Gulf Shores, Ala. – (OBA) – The Gulf Pines neighborhood and the overall Waterway Village District could continue to be a hub of activity in the coming months with new vacation rentals, infrastructure and other mixed-use businesses under construction or planned.

The latest is called Canal Park Condominium will focus on two back-to-back lots at 416 E. 24th Avenue on the south and 419 Canal Drive East on the north. Owners of the lot are requesting to tear down an existing single-family home, renovating two duplexes already on site and build a multifamily building with six one-bedroom units. The plan will be presented at the Jan. 23 Gulf Shores Planning Commission at 4 p.m. in council chambers.

Phase one will be the renovations, phase two tearing down the existing house and phase three would be construction of the six-unit building. All would be part of a 10-unit condominium with vacation rentals. A conditional use permit is required for this usage and the applicants are also submitting a site plan.

Staff is recommending approval with conditions including paying $4,675 in lieu of building a 10-foot sidewalk in the East 24th Avenue right of way.

Other developments close by include:

Island Villas, a 16-unit vacation rental property located at the corner of East 22nd Avenue and East Third Street. Renovations of the old apartment complex have been completed and a pool and on-street parking added.

Galway Public House at the corner of East 22nd Avenue and East Second Street. Plans call for four vacation rental units on the second floor and an Irish-themed restaurant on the ground floor. Work is ongoing on the renovations to the former mattress store.

The Waterway in the old Frith’s Bait Shop location where David and Angie Swiger want to put retail on the bottom floor, a five-bedroom vacation rental on the upper floors and a vacation rental cottage on the southeast corner of the property. The Swigers also want to have a retail and food vendor court on the property. The cottage is available now and plans for the main building are in the works.

24 Canal Place is an ambitious plan for two parcels on the Intracoastal Waterway split by the State Route 59 bridge including the former White Knight Seafood property east of the bridge at 4.17 acres and one on the west at 3.06 acres. Plans call for condos, retail, a hotel, restaurant and boat slips.

Legendary Marine is building a complex on the waterway west of the State Route 59 bridge. Proposed plans also call for areas for boat sales and services, boat storage, a restaurant, a clubhouse and an area for future mixed-use development. The main boat storage building is almost complete and dredging has taken place in the boat basin for the marina. The city also plans to build a trail along the waterway going west to an 11-acre parcel where the city has plans for a park.

Waterway 101 is located at 101 E. 22nd Ave. directly west of the State Route 59 bridge where developers are going to have seven cottages on .37 acres for vacation rentals.

On the north side of the Intracoastal Waterway in the district, Gulf Shores has a project underway that will extend East Waterway Village Boulevard to connect with the road leading up to the new state bridge that is under construction.

The development of the pedestrian bridge at the 90-degree turn from Canal Road to East Second Street. The city will consider on Jan. 22 awarding a $1.8 million bid to Asphalt Services to make improvements to East Third Street and East 22nd Avenue for a detour around the construction zone for the bridge.

During the meeting, the commission will also address:

• Deferring an amendment to the zoning ordinance regarding off-street parking and loading regulations.
   
• A request to rezone .90 acres of property at 19808 W. 36th Ave. from residential high density to neighborhood business. Staff recommends approval of the request.

• A request for a site plan approval for a 3,000-square-foot laundry facility at 208 E. 16th Ave.