55+ Community in Florida Panhandle: Latitude Margaritaville Watersound

Latitude Margaritaville Watersound, a new 55+ community in Florida’s panhandle, will break ground late this year. Heidt Design is providing planning, master-planning, engineering design and permitting, and landscape architecture services for the community. The firm is working in collaboration with master developer Minto Communities, global lifestyle brand Margaritaville Holdings and The St. Joe Company.

Latitude Margaritaville Watersound is located in Bay County near Panama City Beach and the scenic State Road 30A corridor. The first phase of the project is anticipated to include approximately 3,500 homes, a supporting sales center, community amenities and infrastructure for this 55+ community in Florida.

Latitude Margaritaville is a new portfolio of active adult communities developed by Minto and Margaritaville Holdings. Offering resort-style amenities, Latitude Margaritaville embraces a four-pillared lifestyle: food, fun, music and escapism. Heidt Design managed the landscape architecture services for the first two Latitude Margaritaville communities, located in Daytona Beach, Florida, and Hilton Head, South Carolina.

Planning for a 55+ Community in Florida

In its work for Latitude Margaritaville Watersound, Heidt Design is using its extensive experience in planning active adult and mixed-use master planned communities. Because the firm has worked for several 55+ communities over the years, the team understands the nuances involved.

For example, in a 55+ community in Florida, homeowners’ primary mode of transportation is the golf cart. So, the Heidt Design team plans for golf-cart-friendly roads and trails throughout the community. Also, homebuyers in active adult communities tend to prefer premium lots adjacent to environmental features, like ponds. This is a significant planning component that Heidt Design takes into consideration when planning and designing the orientation of lots.

Locals Embrace Latitude Margaritaville Watersound

In 2018, Hurricane Michael caused catastrophic damage to areas of Florida’s panhandle. Many residents left, and not all returned.

The new Latitude Margaritaville Watersound 55+ community in Florida will bring a large master-planned, sustainable community to the area. Heidt Design leaders say the response has been extremely positive, from both the local government and neighboring communities, who see this as an economic opportunity for the panhandle.

Collaborating for Success

Heidt Design credits working on the Latitude Margaritaville Watersound 55+ community in Florida’s panhandle to its long-standing partnership with Minto Communities. Heidt Design has worked with Minto for over 15 years.

For Latitude Margaritaville Watersound, Heidt also worked with The St. Joe Company, as well as local professional firms. These included surveyors, engineers, testing companies and the like. These collaborations are – and will continue to be – a key component of successfully designing, developing and opening Latitude Margaritaville Watersound.

Currently, master-planning for the first phase of the project is complete. Detailed infrastructure subdivision plans are underway. In November, Heidt Design submitted permitting for the first phase of development, which includes the model home area. Permit approvals are expected in early 2020.

To learn more about Latitude Margaritaville Watersound, the new 55+ community in Florida’s panhandle, visit www.latitudemargaritaville.com/watersound.

And, to learn more about Heidt Design, please visit our Services page or contact us today.

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