The Destin City Council unanimously approved a major development order Monday night for a new Alvin’s Island retail store at 1073 East Highway 98, moving forward with plans to rebuild after the original structure was destroyed by fire four years ago.

• The new 12,600-square-foot general merchandise store will replace the former 22,000-square-foot Alvin’s Island that was destroyed by fire on March 25, 2021. 

Daniel Butler, principal planner for the city, told the council that the proposed project has undergone technical review committee review and gathered approvals from all applicable entities and staff.

Robert Carroll of McNeil Carroll Engineering, the engineer of record for the project, told the council that the new building will be about half the size of the previous structure. He said the company had received approval a few years ago, but the permit expired due to ongoing disputes with the insurance company.

“We had to come back and start over,” Carroll said.

The project is located on approximately 1.21 acres in the Town Center Mixed Use zoning district. The development includes site improvements to provide required parking, a pedestrian network, and right-of-way enhancements in accordance with city design standards.

During the meeting, council members discussed signage plans for the building, which will include electronic reader boards and window displays. The signage will be subject to separate permit review to ensure compliance with city regulations limiting signage to 15 percent of the building’s facade.

• Councilwoman Sandy Trammell asked about the window displays, and applicant representatives explained they would feature beach scenes with mannequins and retail displays rather than simple poster advertisements.

“We’re glad you came back. I thought you were gone forever,” Trammell told the applicants after the vote.

Mayor Bobby Wagner noted that existing wooden steps connecting to the neighborhood behind the store would remain, maintaining pedestrian connectivity that has historically been allowed across the site.

Construction details and final permitting will proceed following the development order approval.