Walton County Politics post:
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO TURN WALTON’s BEACHES INTO A BATTLE GROUND? PART 1.
To our recollection, only in mid 2007 did anyone who owned beachfront property ask recreational beach users to leave the white sandy area of the beach.
An owner in Blue Mountain Beach in the Retreat told beachgoers accessing the beach that they could only stand in the water because the beach was privately owned. This was the first time the Board of County Commissioners encountered this( to our best recollection). A beachgoer decided to test the idea of private beach trespassing by setting up his chair on the Blue Mountain beach where he knew he would be reported for trespassing. Indeed, he was reported and the sheriff’s office, based on our understanding, did arrest him and the case was to go to trial. We never heard the outcome of the case. In fact, it seemed to go away with not much fanfare.
We believe this private beach trespassing issue would have accelerated but for the deep economic recession that occurred in 2008 and continued into 2012.
There was also an oil spill in 2010 that brought about some events that changed the marketing strategies of our Walton beaches. Businesses shuttered their doors, real restate agents left the area for other work, and contractors/builders were either out of work or left the area. House values dropped, in some cases by 50%, and many lost their vacation homes and lots through foreclosure. In 2008, there were 5,000 platted vacant lots on the book. Many of these subdivisions were foreclosed and banks ended up owning devalued real estate up and down the coast. Developments including Alys Beach, Watersound, and NatureWalk, Grande Point, were stopped and sat empty for years.
No one was concerned about removing beachgoers from the white sandy areas. Bringing business, renters, and buyers was the main focus. Everyone shared the beaches and was happy for the business. Vending businesses were few and far between.
British Petroleum (BP) began cash payouts to local governments, businesses, and others affected by the spill. The Tourist Development Council began an immediate marketing campaign well beyond the areas always identified as the target “drive to” markets. Television and other media ads were placed in markets including central Florida, Ohio, Illinois, New York, Kansas, Maryland, and others.
There seemed to be a sense of desperation to get vacationers to the beach. This sense of desperation never seemed to stop, even to this day. Heads in beds was the mantra. Infrastructure was not constructed to accommodate the vacationers. In fact, those developers who had paid into funds to improve roadways, drainage, parks, and bridges saw none of these improvements during the 2008-2012 timeframe. (An example of this is CR 395/30A intersection.)
It’s 2012, the recession is coming to an end and the economy is gearing up again.
Walton Politics has made every effort to be factually correct in recounting events of the past.
My Site
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO TURN WALTON’s BEACHES INTO A BATTLE GROUND? PART 1.
To our recollection, only in mid 2007 did anyone who owned beachfront property ask recreational beach users to leave the white sandy area of the beach.
An owner in Blue Mountain Beach in the Retreat told beachgoers accessing the beach that they could only stand in the water because the beach was privately owned. This was the first time the Board of County Commissioners encountered this( to our best recollection). A beachgoer decided to test the idea of private beach trespassing by setting up his chair on the Blue Mountain beach where he knew he would be reported for trespassing. Indeed, he was reported and the sheriff’s office, based on our understanding, did arrest him and the case was to go to trial. We never heard the outcome of the case. In fact, it seemed to go away with not much fanfare.
We believe this private beach trespassing issue would have accelerated but for the deep economic recession that occurred in 2008 and continued into 2012.
There was also an oil spill in 2010 that brought about some events that changed the marketing strategies of our Walton beaches. Businesses shuttered their doors, real restate agents left the area for other work, and contractors/builders were either out of work or left the area. House values dropped, in some cases by 50%, and many lost their vacation homes and lots through foreclosure. In 2008, there were 5,000 platted vacant lots on the book. Many of these subdivisions were foreclosed and banks ended up owning devalued real estate up and down the coast. Developments including Alys Beach, Watersound, and NatureWalk, Grande Point, were stopped and sat empty for years.
No one was concerned about removing beachgoers from the white sandy areas. Bringing business, renters, and buyers was the main focus. Everyone shared the beaches and was happy for the business. Vending businesses were few and far between.
British Petroleum (BP) began cash payouts to local governments, businesses, and others affected by the spill. The Tourist Development Council began an immediate marketing campaign well beyond the areas always identified as the target “drive to” markets. Television and other media ads were placed in markets including central Florida, Ohio, Illinois, New York, Kansas, Maryland, and others.
There seemed to be a sense of desperation to get vacationers to the beach. This sense of desperation never seemed to stop, even to this day. Heads in beds was the mantra. Infrastructure was not constructed to accommodate the vacationers. In fact, those developers who had paid into funds to improve roadways, drainage, parks, and bridges saw none of these improvements during the 2008-2012 timeframe. (An example of this is CR 395/30A intersection.)
It’s 2012, the recession is coming to an end and the economy is gearing up again.
Walton Politics has made every effort to be factually correct in recounting events of the past.
My Site
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