Henderson Beach Resort rendering for Crystal Beach Florida
I just heard about a new resort that is being planned for the Crystal Beach area, just in between Destin and Miramar Beach Florida, adjacent to Henderson Beach State Park. Check out the informaiton as provided by the Destin Log:
Henderson Beach Resort, a 13-acre, 313-unit resort complex in Crystal Beach, could become Destin’s next Tier Three development.
Tier Three, the highest level in the city code, allows developers to exceed the city’s normal limits in return for providing a “significant public benefit.” The developer, Dunavant Gulf LLC, says in its preliminary development application that parts of the five-story, 60-foot-tall resort complex would have 31.5 units per acre in areas where the Land Development Code allows only 24 units per acre.
Henderson Beach Resort would stretch northward from the Gulf across Scenic Hwy. 98 and up toward U.S. 98 between Matthew Boulevard and Henderson Beach State Park. The application filed with the city says that all 313 units would be seasonal, short-term rentals.
“With over one mile of unspoiled beaches adjoining the property, it is a timeless view, and Destin remains the ideal location for a world-class, mixed-use destination resort,” William Hagerman, senior vice president of real estate for Dunavant Enterprises, Inc., said in a news release. “We know it’s just a matter of time before things turn around, and we want to be in a position to enter what we believe will be a solid, eager market.”
Dunavant’s development application says it has spoken with Crystal Beach residents worried about how this will affect beach access, parking and traffic in the area, particularly that it will increase the number of drivers using residential streets to cut between U.S. 98 and Scenic Hwy. 98. The company said it’s forming a traffic committee to tackle this.
The $1.4 million in public benefits proposed for the project include:
•$150,000 for sidewalk improvements the city has tentatively planned for fiscal year 2010.
•$72,4000 a year for three years toward beach restoration.
•$21,000 over three years contributed to Destin’s citywide lighting plan.
•$125,000 for pedestrian crossings at the Matthew Boulevard and Crystal Beach Drive intersections with Scenic Hwy. 98.
•Other benefits including landscaping to conceal the lift station on the west end of Scenic Hwy. 98, and a public observation tower within the cul-de-sac there, giving people a view of the Gulf and the state park.
The application says the benefits are only suggestions, since it’s up to the City Council what constitutes a significant benefit.
The news release says it will include a high-end “boutique hotel” with a fitness center, spa and restaurant, and a pedestrian esplanade surrounded by retail.
“Our goal is to provide our guests with everything they need right here on property, meaning they can park their vehicles at check-in and not get back into them until they check out,” Hagerman said.
