The access before the development

A Tier Three project may be on hold, but its public benefit isn’t.

A stretch of beachfront property is scheduled to be developed into a six-story condominium called Caretta Dunes. Developer Dieter Blasbichler agreed to construct a 5-foot wide public beach access point/dune walkover along the west end of the property as part of the public benefit for the project. But since difficult economic times have halted the progress of the development for two years, the beach access point has yet to be built.

The project would consist of two adjoining buildings with a total of 80 condominium units along about 700 feet of Gulf front. It would be constructed on the site of the Sea Oats Motel in Crystal Beach near the intersection of Scenic Hwy. 98 and Tarpon Street.

But City Manager Greg Kisela said the city has decided it would be in Destin’s best interest if the public beach access point be made available now, and he said Blasbichler has agreed to advance that construction. Kisela said the beach access point should be available for use to the public by June.

The cost to the developer will be $49,500. The city will not be responsible for any of the cost unless the development never goes up, in which case the city would have to pay for half of the cost at most. It may be another two years before Caretta Dunes is built.