Builders are busy in Jacksonville-area beach towns

Residential development is robust in Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach and other oceanfront towns east of Jacksonville.

Atlantic Beach has an ample tree canopy and a lack of commuter traffic that have contributed to an increase in the town’s residential development, said Jeremy Hubsch, the planning and zoning director in Atlantic Beach.

“A lot of people want to live here,” Hubsch told the Florida Times-Union. “The secret is out.”

He cited the Atlantic Beach Country Club development, where 23 houses have been built this year, and a project called Oceangate, where 24 houses have popped up so far.

Hubsch said demolition of old homes and construction of new ones in their place accounts for most of the town’s residential building activity.

“These aren’t little shacks that people are tearing down,” he said. “They are tearing down substantial homes to build even bigger homes.”

Bill Mann, planning and development director of Jacksonville Beach, told the Times-Union “there’s a lot of activity” among the city’s residential developers. “It’s encouraging.”

Mann said the number of building permits issued by Jacksonville Beach has dipped a bit but their construction value has increased substantially.

The planning and zoning department of Neptune Beach reported an increase in home remodeling permits, citing August data. [Florida Times-Union] — Mike Seemuth

Tags: Atlantic Beach, home building, Jacksonville, Neptune Beach