dead.

According to Mark Davis Mr. Russell was wanting to "receive assurances from the Planning Dept. that we would agree to certain things ahead of time which quite frankly we (the Commissioners) don't have the ability to do." Also, Mr. Russell never signed the contract.

A motion was passed by the commissioners to formally withdraw the offer for the contract.

Walton County Board of County Commissioners - Meeting of Board of County Commissioners on 9/20/2016 at 4:00 PM

I met Peter this past week, turns out we work with the same real estate guy in South Florida and he connected us. He seemed to be a really good guy and had no problems at all with people using the property to go over to the lake. I would imagine that he wanted it to be vendor free if he sold it, and maybe they couldn't make that assurance. Just my guess, because that really would impede on his view.

Talking with many of the gulf front home owners over the past few years it seems like people and chairs, even umbrellas in front of their houses isn't the bugaboo, it is tents.