Dawn
Beach Fanatic
Emerald Grande, the huge, ornate resort that Peter Bos and Legendary Inc. built near the eastern foot of the Destin bridge, is one of those projects that Gulf Coast grumblers love to hate. Now they have something else to gripe about. Mr. Bos confirmed recently he hopes to build a 100- to 150-room hotel and a second parking garage in the same area.
Some folks, predictably, went ballistic.
Online commenters damned Mr. Bos for ruining Destin and said they hope the Emerald Grande tumbles into the harbor. When they look at it, they said, they see only an eyesore, “a hunk of crap,” an atrocity, a monstrosity and “the Bostrosity.”
Let ’em complain. When WE look at the Emerald Grande, we see progress. We see jobs and tax revenue and a revived harborfront that draws enthusiastic crowds. We see at least one developer who believes Northwest Florida is ready to shake off the dust of the Great Recession and start building again.
Most of all, we see an expansion of the HarborWalk Village complex — of which the Emerald Grande is but one part — as a sign that the economic collapse of 2008 and the miserable, months-long oil spill of 2010 left the World’s Luckiest Fishing Village bruised but not beaten.
For Destin and the rest of the Emerald Coast, it’s time to pick ourselves up. It’s time to welcome entrepreneurs and other job creators who will invest their own time and money in the hope of putting their property to its highest and best use, attracting visitors, selling goods and services, strengthening our region’s economy and, not incidentally, turning a nice profit. It’s time to move forward.
“I think we’ve bottomed out in the real estate market, and the real estate market is coming back,” Mr. Bos told the Daily News’ Dusty Ricketts a few days ago. “We’re working on all kinds of things.”
He added: “We think the timing is about right.”
If Mr. Bos’ critics had their way, the timing would NEVER be right. We’re glad that people of more expansive vision are helping to chart Destin’s future.
Some folks, predictably, went ballistic.
Online commenters damned Mr. Bos for ruining Destin and said they hope the Emerald Grande tumbles into the harbor. When they look at it, they said, they see only an eyesore, “a hunk of crap,” an atrocity, a monstrosity and “the Bostrosity.”
Let ’em complain. When WE look at the Emerald Grande, we see progress. We see jobs and tax revenue and a revived harborfront that draws enthusiastic crowds. We see at least one developer who believes Northwest Florida is ready to shake off the dust of the Great Recession and start building again.
Most of all, we see an expansion of the HarborWalk Village complex — of which the Emerald Grande is but one part — as a sign that the economic collapse of 2008 and the miserable, months-long oil spill of 2010 left the World’s Luckiest Fishing Village bruised but not beaten.
For Destin and the rest of the Emerald Coast, it’s time to pick ourselves up. It’s time to welcome entrepreneurs and other job creators who will invest their own time and money in the hope of putting their property to its highest and best use, attracting visitors, selling goods and services, strengthening our region’s economy and, not incidentally, turning a nice profit. It’s time to move forward.
“I think we’ve bottomed out in the real estate market, and the real estate market is coming back,” Mr. Bos told the Daily News’ Dusty Ricketts a few days ago. “We’re working on all kinds of things.”
He added: “We think the timing is about right.”
If Mr. Bos’ critics had their way, the timing would NEVER be right. We’re glad that people of more expansive vision are helping to chart Destin’s future.
