Coral Reef Condos will be rebuilt or sold

Well, the City Council got this one right. Coral Reef needs to be rebuilt...one way or another. Preferably, it will be a tear down and new construction as opposed to a refurbishment. My thoughts on the remaining damage from our recent hurricanes is that we need to finish the rebuilding process sooner as opposed to later. For example, the perception as viewed by the visiting tourists when they encounter the public beach access at Pompano Joes, cannot be one of progress when they see the remains of the damaged parking lot and no boardwalk system for beach access. Once again the repair and rebuilding is caught up in the bureaucratic process of our local and state governments. Time is of the essence as we approach another tourist season where visitors will report back to their friends and relatives as to the status of our beaches and infrastructure. The same applies to the Coral Reef Condo complex which currently stands along the western end of Scenic 98 wrapped in yellow "do not cross" tape. Not quite the first impression we'd like for our visitors to have when they make the turn from Matthew onto Scenic 98. We are approaching 2 years removed from hurricane Dennis and some damage remains almost untouched caught up in the political red tape. The councils action is at least a step in the right direction. And the end result for Coral Reef owners will be a just reward for their patience. Here's the story...

DESTIN - Is allowing Coral Reef Condominiums to rebuild its storm-smashed building on Scenic Highway 98 an act of charity or a giveaway to developers' The Destin City Council debated that question for more than two hours Tuesday before approving an agreement that will allow the owners to rebuild or sell the property. Coral Reef's board still has to approve the agreement. Hurricanes Ivan and Dennis have left the 50-unit building uninhabitable. The condominium association hasn't been able to rebuild because it is in a lawsuit over whether its parking area extends into the city's right of way. The agreement settles the lawsuit and allows Coral Reef to rebuild with larger condos, in return for positioning the new building to allow a view of the Gulf of Mexico from Matthew Boulevard.

Councilman Jim Bagby objected that the agreement waived some of the city's rules for a project of that size, such as how far it must be set back from the edge of the property. If a developer bought the property from the association, waiving the rules would give the developer "the keys to the kingdom." Councilman Cyron Marler said that if 50 Beach Drive homes had been destroyed, the council wouldn't hesitate to help them rebuild, so they shouldn't hesitate with Coral Reef 's owners. Councilman Dewey Destin proposed amending the agreement so the condos couldn't be more than 30 percent larger than before.

Coral Reef 's Marcia Hubert said the new units had to be larger to be valuable enough to justify the cost of rebuilding. The council voted 4-2 for Dewey Destin's amendment, with Marler and Sam Seevers voting no. The council then voted unanimously for the settlement agreement. Councilor Kelly Windes abstained from both votes.

Alabamians sue Florida over homestead exemption

Does this suit have legs? Can it gather any momentum? I certainly hope so. But realistically, I'm very doubtful. At least it brings the issue to the forefront and may lead to future legislation that attempts to level the playing field. Note the statement from City Manager Greg Kisela noting 75% of ad valorem taxes are generated from non-homesteaded properties...yes that's 75 PERCENT!! I know I've paid my share. Something should be done to address the issue for non-resident owners bearing the brunt of the tax windfall that resulted, particularly over the last handful of years. Here's the story...

Four Alabama residents are suing Destin, Walton County and Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, charging that Florida's homestead property-tax exemption discriminates against out-of-staters. The four plaintiffs in the suit say the homestead exemption -that property assessments can't rise more than 3 percent a year for owners living in their own homes - unfairly discriminates against them. Their solution:

Calculate their past four years of property taxes as if they too had the homestead exemption, then refund any excess they've paid.

Set their future tax bills based on the same principle.

The lawsuit specifically cites Destin, Walton and Okaloosa counties and their school boards along with Crist, but the written filing says it's meant to apply to all other property-tax authorities. It's also intended as a class-action lawsuit, so other owners could sign on. "It could very well have a six or seven-figure impact" if the plaintiffs won, City Manager Greg Kisela said in an interview. "It's really hard to tell when you're generating 75 percent of your ad valorem taxes from non-homestead properties."

Okaloosa County Property Appraiser Pete Smith said that he's been told at least one similar case has been filed in state courts before without success. "I don't think it'll go anywhere," Smith said. Although the suit could affect the entire state, Smith said, Florida's attorney general has chosen not to fight it in court, leaving it up to local governments. Destin's City Council voted last week to hire an attorney. The attorney general, Smith said, "is just going to try to get the governor out of it and just let us defend it."