Florida Coastal Real Estate - Seaside Views

Jacksonville, Florida (bookwired.com) November 13, 2006 — It is always challenging creating luxury ocean front homes and ‘The Ocean Manors’ at Ponce Inlet was no exception.

Cranewoods Development of Jacksonville, Florida had to negotiate local and State planning rules which restrict the building to a height of 35 feet and preserve the site lines of neighboring residences by drawing a line between structures to the North and South of the lot - beyond which you cannot build. The project also required coordination with “Coastal Control Line” which is imposed by the State of Florida to control design in beachfront areas. Cranewoods has considerable experience in building luxury waterfront homes and was able exceed buyer’s expectations while staying within the various regulations to create this spectacular design. (more…)

PONCE INLET, Fla. — Gopher tortoises in Florida may soon have their status changed to threatened, which would give them more protection. 

But they are still in decline, falling to developers who can get a permit and destroy them. However, a new procedure gives developers new incentives to save the tortoises, WESH 2 News reported.

“Too often, gopher tortoises in this state are actually buried alive,” said Jen Hobgood of the U.S. Humane Society. “They are entombed and they died a slow and inhumane death.”

The developer who will put the cottages of Ponce Inlet on the site has hired a team to excavate the 17 gophers who live deep in the sand in long, narrow burrows. It is expensive and intricate work, but the payoff is that the tortoises will live. (more…)

WASHINGTON — The Humane Society of the United States and volunteers from local animal rescue groups are removing gopher tortoises at the HCM Construction/Cranewoods Development site at the Cottages at Ponce Inlet in Florida. The tortoises will be relocated to a permanent home at Nokuse Plantation in Walton County. (more…)