INLET BEACH — A development boom is underway just west of the Bay-Walton County line.
“We definitely have a lot of building going on countywide,” said Walton County spokesman Louis Svehla. “Our building permits are through the roof right now.”
Much of the growth, however, is concentrated in the Inlet Beach area, with several projects going vertical on U.S. 98 not far from the County 30A community of Rosemary Beach.
One of the largest projects, the 16.5-acre commercial retail center “30Avenue,” is under construction on the north side of the intersection of 30A and U.S. 98. The first phase of the project is slated to open this winter, followed by the second phase in spring 2015.
Kerri Price, marketing director for developer CorrGroup Inc., said the project has received plenty of interest from businesses. The first phase of the 130,000-square-foot shopping center is about 65 percent leased, but Price said the number is expected to increase exponentially this week. The second phase of the project is about 50 percent leased, she said.
“The phones are ringing, and people are very excited about a commercial development in this perfect spot,” said Price, adding the project’s visibility and location make it an easy sell. “It really is the gateway to 30A.”
Leases that have been executed and announced include restaurants Barbacoa Mexican Grill and Tim Creehan’s Cuvee, interior design stores Design on the Gulf and A Boheme Design, sunglass shop Shades, Scenic Sotheby’s International Realty and Martin Operating.
CorrGroup isn’t the only developer to tap into the area’s potential.
The Crossings at Inlet Beach is another commercial retail center slated to begin opening stores by next year. The center will consist of 17,335 square feet of retail space on the north side of U.S. 98, between Wall Street and Orange Street.
Also joining the Inlet Beach community is the Donut Hole, a cafe and bakery with another location in Santa Rosa Beach. The 6,500-square-foot restaurant opened on U.S. 98 across from the 30A intersection earlier this year.
Nelson Davis, leasing specialist for The Crossings at Inlet Beach, said eight of the center’s nine slots are already leased.
Davis pointed to a strong client base of both residents and visitors in the area, with communities like Rosemary Beach and the growing St. Joe Co. development Watersound Origins nearby.
“If you look at it, there’s probably about $100 million worth of construction going on,” Davis said. “That by itself tells a lot, and it’s only going to get better.”