Traditional Neighborhood Developments (TNDs) have sprung up like wildfire across the country since the concept was first introduced in the late-1980s. The form, also called New Urbanism, emphasizes a pedestrian scale, public green spaces, and a variety of dwelling types and mixed retail/residential structures, and has been avidly adopted by coastal vacation community developers, whose clientele is eager to arrive, park the car, and get down to the business of relaxing with family and friends in a secluded, home-like atmosphere. Rosemary Beach, located on northwest Florida’s gulf coast between Panama City and Destin, and a short drive (or bike ride) down Scenic Highway 30-A from the granddaddy of New Urbanist developments, Seaside, has followed the basic principles of New Urbanism while injecting a new level of sophistication into the proceedings.

Designed by Andrés Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, pioneers of New Urbanism, Rosemary Beach was founded in 1995, and as of August 2007, approximately 568 homes have been completed on its 107 acres. Eschewing the self-consciously nostalgic, “ice cream social” aesthetics of earlier developments, Rosemary Beach has instead adopted the more august European colonial shapes and silhouettes of St. Augustine, the West Indies, New Orleans, and Charleston, giving a pleasing sense of permanence to the relatively new community.

While each home is architecturally unique and custom-designed to reflect the owners’ tastes and lifestyle, the character of the community is preserved through a strict urban code and set of construction regulations. There are 13 basic building types (not models or plans, but guidelines) that encourage the use of authentic and environment-appropriate construction materials and techniques to ensure the homes’ structural integrity.

Architectural details such as deep eaves that provide shade from the afternoon sun, high ceilings that draw in gulf breezes, and gardens, courtyards, and porches that provide outdoor living space allow owners to take full advantage of the beachside locale. The use of stain rather than paint on building exteriors not only enhances the aged quality of the structures, but also requires less maintenance than paint in the salt air. An earthy palette of rich, soothing colors, such as chocolate, sage green, mustard yellow, terra cotta, and Spanish moss, distinguish the community from the bright tropicals and cloying pastels that typify many beachside developments.

Among the building types found at Rosemary Beach are The Arcade buildings, which range from 4,800 to 7,500 square feet and have two-and-a-half to three-and-a-half stories. The first floor is limited to commercial use, the second floor can be utilized for residential, office, or commercial use, and the third floor is residential only. The Arcades are primarily town center buildings and face tree-lined public parks.

Courtyard buildings are 1,800 to 3,200 square feet and have two to two-and-a-half stories. Located park-side, these buildings feature a park-side balcony, an interior courtyard, a courtyard porch, and an attached carriage house.

The two-story Beach House is 2,000 to 4,000 square feet and features a two-story wraparound porch and detached carriage house. By contrast, the Beach Cottage is 1,000 to 2,000 square feet and one to two stories. These gulf-front residences (fronting the conservation easement) feature a two-story front porch and detached carriage house.

But Rosemary Beach isn’t just a collection of homes—it’s a full-fledged community. A network of pedestrian lanes, footpaths, and boardwalks connects the neighborhoods and leads to the town square, tennis courts, swimming pools, and beach. Parking is restricted to alleyways behind homes, and the town’s resolutely human scale ensures that everything is within a five-minute walk. The town square features shops and restaurants, as well as the Town Hall, suitable for meetings, weddings, receptions, and other functions, the post office (Rosemary Beach has its own zip code), and the town bell, which tolls on the hour.

Recreational opportunities include the Rosemary Beach Racquet Club, offering a comprehensive tennis program and pro shop; the 1,620-square-foot Fitness Center; bike rentals (a must for a true Rosemary Beach experience); the Solace Day Spa; and four pools. The master plan also calls for plenty of parks and green spaces, landscaped with native plants and flora wherever possible, offering the ideal location for reading, picnics, and outdoor activities. Some, such as the Eastern and Western Greens, are expansive lawns well suited for community gatherings or a game of croquet; others are cozy squares tucked discreetly down side streets, and the pleasure of stumbling upon them, with their arbor-shaded benches and burbling water features, is one of the unmatched pleasures of strolling around Rosemary Beach.

Dining opportunities abound along Highway 30-A (need we say it’s a seafood lover’s paradise?), and Rosemary Beach offers a number of cafés and restaurants to suit any taste. Onano Neighborhood Café specializes in northern Italian cuisine, while Courtyard Wine and Cheese serves 50 wines by the glass and gourmet cheeses imported from Europe and across America in an open-air courtyard. The Summer Kitchen provides casual, family-style fare for breakfast and lunch, then transforms into Blue by Night for dinner, serving salads, sandwiches, and pasta. Wild Olives is a market, bakery, and deli featuring domestic and imported meats and cheeses, an olive bar, salads, and breads and pastries, in addition to a gourmet retail section. A full service lunch menu is served daily, and a tapas menu is available in the afternoon and early evening. Sugar Shak is, as its name suggests, the place to go for sweet treats, and who could start their day without Starbucks, located on Main Street.

A concierge service is available to fulfill homeowners’ and visitors’ requests. Have the kitchen pre-stocked with favorite foods; reserve baby furniture, bikes, and beach equipment; or schedule babysitters, spa appointments, and tee times. The concierge can even have champagne and flowers waiting in your home when you arrive.

To get an idea of what life at Rosemary Beach is like, most of the properties are available for rental, from studios to loft or flat units to luxury homes ranging from two to five bedrooms. As of February 2008, there were 87 residences on the market, including the private residence club offering fractional ownership opportunities, and a number of lots for sale. Available home prices range from $220,000 (residence club) to $5,495,000 (as of February 2008). For more information, call 888-855-1551 or visit www.rosemarybeach.com.  

Hotel Saba            
Visitors to Rosemary Beach will soon have a new lodging option when Hotel Saba, the community’s first hotel property overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, opens in mid-2008. The full-service, luxury hotel will offer 53 rooms including two unique spa suites, a signature fine dining restaurant, conference facilities and event spaces for small executive groups, retail shops, a fitness center, lounge, and pool.
For more information, visit www.thehotelsaba.com.

Photo Captions: 
Photo 1: There are 13 basic building types at Rosemary Beach, but each home is custom-designed to reflect owners' tastes and lifestyle.
Photo 2: While the architectural influences at Rosemary Beach recall the Caribbean, St. Augustine, New Orleans, and Charleston, many homeowners have incorporated a modern edge into the design of their homes.
Photo 3: Designed by Barbados architect Douglas Patrick Luke, Barbados Pool is designed in French West Indies architectural tradition, featuring a dramatic entrance with copper roof, shaded loggia, stucco tower, and vestibule fountain.
Photo 4: Gardens, courtyards, and porches provide outdoor living space that allow owners to take full advantage of the beachside locale.  
Photographs courtesy of Rosemary Beach.