Sally
Beach Fanatic
By Joyce Owen, Walton Sun:
Tim and Alice Pauls? TopSail Village on the west end of County Road 30A has been a family-oriented project from the beginning.
When the Pauls envisioned TopSail Village, it was as a vacation destination for families. It was to be a walkable community, with easy access to the bike path that would allow visitors to ride bikes, not cars to visit other communities on 30A.
As the project developed, it also became a place for the Pauls to work: Tim works as the Realtor, broker and principal developer; Alice, as the ?one who writes the checks,? helps design the buildings and select the interiors; son Mark, also a Realtor, has already sold 18 units in two days; and daughter Carol, manages the office and lives at the Village.
The project began when the Pauls optioned the land in 1997 and made plans to build a mixed-use development to include 64 affordably-priced condominiums.
With two-bedroom twobath suites available in the $300,000s, TopSail Village may be South Walton?s most affordable condominium development on 30A, Tim said.
?There?s a tremendous lack of housing that people can afford with the wages they are receiving. I think we are providing a muchneeded product for the South Walton 30A area, because not everybody who wants to be here and should be here can afford $1-million-plus property,? he said.
Though not directly on the beach, with the numerous storms of the past two years and at 30 to 33 feet above sea level, the Pauls have adopted the slogan, ?TopSail Village is close enough to the beach to be convenient, but far enough away to be safe.?
?People can own property here and not be worried night and day that it?s not going to be there,? he said.
Forty-eight of the proposed condominiums in the first phase have been completed and now the Pauls have turned their attention to the next phase.
?We think that the commercial, office and general business demand may be greater than the demand for lots, houses and condos,? Tim said.
Phase 2 provides a 75-unit inn, and restaurants and offices in the commercial space, which will help the development become a real village, he said.
The suites at TopSail Inn have been designed for the visitor that wishes to stay for a day or a month, and the Pauls believe it will attract visitors that have been in South Walton before and don?t need to be right on the beach.
?Individuals can buy units and we will provide onsite management,? Tim said. ?I think we are the most likely and best entity to do that.?
The Pauls also hope to bring two or three food service vendors to the 6,000-square-foot space on the first floor of the commercial building.
There?s a courtyard that would be a good opportunity for a restaurant right on 30A. Noting the recent demolition of Capo?s and the limited number of family-type restaurants on 30A, the Pauls hope to bring in restaurants with menu prices more the mid range to their development.
?We are looking for restaurants where you can get a great salad and lunch and not break the bank,? Tim said.
Pauls said many fought against the mixed-use designation that allows residential and commercial in the same development. However with the success of The Village of Baytowne and the destruction of many small older eateries to make way for more condos, he anticipates his new Village will provide much needed commercial as well as residential opportunities on 30A.
Tim and Alice Pauls? TopSail Village on the west end of County Road 30A has been a family-oriented project from the beginning.
When the Pauls envisioned TopSail Village, it was as a vacation destination for families. It was to be a walkable community, with easy access to the bike path that would allow visitors to ride bikes, not cars to visit other communities on 30A.
As the project developed, it also became a place for the Pauls to work: Tim works as the Realtor, broker and principal developer; Alice, as the ?one who writes the checks,? helps design the buildings and select the interiors; son Mark, also a Realtor, has already sold 18 units in two days; and daughter Carol, manages the office and lives at the Village.
The project began when the Pauls optioned the land in 1997 and made plans to build a mixed-use development to include 64 affordably-priced condominiums.
With two-bedroom twobath suites available in the $300,000s, TopSail Village may be South Walton?s most affordable condominium development on 30A, Tim said.
?There?s a tremendous lack of housing that people can afford with the wages they are receiving. I think we are providing a muchneeded product for the South Walton 30A area, because not everybody who wants to be here and should be here can afford $1-million-plus property,? he said.
Though not directly on the beach, with the numerous storms of the past two years and at 30 to 33 feet above sea level, the Pauls have adopted the slogan, ?TopSail Village is close enough to the beach to be convenient, but far enough away to be safe.?
?People can own property here and not be worried night and day that it?s not going to be there,? he said.
Forty-eight of the proposed condominiums in the first phase have been completed and now the Pauls have turned their attention to the next phase.
?We think that the commercial, office and general business demand may be greater than the demand for lots, houses and condos,? Tim said.
Phase 2 provides a 75-unit inn, and restaurants and offices in the commercial space, which will help the development become a real village, he said.
The suites at TopSail Inn have been designed for the visitor that wishes to stay for a day or a month, and the Pauls believe it will attract visitors that have been in South Walton before and don?t need to be right on the beach.
?Individuals can buy units and we will provide onsite management,? Tim said. ?I think we are the most likely and best entity to do that.?
The Pauls also hope to bring two or three food service vendors to the 6,000-square-foot space on the first floor of the commercial building.
There?s a courtyard that would be a good opportunity for a restaurant right on 30A. Noting the recent demolition of Capo?s and the limited number of family-type restaurants on 30A, the Pauls hope to bring in restaurants with menu prices more the mid range to their development.
?We are looking for restaurants where you can get a great salad and lunch and not break the bank,? Tim said.
Pauls said many fought against the mixed-use designation that allows residential and commercial in the same development. However with the success of The Village of Baytowne and the destruction of many small older eateries to make way for more condos, he anticipates his new Village will provide much needed commercial as well as residential opportunities on 30A.
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