Orange Beach city administrator shares updates on community developments

BY RUTH MAYO
Reporter
ruth@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 2/4/25

GULF SHORES — There is a lot of development happening in Orange Beach, and attendees of a recent Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism (GSOBT) Winter Showcase event on Jan. 30 were given …

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Orange Beach city administrator shares updates on community developments

Posted

GULF SHORES — There is a lot of development happening in Orange Beach, and attendees of a recent Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism (GSOBT) Winter Showcase event on Jan. 30 were given updates on everything from sidewalk additions and upgrades to various city centers to new condo and housing developments.

Orange Beach's special projects coordinator, Marc Anderson, discussed the city updates at the event, which is part of a free educational series that highlights a variety of local interests, such as history, nature and local artisans.

This Orange Beach-centered presentation was a continuation of updates given by Mayor Tony Kennon at the Orange Beach Town Hall in the summer of 2024.

SIDEWALK ADDITIONS AND GOLF CARTS

There are "two sidewalk projects underway," one stretching from the Recreation Center to the end of Bear Point and one under construction in front of the new Orange Beach High/Middle School, along with a crosswalk at William Silvers Parkway. These are expected to "really help with connectivity."

"It's been a challenge to try to work with all the utilities and rights of way and things, so it's taken a little longer than expected," Anderson said.

However, the sidewalks are scheduled to be completed by the end of the year, or at least "the contractors are obligated" to be done by then.

On the subject of sidewalks, Anderson brought up golf cart use in the city. He said there are 2,400 registered golf carts currently in Orange Beach, "and that's not all of them."

"We never were designed as a golf cart community. It just evolved," Anderson said as he was comparing Orange Beach to other golf cart cities in the South. "... It's evolved for us because of all the traffic in the summertime. Residents can't get out of their house, so the golf carts really add to the quality of life for residents."

Anderson said that typically the state of Alabama does not allow golf carts on sidewalks, but "a few years ago" a law was put in place to allow Baldwin County to permit golf carts in certain areas. One audience member asked if there are reserved spots for golf carts, "say, at the grocery store," and Anderson responded that there are "no special parking spots for the golf carts."

Another audience member asked about the right of way protocol for golf carts, and Anderson confirmed that a golf cart "should yield to the pedestrian, technically." As stated at the 2024 Orange Beach Town Hall, and previously reported by GCM, Councilman Jeff Boyd said the order of right of way goes pedestrian first, bike second and golf carts third.

NEW CONDO AND HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS

Anderson spoke of condos, hotels and "luxury apartment homes" coming to Perdido Beach Boulevard and Canal Road.

Margaritaville Resort will be coming in across the Intracoastal Waterway from The Wharf with three different districts, including Village, Amenity and Waterfront. Construction of the latter two is expected to wrap in 2027 with construction of the residential Village District set to begin right after those are completed. On the topic of The Wharf, Anderson also highlighted the new Wharf on Main area located at the front of the property after turning in from Canal Road.

Phoenix South Point, Caribe Seaside and Solis Condominium are all planned to be built on the beach side of the boulevard close to the Orange Beach Publix, where State Road 161 intersects with Beach Boulevard. The condo under construction, Phoenix South Point, is slotted to have 22 stories with 66 total units ranging from three to five bedrooms. Caribe Seaside condos, also under construction, will have 30 stories with 115 units with three- or five-bedroom options. Construction has not started at Solis, which is set to be a 24-story condo with 132 units ranging from two to five bedrooms.

Anderson said Caribe Seaside and Solis Condominium "may not be built" despite both properties receiving approval to build. Anderson said he's not sure if the condos are being built as some of the construction seems to have stalled and the "real estate trail" was removed on Solis.

Further east on Beach Boulevard, Phoenix Key, Springhill Suites Hotel and Tapestry Orange Beach are upcoming additions to the area. Phoenix Key is currently under construction to be a 25-story condo located a few lots east of Dolphin Key and Marlin Key condos on the beach side, with 56 units ranging from four to six bedrooms. Springhill Suites Hotel, currently being built next to Doc's Seafood and Steak on the north side of Beach Boulevard, will be a seven-story hotel with 120 rooms.

Tapestry Orange Beach will be two four-story buildings with 146 total units ranging from one to three bedrooms. These "luxury apartment homes," located west of the Walmart on Beach Boulevard, are currently under construction.

On Canal Road, ABACO Orange Beach and Lost Bay Townhomes are about to be or currently are under construction. ABACO is planned to have six buildings with five levels and 259 total units with two-to-five-bedroom options. ABACO is to be constructed in phases with Phase 1 having 54 units, however, construction has not started despite the building receiving city approval. Lost Bay Townhomes are currently under construction with 14 buildings planned with a total of 82 units in six-unit and four-unit buildings each with three bedrooms.

COMMUNITY UPGRADES

New wayfinding signs have been put in place using a new style for the city. Other signs and marquees are slotted to be constructed in the next few months. Other community upgrades are more large-scale.

"We're going to have this big Veterans Memorial on the front of our community development programs, and it's going to be next to the City Hall," Anderson said.

Bids for the Orange Beach Veterans Memorial are currently open and set to close Feb. 27. Anderson said this project is "a love of Mayor Kennon" to support veterans and first responders. The memorial will have different military, POW and first responder flags connected with the sidewalk in front of the city municipal buildings. Underneath the flags will be a sign that reads "Land of the free because of the brave. Freedom is not free." The American flag flying next to the memorial will be "one inch taller than the EMC's" making it the tallest in the city.

"Aesthetic" updates were added to certain roadways and city buildings, Anderson said, to fit into the "Coastal Branding" the city is working to implement. Most buildings are being redesigned to match the style while others are receiving renovations.

Other upcoming and already completed projects mentioned by Anderson include:

  •  Justice Center: New roof and repainted building, remodeled for use as offices for the police department.
  • Fire Station No. 2: Repainted exterior.
  • Senior Center and Library: New roof and "exterior facelift."
  • Sportsplex: Restrooms to be added to football/soccer field.
  • Golf Center: Golf simulators being added to old meeting room.
  • Coastal Arts Center: Concrete slab being added for weddings and events on the lawn.
  • Sea Turtle Center: The addition of a sea turtle rehabilitation center.