Seaside Turns 30!
Founded in 1981, Seaside will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2011. This 80-acre town is located on the coast of Northwest Florida and is a model for the new urbanism, a movement that is changing urban and suburban planning and development practices throughout the country. Built upon rediscovered traditional town planning principles, the residential and commercial growth of the town has been ongoing and thoughtful. As a place where the entrepreneurial spirit is nurtured, the homes and retail shops in Seaside are individually owned.
The town is laid out so that most of life's daily needs are available within a short walk or bike ride. Three large public greens offer space for social activities and events. All public spaces are linked to a thriving town center that serves not only Seaside, but the surrounding communities as well. Dozens of shopping and dining options are located in or adjacent to the town center. Civic components include one of Florida's first state public charter schools, an interfaith chapel, a nonprofit institute, a repertory theatre, a post office and several parks. As an environmentally conscientious community, the precious coastal dune system remains intact on the Gulf side of town and preservation of the indigenous vegetation is a priority. The only lawns are public greens.
The enormous success of real estate and commercial sales in Seaside has led to a profusion of communities and neighborhoods developed following the principles of the Seaside model. Even HUD's new programs, such as Hope VI, follow the town's planning principles for low and mixed income housing developments, and HUD officials have visited and held seminars in Seaside.
For more about Seaside written by those most intimately involved with its development, you can order "Views of Seaside" from our store.
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