Seaside began with the beach. A beach noted for its fine, white sand and clear turquoise waters. Today, that one-half mile stretch of beach is reverenced for its beauty and recognized as belonging to all of us, residents and visitors, alike. At the end of each street, stands a pavilion, an open gateway to the last of America’s beautiful, unspoiled beaches. There are nine beach pavilions, each architecturally distinctive and each a symbol of the sharing of the beach and of Seaside’s commitment to harmony with the environment.
In fact, Seaside, for the third year, has been designated a Blue Wave Beach from the Clean Beach Council. The Blue Wave, America’s first environmental certification for beaches, recognizes responsible beach management practices, including water quality, beach and intertidal conditions, safety, services, habitat conservation, public education and erosion management.
The Seaside Beach made a giant splash in the architectural world when developer Robert Davis carved out a modern Victorian town with narrow streets, picket fences and homes arranged close together to encourage walking and neighborliness. It was the first of its kind, creating the model for towns across America. Seaside's "walk-to-anywhere" design is working to bring necessary shops and services to its residents and guests, including a post office and a school. Seaside, Florida's centerpiece contains the market, art galleries, a florist, an ice cream store, a post office, and other small boutiques. Although many Seaside homes can be rented on a daily or weekly basis, the city of Seaside also offers a motor court and bed and breakfast. Park your car and rent bicycles to explore this wildly successful pioneering town, featured in the 1997 motion picture "The Truman Show."
Seaside is the heart of Scenic Highway 30-A. Since it’s grand beginning, it has attracted world-wide attention. Time magazine quoted it as "the most astounding design achievement of its era." It has won many prestigious architectural awards over the years.
Conceived, planned and developed by Robert and Daryl Davis, (Robert Davis inherited the 80 acres of property in the 1970’s) their dream was to create a pedestrian-friendly, community of cottages with picket fences and elevated porches to watch the sun set on the Gulf. Along the brick-laid side streets you will find rows of homes, a highly praised charter school, a newly designed chapel, a newly opened Medical Arts building.
The town center was inspired by the squares you’ll find in cities like Charleston, Florence, Italy and Savannah. The Central Square is where you’ll find shops and restaurants with no building more than 3 or 4 stories tall. Ruskin Place, named after John Ruskin, the famous supporter of Victorian Art in London’s 19th century, is considered to be the "artist colony" of Seaside. Here you will find art galleries, a coffee shop and an interior design shop.
The New Urbanism, an architectural movement born with the creation of Seaside has played an important role contributing to today’s awareness in the designing and planning of the traditional town. |
