High coastal real estate prices and the threat of hurricanes may shift more demand to inland locations that feature higher elevations, which are hard to come by on the Florida coast. Owl's Head, a New Urbanist development, will test the market.
"According to Larry Davis, who has sold real estate in the Florida Panhandle for 15 years, 'nothing can compete with Seaside,' the original New Urbanist community where pastel-colored houses carry million-dollar price tags.
But his new development, Owl's Head, near Freeport, Fla., has something Seaside can't offer: elevation.
'It's a pretty slow rise as you drive up from the beach,' Mr. Davis said. 'But by the time you get to Owl's Head' â€" due north of Seaside and about 15 miles inland â€" 'you're at about 100 feet.'
By Florida standards, he said, 'this is nosebleed country.'
And that, to some buyers, could be a blessing. After two seasons in which hurricanes battered the Gulf Coast, destroying houses and much of the beach itself, some customers may like the idea of living inland, where they are protected from storm surges."
FULL STORY: Add 'Elevation' to 'Location, Location'
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning
SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.
The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs
The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.
San Diego Votes to Rein in “Towering” ADUs
City council voted to limit the number of units in accessory buildings to six — after confronting backyard developments of up to 100 units behind a single family home.
Texas Legislature’s Surprising Pro-Housing Swing
Smaller homes on smaller lots, office to apartment conversions, and 40% less say for NIMBYs, vote state lawmakers.
Even Edmonton Wants Single Staircase Buildings
Canada's second most affordable major city joins those angling to nix the requirement for two staircases in multi-family buildings.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Borough of Carlisle
Smith Gee Studio
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)