Summersweet Place in WaterColor embodies the time-honored tradition of community

WATERCOLOR - Built within the 499-acre community of WaterColor, Summersweet Place offers 98 quarter-acre properties starting in the $100,000 range and comprises one of WaterColor’s last residential developments.

Bordering the Gulf of Mexico along a picturesque stretch of County Road 30A, WaterColor is a self-contained, coastal community of smaller residential and resort neighborhoods focused on relaxed waterfront living.

The newest of these neighborhoods, Summersweet Place, offers access to all common community amenities including a lakefront boathouse, a beach club on the gulf with a pool deck, a tennis center, Camp WaterColor, Camp Creek Golf Club, the BikeBarn, a fitness center, a spa, and all of the restaurants and retail shops found within Town Center.

“It’s a wonderful area, and Summersweet definitely provides people a great opportunity to get into WaterColor,” said Michael Lear, St. Joe Company vice president of marketing.

The community is located north of CR 30A and east of County Road 395 within the Grayton Beach State Recreation Area, a location that has proven ideal for the small town aesthetic so desired by the designers of this development. Built upon the concept of localized community living, WaterColor’s shops and restaurants are within a short walk of home.

Residents of Summersweet Place share this environment, with cottage homes along streets built to encourage walks and porch-front visits, while nearby parks and trails offer biking and hiking.

Accessibility to the area’s natural beauty will also be seeing a change in the near future. With a projected opening in May 2010, the new airport in Panama City will bring in potential buyers from around the world. The airport, which is 65 percent complete, is a mere 30 minutes away from Summersweet Place.

Homes at Summersweet are priced from $450,000 to $500,000, numbers that have been reduced to reflect the current market. Buyers quickly reacted to the price reduction.

“In all the changes, in all the ups and downs and trends of the economy and the world, one constant is the absolute, unbelievable beauty here,” said Jerry Ray, St. Joe’s vice president of communications.

“Despite the economy, people have always wanted to come, and Summersweet is an enhancement of that beauty.”

Standard features are anything but standard. The exteriors are covered in durable cement fiber Hardiplank siding and finished with Sherwin Williams exterior paint. Plant packages enhance the landscaping, while Pella windows and doors flood the cottages with natural light. Bathrooms are finished with Delta and American Standard fixtures, cultured marble shower pans, and ceramic tile flooring. GE Profile appliances are in the kitchens while Corian countertops and white oak flooring add just one more touch of class to the interiors.

The cottages are outfitted with wooden porches that encourage slow-paced enjoyment of the neighborhood, while outdoor lighting packages ensure that every last moment of the day can be utilized and savored.

The sense of community offered by Summersweet Place is a selling point for the neighborhood. The cottage homes here are a reminder that sometimes a return to our roots and the friendliness of neighbors can be fostered and flourish even in the hectic, fast paced world we live in.