Alamo Circle Flex Buildings – Four One-Story Offices/Warehouses Approved in Gulf Shores

Alamo Circle Flex Buildings, Gulf Shores: My First Look at a New Commercial Node

My quick overview

The Planning Commission has approved a site plan on Alamo Circle for three office-warehouse buildings and one professional office building on an 8.5-acre parcel zoned BG (General Business). The site sits north of County Road 10 East at the northern edge of the Gulf Shores city limits. Each of the four one-story buildings is planned at about 2,600 square feet. Parking totals 42 spaces, exceeding the minimum of 33.

I like the balance here: modest footprints, generous parking, and attention to the landscape. The plan preserves two protected trees and two heritage trees—credited toward landscaping—and handles drainage with …

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Rowan Oak PUD, Daphne – Units Reduced to 545 and Mix Shifts Toward Multifamily

Rowan Oak (PUD) in Daphne, Alabama: What the Master Plan Change Means

My quick overview

The Daphne Planning Commission approved a modification to the Rowan Oak Planned Unit Development. The developer’s change reduces the planned homes from 585 to 545—a net decrease of forty units—while shifting the product mix to fewer single-family and townhome residences and an increase in multifamily. The community spans about 127 acres located southwest of the intersection of County Road 13 and Milton Jones Road.

From a planning perspective, this kind of rebalancing can improve feasibility in today’s financing and construction environment while creating a broader range of housing options.

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Edwin Oaks Subdivision in Gulf Shores – 7 New Construction Homes Near Little Lagoon

Edwin Oaks Subdivision, Gulf Shores: First Look at a Seven-Lot Coastal Enclave

My quick overview

The City has granted preliminary plat approval for Edwin Oaks Subdivision, a seven-lot single-family neighborhood on 2.47 acres along State Highway 180 West, just west of Mo’s Landing City Park in Gulf Shores. The site is currently wooded, including six heritage live oaks, and carries a BN (Neighborhood Business) zoning designation. Plans show home sites fronting both Highway 180 and Little Lagoon, served by a pervious brick paver driveway—a detail I love for stormwater and aesthetics.

The design preserves all heritage trees and sets a 30-foot natural buffer along a small wetland on the southern edge, with a conservation easement…

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Rayley Farms Phases 5 & 6 in Gulf Shores – Final 23 Acres, 51 Lots, Trails & Open Space

Rayley Farms (Phases 5 & 6), Gulf Shores: My First-Person Take on the Final 23 Acres

My quick overview

A preliminary plat has been approved for the final phases of Rayley Farms in Gulf Shores, located north of Coastal Gateway Boulevard (CR 8). These last phases add 23 acres to the community and are planned for 51 single-family homes—50 lots in Phase 5 and one lot in Phase 6—with a conditional R-1-5 zoning framework. Average density is noted at ~2.2 dwelling units per acre, with minimum lot sizes of 8,400 sq ft and minimum lot widths of 65 ft.

What stood out to me is the emphasis on open space and conservation. This phase is slated to preserve about four acres of wetlands and twenty heritage trees, and to designate ~31% of the…

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The Colony in Fairhope, Alabama – 432-Home Mixed Neighborhood: My First Look

The Colony, Fairhope, Alabama: First Look at a 432-Home Concept

I reviewed the Fairhope Planning Commission’s informal discussion of The Colony, a proposed 148-acre mixed neighborhood at Highway 181 and Highway 104, across from The Verandas. The early concept shows approximately 432 residences across a spectrum of home types—townhomes, cottage lots, manor homes, and estate lots—arranged around walkable streets, a large north–south wetland corridor connected to the Pensacola watershed, and about 51 acres of preserved open space including pocket parks, a central greenway, and a 3-acre “Colony Park” for active recreation. The item was informational only; no formal action was taken. Level Homes is named as the proposed builder.

As…

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Gulf Coast Lighting & Smart Fans That Elevate Sophistication and Resale in Orange Beach, Ono Island, and Perdido Key

Modern Lighting, Luminaires, and Smart Fans on the Gulf Coast: Elevating Comfort, Sophistication, and Resale

On the Gulf Coast, the right lighting plan and smart fans do more than keep a space comfortable. They create a sense of movement and a quiet, coastal sophistication that reads beautifully in person and in photos. When I preview homes in Orange Beach, advise neighbors on Ono Island, or evaluate upgrades in Perdido Key, I see how smart luminaires and well-chosen fans deliver a striking balance between coastal, traditional, modern, and contemporary styles. That balance shows up in the way light grazes wood grain, how a blade profile complements millwork, and how the whole composition feels calm and effortless.

Why Lighting and…

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Gulf Coast Pesce al Cartoccio: Fish in Parchment with Lemon, Basil, and Tomatoes

Fish in Parchment Paper (Italian-Style Pesce al Cartoccio)

This is one of my favorite “simple but impressive” dinners. The fish steams gently inside parchment, and everything tastes bright, clean, and genuinely Italian. The packet traps aroma and moisture, so even a lean fillet comes out tender. It is also beautifully low-mess, which I always appreciate on busy weeks.

Best Fish to Use

• Snapper, grouper, flounder, cod, halibut, sea bass, or salmon
• 6–8 oz portions cook best in individual packets

Ingredients (Serves 2)

• 2 fish fillets (6–8 oz each)
• 1 small zucchini, thinly sliced
• 10–12 cherry…

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Modern Gulf Coast Homes on Ono Island — Forward-Thinking Materials & Contemporary Construction

Modern Gulf Coast Living on Ono Island: Forward-Thinking Materials, Contemporary Lines, and Resilient Construction

Modern by Intent: What I’m Building Toward on Ono Island

When I talk about a “modern” Gulf Coast home, I’m not just describing a look. I’m describing a way of living that blends aesthetics with durability and ease. On Ono Island, contemporary design meets our marine environment every day—sun, salt, wind, and water. My role is to help you specify a home that exudes Gulf grandeur with clean lines, resilient materials, and a systems-first approach so your investment holds its value and your daily life feels effortless.

Meredith Amon is an expert real estate advisor on Ono Island in Orange Beach, Alabama.

The Envelope:…

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Gulf Coast Condo Investments & ROI in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores | Meredith Folger Amon

Gulf Coast Condo Investments & ROI: How I Evaluate Opportunity in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores

When I sit down with homeowners and investors to talk about Gulf Coast condos, I start with a simple goal: match the right property to the right revenue model, then protect that return with strong due diligence. I’ve learned that the best condo investments balance rental demand, predictable expenses, and a building that’s well cared for. Below, I’ll walk you through how I evaluate condo ROI in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, and share a practical framework you can adapt to any building.

Where Condo ROI Comes From

• Location & access: Gulf-front, true walk-out beach access, or cross-walk proximity typically command stronger Average Daily…

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Waterfront Investment in Orange Beach & Ono Island Real Estate Trends | SearchTheGulf

The Investment Value of Waterfront Property on the Gulf Coast

Why Waterfront Still Commands Long-Term Value

I spend my days walking docks, riding out to preview lots, and studying how buyers actually live on the water from Orange Beach to Ono Island and over to Gulf Shores. The common thread for investors is simple: limited shoreline means enduring scarcity. In practical terms, that scarcity supports prices across cycles, and well-sited properties with strong boating access and upgraded construction tend to show the most resilience over time.

Appreciation Drivers I Watch

• Water type and navigability: Big-water views on Bayou St. John and Old River often trade at a premium, while protected canals can offer an easier on-ramp for…

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