After thirty years of successful growth, significant new pressure for improvements and denser development began to exert itself on Seaside, Florida’s Central Square. Low slung wooden buildings, the Lyceum, the motor inn and the public spaces in between all required significant updates and, in some cases, were slated for redevelopment by the owner. The community, however, had grown to love and cherish the charm and patena of these early buildings, some of which were the first to be built in Seaside. Now a mature place,

Seaside residents have become attached to the place the way it is today and are fearful that changes will compromise what they love about the place. This created conflict between the owner, residents and businesses that needed resolution. The original Town Architect, DPZ collaborated with Urban Design Associates and others to engage stakeholders, test

development concepts in real time and to reach consensus about a path forward, making critical decisions about development sites, density, character, use and functionality of Seaside’s commercial and civic heart. YARD Principal Joe Nickol was a Principal with Urban Design Associates and served as a project designer and development strategist in this effort.