Freedom Walk, a new mixed-use development planned for Crestview

Freedom Walk, Crestview’s newest mixed-use development, located less than a few hundred yards from the Crestview High School and Davidson Middle School on Old Bethel Road, is taking shape with some great company. Emerald Coast Partners, the development company for this project, has joined up with the Emerald Coast YMCA to be part of the development.

As Steve Bonnell, chairman of the board of the Emerald Coast YMCA said, the YMCA has plans to "Go the whole nine yards" in providing the community of Crestview with one of the best YMCA complexes in the area on the six-plus acres inside the Freedom Walk subdivision. Plans include, but are not limited to, a full Olympic-sized, 50-meter heated outdoor pool which will be offered to area schools for their swim teams, day care facility, sauna, gymnasium, weight room, physical therapy pools, and racquetball and basketball courts.

The YMCA also has plans to bring a number of programs for the young and old alike.

Along with the YMCA project, Emerald Coast Partners has plans to bring over 400 single family homes, apartments, 46,000 square feet of commercial space, a clubhouse, walking trails, and much more, to this development.

Emerald Coast Partners, an Atlanta-based development company with an office in the local area, is excited to bring a development to the Crestview area which embraces the values of the community and provides a quality of life the families of this area deserve, said Bruce Houle, Managing Partner of Emerald Coast Partners.

Houle said he has been working closely with county and city officials to provide a safe pathway on Jones Road to and from the development for the young people of both Davidson Middle School and Crestview High School. This will allow students who live in Freedom Walk, as well as, other children attending these schools, to take advantage of the great amenities and programs the YMCA will offer.

"We’re excited about this project and we think this will be a benefit to our schools and everyone in the community," said David Cadle, Mayor of Crestview.

Not only will Freedom Walk offer easy access to and from the YMCA facility, it will have walking and biking trails throughout the neighborhoods so families can walk and visit with each other. Freedom Walk will have a Grand Boulevard entrance which will meander by the commercial center with offices for physicians, professionals and small retail, the YMCA complex, the apartment community and down to the Grand Club House.

At the Grand Club House, families will be able to enjoy the private pool, the quite sitting rooms, or just relax with friends on the surrounding grounds. Plans for the community also include small parks, picnic areas, great views of the beautiful 12-plus acre nature preserve and small lakes made from the retention areas.

Emerald Coast Partners hopes to partner with the existing Okaloosa County WAVE shuttle service for the benefit of the residents at Freedom Walk, or provide a shuttle service to Niceville, Eglin Air Force Base, and Hurlburt Field.

Teaming up with Emerald Coast Partners on its vision are many industry leaders, such as DAG Architects, guided by Charlie Clary and Pat Ballasch, and Moore Bass Consulting, which will be providing engineering services.

Sales and marketing for this project is provided by the Platinum Real Estate Associates of RE/MAX Southern Realty. The managing associate is Ken Wright, a local native of the area, retired military officer, and former Military Housing Director for the Southeast United States. Wright brings his sales and marketing skills to this project, as well as, his thoughts and values of the local community and of the military.

Wright is teamed up with Jared Mula, and a number of other RE/MAX Southern Realty Associates, in making this project a success.

Freedom Walk has already received a lot of attention from builders for both the home sites and the apartment site, with some providing letters of intent. As the result of these letters of intent, developers have started to work out the specifics for the acquisition of the lots and setting the architectural controls and guidelines to ensure the quality of the development.

Wright said Emerald Coast Partners is committed to the community in providing the best possible quality at an attainable price, a commitment Emerald Coast Partners does not take lightly, he said.

To obtain information on available builders and home sites, apartments, or commercial space at the Freedom Walk, call Wright or Mula at 888-389-3665, or visit their Web site at www.PlatinumRealEstateAssociates.com.

By calling or visiting the Web site, you can also learn about other Emerald Coast Partners’ developments in the area, such as, the Landmark Center, a historic downtown Fort Walton Beach mixed use development, and Preserve at Campton and Majestic Oak Vineyard, residential developments just north of Crestview.