Jubilee New Residential Development in Pace FL

Developers Ron Reeser and Hal Hayes, unveiled its much-anticipated plans Tuesday for Jubilee, a sprawling new residential community north of Pace.

Principal partners in the Atlanta-based firm say, that Jubilee's overall design will recapture the small-town feel of an earlier Northwest Florida.

" Jubilee, Florida, is history in the re-making," Hayes said. " We've designed it to be an exceptional place offering an affordable way of life with all the activity and history of an old place with new trends."

Hayes said the 2,718-acre site was chosen for its proximity to the area beaches; the elevated, rolling terrain; the top-rated Santa Rosa school system; and because of the demand for more diverse, community-centered housing.

Reeser said Phase I of Jubilee will take place in three stages, or tiers, with the first commencing this spring and the second in the fall. Total build-out of Phase I will feature 588 homes, ranging in price from $212,000 to $1 million.

The entire project is expected to take about 10 years. Earlier this year, Hayes said he was not sure how many homes ultimately will be allowed on the site by the state.

Jim Tinson, CEO of Hart/Howerton, the New York City company overseeing the master plan for the development, described Jubilee as a " complete environment" that will be centered not on automobiles, but on walking paths, sidewalks and abundant community parks.

The Saenger event was attended largely by local Realtors, developers, members of the Pensacola and Santa Rosa business communities, and by members of the Santa Rosa County Commission.

Described as more of a " coming out party" than a " sales" pitch, the lavish event, catered by Classic City Catering, focused on the full scope and design vision of the project.

" What you're seeing, with the detail and effort going into this unveiling of Jubilee, is a testament to how important this project is to (CEO) Hal Hayes and the Eagle Group," said company spokesman Chris Wailes. " This is not just a project but a passion. Their heart's in this 100 percent."

Wailes said that Hart/Howerton, with principal offices in New York and San Francisco, is considered one of the nation's most respected land design firms.

" Jubilee will be what we remember neighborhoods used to be like," Wailes said.

The architecture of the homes, and town center, he noted, will reflect the Gulf Coast.

" It will look like those homes belong there," Wailes said.

Santa Rosa Planning and Zoning Director Becky Falkenberry said Jubilee is a unique development and the largest ever to come to Santa Rosa County. It will have a huge impact, she said.

Because Jubilee will have a significant impact on the environment and area transportation, the State of Florida has designated it a Development of Regional Impact.

As a result, Eagle Group has had to set aside some 40 % of the project's total acreage for wetlands preservation. Another 275 acres have been set aside as a preserve for the indigenous gopher tortoise population, Wailes said.

" They have an awful lot of wetlands on that property, but they're seeing that as an amenity, not something to get rid of," Falkenberry said.

And, in addition to paying a transportation impact fee, Eagle also has agreed to build a new north-south road between Luther Fowler and Willard Norris roads.

" It has been a very smooth process, so far," said Falkenberry. " The thing I think is neat is they have a vision for doing a quality project, and they have enough land to do that."

Falkenberry said the Jubilee project is " very different in scale," and, because of its size and number of projected homes, will be able to support a town center, with retail shops and amenities. Wailes said Phase I of the three-phase build out will offer 588 homes, a championship golf course, and a community center with swimming pools and other leisure amenities.

Construction of the golf course, and other site preparation efforts, are under way, Wailes said.

The entire three-phase development will be between Berryhill Road, Willard Norris Road and Chumuckla Highway.

Ultimate build-out of the Jubilee project is expected to take a decade and when completed will include a fully functioning town center with a wide variety of retail and food shops.

Wailes said another unique feature of the project is that the various neighborhoods will be inner-connected with some 25 miles of walking and bike paths.

All three neighborhoods (in Phase 1) will have their own private pools and private fitness centers, and more than 20 community parks, Hayes said. Phase 1 also will include a two-story sales and gathering house at the gate of the development. The course, to be called Jubilee Golf Club, is being designed by Pensacola's Jerry Pate, former U.S. Open champ, U.S. amateur champion and current Champions Tour player.

For more on this or any other new homes in Pace or the Greater Pensacola Contact Kim Gibbons at:

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