Seaside...Welcome or Not

[SHELLY]

Re: Seaside - NOT Welcome:Redux

cat killing spree? destruction of Whisker's Friends???? what is wrong with the rest of the Seaside residents? do they condone this behavior???? this is just SICK.

Seaside is starting to sound like something out of a Stephen King novel.


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[Smiling JOe]

goodwitch, I believe that Seaside's HOA is headed by Neighborhood Associations, (Each street seems to be a neighborhood) and they are the ones who make the calls, as I understand it.

 

[GoodWitch58]

Thanks, SJ. The entire situation seems bizarre to me--and really sad that Seaside has gone from the premier community for New Urbanism...to a place where visitors are not encouraged..and how could three people, or one street's association, decide to install those huge Private Beach signs? Just doesn't seem logical.

Oh well. there are plenty of other places to visit, eat, and sit on the beach..at least for the moment.

 

[Dreamsicle]

Re: Seaside - NOT Welcome:Redux

My guess is that most Seaside owners don?t have time to worry about signs and the squeaky wheels got their way.

Count me as a Seaside owner who is distressed at the recent developments. I bought a home at Seaside in the 90's because I fell in love with the town but also because I believe in the principles of the New Urbanism and don't want to live/vacation in a "private" or gated community. You're right that a lot of us don't have the time to deal with every issue that comes up, and unfortunately that's how a few people (or squeaky wheels, as you say) get their way. Kudos to Robert Davis for speaking out. I hope that, and other owners speaking up, will help reverse this trend. I haven't seen the Seaside paper yet (they mail it via Pony Express, I think) but I look forward to reading Davis' comments.

 

[Sandcastle]

Re: Seaside - NOT Welcome:Redux

__________________
I asked a friend from Savannah Street and immediately she said there was no doubt they were the same three ring leaders, who got themselves, through proxy tactics, to be on the Seaside Tupelo Association board: She said the same three were behind the cat killing spree and destruction of the Whisker's Friends program run by Janet Evans[/quote]

I know two of the three individuals involved. Suffice it to say, you?re absolutely right.

It?s surprising how apathy amongst Seaside owners is allowing these three to destroy Robert Davis? dream that has created so much wealth and happiness for more than 25 years.

 

[jpbhen]

well, take heart. we had a somewhat similar situation in our community, when a small group took control of the HOA. however, it didn't take much longer than one or two election cycles for the residents to bring things back around - the "crew" ended up selling and moving away when they discovered that they could not control things. maybe something similar will happen with seaside in time, especially with mr. davis weighing in - perhaps that will help wake up the residents!! i just hope there won't be any more "cat-killing sprees" or other things that can't be undone.

 

[Smiling JOe]

I've always enjoyed the open feel of Seaside, until I recently started to seeing all of the "private" signs. I think by installing them, they are pushing away the very people whom they attempt to attract. I know that parking is a major issue in Seaside, and I have never parked in front of a home on the streets of Seaside, unless I was an invited guest. With the newly paved, but yet to open, public parking lot to the west of Seaside, maybe less people who do park in front of homes on the streets in Seaside, will have more options of parking, and Seaside owners and guests will continue to have a place to park.

 

[Goddessgal]

This is sad. I have taken many guests there over the years. We patronize the restaurants, walk around, even over to the walkovers, admire the beach, take some photos, and leave things the way we found them (if not better-I try to pick up litter when I see it because it ticks me off). My family thought about taking some international inlaws there last year but I was really disheartened and embarrassed by the possibility of being asked to leave. My family is from Walton county -I want to share places with them where they will feel welcome. We would never dream of invading someone's privacy or parking in front of their homes (or rentals - we have family reunions at the beach, too). After "meeting" some of you online that work or live there who seem like really great people; I can imagine this must be even more frustrating to you.

30-A is a public road, right? Even after reading this entire thread, I am still a bit confused about what Seaside residents pay for, and what all taxpayers are paying for. I'm not trying to be patronizing - I truly just want to understand; isn't Seaside supposed to be a neo-urbanist "town" (with its own post office and everything)? Aren't town and city parks, gazebos, sidewalks, etc, usually open to the public? Does the fact that much of the town of Seaside is made up of rentals change this perception? I had also heard that initially Seaside was not initially supposed to build on the southern side of 30A? Could the fact that they did have fueled some of the territorial debate?

Anyway, just a train of thought...

As for strictly enjoying the beach, we now generally go to Grayton State Park, pay the fees, no worries. It has always been my favorite beach locale anyway (besides Blue Mountain - but now I'm worried about stepping onto the wrong piece of sand there).

DPZ is building a new "community" in Galveston, TX, not too far from where I currently reside. It will be interesting to see how they address similar issues.

 

[wrobert]

30-A is a public road, right? Even after reading this entire thread, I am still a bit confused about what Seaside residents pay for, and what all taxpayers are paying for.

Seaside is a community. 30-A is a county road. The roads in Seaside are privately owned and maintained. It sure seems it places the business owners in a position. They need the traffic to survive, yet those that live there do not want the traffic. Competing interests, I guess.

I am starting to think that quite a few people in south Walton really want to live in a gated community, yet they want to do so without the costs, thus proactive government code enforcement. More and more several of you are starting to come off as isolationists to me.

 

[scooterbug44]

If I am parking a car in Seaside it is because I am visiting someone there, frequenting a shop or restaurant, or attending an event open to the public and they need to realize that is part of life in a town.

I don't park in any space reserved for a certain unit, go there to use the beach or be a lookie-loo and cause traffic problems - things that I agree are problematic and that they are well w/in their rights to try and correct.

My issue is with them pitching a fit about cars parking on the streets (in designated spaces no less) during events and putting up signs ON the beach.

I definitely think some Seaside folks don't understand the difference between a community and a gated community. IMO the only benefit to a gated community is that it keeps the riff-raff in!