Nature Walk at Seagrove

[SoWalSally]

From Walton Sun

Nature Walk?s entrance preserves wetlands while making a statement to visitors ? ?Our backyard is nature as it?s been for 100 years.?
The 800-foot long wooden pile supported bridge on the entrance road is the longest of its kind in the United States and offers views of Point Washington State Forest that surround the project.
The bridge is the first of many hand-made wooden bridges and walkways that will interconnect the community.
?It provides a calming experience as you enter Nature Walk,? said developer Rick Olson. ?Through design and planning of the project we?ve created the experience of nature. We are hand-clearing each lot in Nature Walk to accentuate the existing natural vegetation and tree canopy.?
The gated community off County Road 395 in South Walton is being developed by Olson Associates of NW Florida Inc. and will have 291 homes and 200 condos on 155 acres.
More than 80 percent of the lots have views of the forest. Shannon Howell, senior vice president with the company, noted 68 acres would be preserved.
This is a master planned community with architectural guidelines that were designed by team of Olson employees and consultants to define Nature Walk. The ?pattern book? is a guide that defines everything in the community to create harmony with the environment, said Olson.
The placement of porches, fences and towers are not only described, each home site has specific plans that are outlined when the customer purchases the site. The pattern book also details the palette of colors, types of lighting and landscaping.
In Nature Walk there are three types of homes: rear-alley loaded cottages on the smallest lots, village homes on mid-size lots and preserve lots that are the largest and are on either a wetland area or the preserve.
Construction of the first residential development, four models that include two condos and two homes, should start in February with completion anticipated in nine months.
Work has also begun on The Gathering Place ? a 10,000 squarefoot clubhouse and the 8,000-square-foot welcome center and sales office.

 

[Buckhead Rick]

Any one know how sales are going? What, if any buildouts, and if the new "hotel" at the Seagrove market is helping sales in that area?

 

[SHELLY]

?It provides a calming experience as you enter Nature Walk,? said developer Rick Olson. ?Through design and planning of the project we?ve created the experience of nature.

And on the 7th day will Rick rest too? Or will Sunday's be preserved for "OPEN HOUSE"

 

[Kurt]

?It provides a calming experience as you enter Nature Walk,? said developer Rick Olson. ?Through design and planning of the project we?ve created the experience of nature.

And on the 7th day will Rick rest too? Or will Sunday's be preserved for "OPEN HOUSE"

Those might have been a poor choice of words by the developer, but your attempt at a joke just hit the floor with a thud. Rick Olson is doing a better development than most, including saving a lot of trees others might have clearcut, and respecting wetlands, which the community appreciates.

He also offered to pay $100,000 or so for the traffic light at 98 and 395 which would not have benefitted his development, other than possible PR value.

Please think twice before clicking the "submit reply" button.

 

[tuck]

Those might have been a poor choice of words by the developer, but your attempt at a joke just hit the floor with a thud. Rick Olson is doing a better development than most, including saving a lot of trees others might have clearcut, and respecting wetlands, which the community appreciates.

He also offered to pay $100,000 or so for the traffic light at 98 and 395 which would not have benefitted his development, other than possible PR value.

Please think twice before clicking the "submit reply" button.

I agree with Kurt here, and I almost always disagree with big development. Mr. Olson has shown true concern for the vegatation and for our community. He did offer a total of $250,000.00 for lights at both 395 and 283 intersections due to the fact that he has teenage children and was at a loss when the teenage girls were killed at 395.

He is a fine man and deserves good remarks.

 

[Franny]

I agree with Kurt here, and I almost always disagree with big development. Mr. Olson has shown true concern for the vegatation and for our community. He did offer a total of $250,000.00 for lights at both 395 and 283 intersections due to the fact that he has teenage children and was at a loss when the teenage girls were killed at 395.

He is a fine man and deserves good remarks.

Rick Olson is a fine, hardworking FAMILY man and I take my hat off to him. He is doing a remarkable job and Nature Walk is a beautiful area.

 

[Franny]

Any one know how sales are going? What, if any buildouts, and if the new "hotel" at the Seagrove market is helping sales in that area?

BR, the majority of the lots in Nature Walk were reserved by contractors in 2005. There are a few developer lots and from the Saturday article looks like they will begin construction this month. The contractors have not closed on their lots because of a few decisions for the development that are still in the works. I can't go into any more detail at this point, but I will say if the development is allowed to do what they are working towards Nature Walk will be a more sought of community than it is even now.

 

[TooFarTampa]

This is all very interesting. Thanks for the info. I've wondered about this project for awhile since it borders the end of San Juan Avenue, not too far from where our lot is in Seagrove. I applaud this kind of thoughtful development. It is also nice to see that our neck of the woods is not going to be too overloaded, since there is so much private green space in NatureWalk, the surrounding forests, and that parcel of WaterColor behind Publix.

I'm wondering about beach access though -- there doesn't appear to be an easy way to get to the beach. You could drive, but where in that area would you park? Any ballpark on pricing for these homes?

 

[Franny]

This is all very interesting. Thanks for the info. I've wondered about this project for awhile since it borders the end of San Juan Avenue, not too far from where our lot is in Seagrove. I applaud this kind of thoughtful development. It is also nice to see that our neck of the woods is not going to be too overloaded, since there is so much private green space in NatureWalk, the surrounding forests, and that parcel of WaterColor behind Publix.

I'm wondering about beach access though -- there doesn't appear to be an easy way to get to the beach. You could drive, but where in that area would you park? Any ballpark on pricing for these homes?

To be perfectly honest the lots reserved by contractors were not inexpensive, therfore this will reflect the price of homes. "Ballpark figures"
would possibly begin around $1.5 million based on the price of the lot. When I learn more I will share.

 

[monty]

To be perfectly honest the lots reserved by contractors were not inexpensive, therfore this will reflect the price of homes. "Ballpark figures"
would possibly begin around $1.5 million based on the price of the lot. When I learn more I will share.

It sounds like the developer is a good guy and is doing a lot to build a very nice and eco friendly development. Volunteering to put up lights at hwy 98 was also classy. But, if his houses are going to be listed at $1.5 million and up, he is going to have a very difficult time selling even one. There are beautiful houses much closer to the beach in Rosemary, Watersound, Watercolor, etc that are listed for a lot less and not moving. This development will have difficult time getting any traction. Too bad given the apparent good intentions of the developer.