After Hurrican Katrina humbled our land, the Gulfside Board of Trustees began an intense strategic planning process that would determine a future direction.
On October 15, 2007, the Board of Trustees developed a formal decision to proceed wit ha new vision for Gulfside and to commit to eight key decisions.
- Pursue the development of a ministry center and the main campus.
- Pursue the development of separate lodging units.
- Pursue the pre-development of a chapel near the historic grave site.
- Pursue the pre-development of villas for seniors on the beachfront.
- Pursue the pre-development of an independent living retirement community.
- Purchase additional land for expanded ministry.
- Purchase a temporary office facility.
- Create ad hoc committees to provide leadership and input as Gulfside continues to implement the strategic plan.
Two focuses of the rebuilding include:
1. Ministry Center
2. A Retirement Community
The economic engine that will make the long-term difference in Gulfside's viability will be the creation of villas on both the front and back side of the site and on 25 additional acres to be obtained. Gulfside will pursue partnerships that may add additional land and enable us to reach our vision and fulfill our misison.
The extent and speed of Gulfside's redevelopment will be determined by the response to our villa offerings. Marketing will be done throughout the conferences, states and the nation. The people who buy-in with a refundable entrance fee will be a diverse group of people who will identify with the historical legacy of Gulfside, appreciate having the ministry center and its programs, have assets, and believe that the benefits and expense of living along the Gulf outweigh the weather risks.
The cost of construction for the villas and the ministry center will be high. The structures must withstand hurricane level forces and be built 24 feet above sea level. Construction costs will make the villas and center costly ventures for potential homeowners and for us. The first phase at Gulfside will be 30 villas, but we have the capacity to expand to more than 240 villas.