Dawn
Beach Fanatic
Becnel, who floated the idea of a small casino in Sandestin, also addressed the controversial gaming bill that was killed in the Florida Senate days earlier.
He said bringing a casino to the area would have brought in jobs and visitors, but he dropped the proposal because Sandestin homeowners did not want it.
He said the number of visitors to the resort is up, however, and higher than any point in the past seven years.
Becnel said available real estate for sale on Sandestin property has dropped from 900 to 300 listings, and the listings have seen a purging of foreclosures and short sales.
His forecast for the future is that the resort will see new construction of a 96-unit condominium at Sandestin, a 26-unit condominium at Seaside, and a single-family unit is planned at Burnt Pine, all of which he believes will be under way this year.
At The Village of Baytowne Wharf, he said visitors can expect to find a new Hofbrauhaus and Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop.
Becnel said he will bring in a new ferris wheel to Baytowne for the younger crowd.
Baytowne will be recast, he said, cutting a new driveway out of the Village for easier exit, and a movement is under way to lure homeowners back in and re-engage them.
He said bringing a casino to the area would have brought in jobs and visitors, but he dropped the proposal because Sandestin homeowners did not want it.
He said the number of visitors to the resort is up, however, and higher than any point in the past seven years.
Becnel said available real estate for sale on Sandestin property has dropped from 900 to 300 listings, and the listings have seen a purging of foreclosures and short sales.
His forecast for the future is that the resort will see new construction of a 96-unit condominium at Sandestin, a 26-unit condominium at Seaside, and a single-family unit is planned at Burnt Pine, all of which he believes will be under way this year.
At The Village of Baytowne Wharf, he said visitors can expect to find a new Hofbrauhaus and Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop.
Becnel said he will bring in a new ferris wheel to Baytowne for the younger crowd.
Baytowne will be recast, he said, cutting a new driveway out of the Village for easier exit, and a movement is under way to lure homeowners back in and re-engage them.