After a recent Daphne Planning Commission meeting, plans for the Caroline Woods subdivision are looking a little different than they originally planned on.  The original plans were approved in November 2008 as part of the Madison Place subdivision concept, but will now be a separate subdivision; also altered is the number of lots required from 86 lots to 79.  Engineer David Diehl feels that this new plan will fit better into the “Smart Growth” category for Daphne and offers an improved design.
Other information discussed regarding this new Daphne subdivision include the possibility of additional studies on surrounding neighborhoods including a traffic study to determine how it would impact traffic flow, and the recommendation of a privacy fence to be built along the northern edge of the development.

For more on the Caroline Woods subdivision plans in Daphne AL visit Baldwin County Now news online.

For more information on real estate in Daphne AL contact your local agent Barbara Reeves today.

The 22nd annual Alabama Coastal Cleanup project saw another successful turn out this year.  This annual cleanup activity invites volunteers from all over the region to take part in collecting trash to keep the gulf coast looking pristine and inviting.  Not only is this event important for the appearance of the coast, but it also prevents local marine life from being negatively affected and helps residents to be more aware of their duty in keeping the gulf coast a place of beauty.  Organizers reported about 900 lbs of trash were collected at the May Day Park in Daphne AL alone, with enough volunteers present to finish the area in about an hour.

For more information on Gulf Coast homes including Fairhope, Mobile, West Mobile, Spanish Fort, and Daphne AL contact Barbara Reeves.

The first stage of clearing the land by Mobile Bay that runs along the edge of Bayside Academy’s campus is underway; this will make way for the construction of a new Bayside arts center.  The Performing Arts Center is planned to be 12,488 square feet and include an auditorium with a seating capacity of 400.  The area by Mobile Bay near the campus where the arts center will be is currently being cleared of trees and other debris to begin the 14 month process of building.  Hitherto, Bayside Drama students had to make do with the athletic gymnasium which presented many technical and logistical problems, as reported by the Press Register.

The new arts center is last on the list of many improvements done to this Daphne AL school over the past two years.

For more information on real estate in Daphne AL contact your local Gulf Coast Homes realtor Barbara Reeves today.

image credit: sxc.hu

Plans for a 45,600 square foot Publix Super Market are moving forward this year in Daphne Alabama. The new super market will be located at the Magnolia Place shopping center and alterations are now taking place to create a pharmacy lane behind Blockbuster Video, and additional landscaping will brighten up the area in the parking lot with more greenery.  According to a recent article in the Press Register online, Publix has signed a lease with the building’s owner and the grocery store is expected to open in 2010.

For information about available homes in Daphne Alabama or other Gulf Coast AL homes, contact your local realtor Barbara Reeves today.

In most locations of the country, winter has set in; but in Alabama’s Gulf Coast seasonal visitors have been coming out for the warmer climate.  “Snowbirds,” as winter visitors are referred to, have flocked to the Baldwin county beaches for some recreation and to get away from the harsh weather conditions in other parts of the country.  Dauphin Island is also showing signs of winter visitors for brief periods of time here and there for family vacations.

But with golf courses, dining options, and the fresh coast air, ‘snowbirds’ know how to spend their time on the Gulf Coast.  The local economies also benefit considerably from the business, and the seasonal visitors are happy to have a place to be home away from home.

For more information on real estate in the Baldwin County AL area, including Fairhope, Spanish Fort, and Daphne Alabama, contact local agent Barbara Reeves via email or by clicking the ‘talk now’ button on this page.

Baldwin County AL federal flood insurance policyholders will see a savings on premiums this year.  Due to the step up from a Class 8 to a Class 7 in the Community Rating System program, a 15 percent discount saving will be seen, an improvement on the previous 10 percent discount.  This discount will mean a countywide total savings of $640,000 and on the individual level, an average of $68 per policy savings for almost 9,500 policyholders that reside in the Special Flood Hazard Areas.

Learn more about flood insurance coverage in Baldwin County AL at the Press Register.

For information on real estate in Baldwin County, AL including homes and property in Fairhope, Spanish Fort, and Daphne Alabama contact your local realtor Barbara Reeves via email or by clicking on the “Talk Now” button on this page.

Finding a parking space in the crowded downtown Fairhope AL area is about to become a lot easier with the new parking deck nearing completion.  The general contractor on the project, John Pate, is shooting for finishing the parking deck by the 31st of this month, but expects if it isn’t done by this time, that it will be done shortly after.

The Fairhope parking deck will have 249 spaces for parking and is estimated to cost $2.5 million to build; it has been constructed with six sloping levels and has three entrances, two from Church Street and one from Section Street.  The city will manage the parking deck, making it free of charge, but they must still decide on how Hampton Inn customers will be identified for their 89 reserved parking spaces.

For information on Fairhope AL real estate and nearby Spanish Fort, and Daphne AL real estate, contact your local agent Barbara Reeves via email or by clicking on the “Talk Now” button on this page.

Daphne Utilities now hopes to be able to sell their 19-acre wetlands for $200,000 after abandoning possibilities that they might allow new homes to be built on the parcel.  Three months ago Daphne Utilities considered taking the 19-acres of land near Oak Bluff in Daphne AL and dividing it into three parcels of land for new homes to eventually be built by other developers; they are now interested in selling the property to the city to be developed as a nature preserve.  However, some city council members are looking into the issue more to see if they can purchase the land for less or another agreement can be made.  Daphne’s city council is happy to have the prospect of having this parcel of land dedicated as a wetland preserve, but enforce that it isn’t likely to happen very quickly.

For more information on available homes in Daphne AL or other Gulf Coast real estate in Fairhope, Spanish Fort, Mobile and West Mobile AL contact your local realtor Barbara Reeves via email or by clicking on the “Talk Now” button on this page.

The Comprehensive plan for Baldwin County is steadily coming along.  Last night the Baldwin County Planning and Zoning Commission work session was held to talk about how the Horizon 2025 document would be implemented.  The Genesis Group prepared the report based on input from political leaders in 2007 and residents; the current questions for the proposed plans include which suggestions will actually be implemented by the county officials and which ones will not.  The slowing down of the housing market could prove to be beneficial as now officials can really look at planning how to make their county grow responsibly and be in the best interest of the local economy.  The Baldwin County Planning and Zoning Commission will have a special meeting on December 11th to present recommendations to the county commission.

For more information on available real estate in Baldwin County, including Spanish Fort, Fairhope, and Daphne AL contact your local agent Barbara Reeves via email or by the “Talk Live” button at the top of this page.

While many Gulf Coast homeowners are concerned about the increasing property taxes, Alabama Revenue Commissioner Time Russell explained last Thursday that these taxes are still much lower than other parts of the country.  Last week’s “Coffee with the Mayor” resulted in a discussion about property taxes to help Baldwin County residents understand the current situation.  Although national trends are seeing home values decreasing while property taxes are rising, Alabama homeowners are still paying considerably less than their neighboring areas.

It was also stated in this meeting that evaluations for Alabama homeowner’s property will go out the first week of December, and the following week they will be receiving the actual bill.  For more information about property taxes on Alabama’s Gulf coast visit Baldwincountynow.com.

For more information on Alabama’s Gulf Coast real estate including homes in Daphne, Fairhope, Spanish Fort, Mobile, and West Mobile Alabama, contact your neighborhood realtor Barbara Reeves via email or by clicking on the “Talk Live” button on the top right of this blog page.