Margaritaville-themed community developing in Manatee Co.

BRADENTON (FOX 13) - Calling all Jimmy Buffett fans on the coconut telegraph - if you've ever dreamed of living in your own Parrothead paradise, you might want to pack up and move to Manatee County. That's where, we've learned, the newest Margaritaville-style community is being developed.

It's unlike anything we've seen in our area, known as "One Particular Harbour." Just like the song goes, it's "so far but yet so near," located along Anna Maria Sound on Manatee Avenue West.

Margaritaville Holdings recently announced that it teamed up with Minto Communities to turn part of the Harbour Isle community into a neighborhood, plucked right from the lyrics of a Jimmy Buffett album.

Plans include 132 luxury residences, a publicly-accessible marina, and up to 30,000 square feet of commercial space with shops, entertainment, and restaurants, sure to serve plenty of "boat drinks" and "cheeseburgers in paradise."

"We realized there's a really good opportunity for the boating and waterfront lifestyle, to do something with them in Harbour Isle," said William Bullock, Senior Vice President of Minto Communities. "When you get off the elevators, there will be different key lyrics, sayings in the breezeways. We are going to be using Margaritaville-branded furniture and the units, you'll be able to buy a furniture package."

Two other Margaritaville-themed communities are being built in Daytona Beach and Hilton Head.
While they're aimed at those ages "55 and better," this one will be for all ages.

The announcement came as a surprise for those already living in Harbour Isle. They just learned a few weeks ago that their neighborhood was taking on a Key West flair.

"I had no idea it was going to be Margaritaville, so, that's cool," Bill Town said. "That can only help with the prices and the sales and everything that goes along with it. Plus, Margaritaville. Everybody knows about it."

While some locals worry about more traffic, others say it's a sign that tourism is alive and well.

"We're excited," said Mary Ellen Murray of Hurricane Hank's. "It's obviously a well-known business, so, it's going to attract more customers, competition, which is always good for everyone."

"The more nice establishments that open up are very beneficial to the area," said Mary Vicari who lives near Harbour Isle. "It's gonna be 5 o'clock somewhere, right?"

Construction on the marina has already begun and it's expected to be finished by spring, 2018.
However, if you're ready to make some "changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes" sooner than that, there are units that are move-in ready.