Key Facts

  • 1995

    Designed

  • 105 ac.

    Project Size

  • Paul Borden, Leucadia National Corp., Patrick Bienvenue

    Client

Program

  • 800

    Units

  • 55,000 sq.ft.

    Retail Space

About Rosemary Beach

Fifteen years after Seaside, a real estate investment company wanted to capitalize on that project’s success 7 miles to the east. Threading the needle, the project moved swiftly and expertly through sales and construction to be largely complete by the time the recession arrived. It has become what is arguably one of DPZ’s best liked communities.

Despite a clear mandate to replicate Seaside’s success, very little of Rosemary Beach emulates its predecessor. Seaside’s lucky immunity to regulations was no longer the reality, and lessons-learned needed to be applied. Rosemary’s town square was shaped more intimately and thoroughfare-like connecting to a Main Street. A rear-alley system both acknowledged the volume of cars not anticipated at Seaside and screened vehicles from streetview. The plan took a risk in facing many frontages along pedestrian walks. Yet welcoming porches and families with children– grateful for the safe access to the beach– kept garage accesses from becoming front doors.

Eschewing Seaside’s Key West pastel clapboard look, Rosemary favored more masonry and adopted a darker wood-stain palette. As in Seaside, however, native landscaping was encouraged to grow into a dense canopy.

Applied Initiatives

Green by Design
Light Imprint

Plan

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