New development offers rare bicoastal access

By Sam Harvey
Staff Reporter

	Coastal Point • JOHN DENNY Cody Jensen went 2-4 capping off his day with a two run home run in the bottom of the fourth in an 8-7 victory over the Delvets,

Very, very, few developments — anywhere — offer private pedestrian access to both the ocean and the bay. But Salt Meadows, south of South Bethany and north of Fenwick Island, is one.

Homeowners will have to cross Route 1 to reach the beach, but that’s part of the draw. It’s a very quiet stretch. There’s Bethany and South Bethany off in the distance, miles away — the Fenwick Island State Park is a lot closer, about a half-mile — but other than that, it’s just the neighbors.

Local real estate agent (and president of Seacoast Realty) John “Skip” Valliant explained: “Not that I do a lot of development, but I’ve been fiddling with this for a while,” he pointed out. The landowner, Blaine Phillips, had come to him years earlier, he said, interested in doing something with the property. “I said, maybe we should develop it, rather than just sell it as raw land,” Valliant recalled.

They worked on it for a while, but Phillips eventually stepped back and simply sold the land after all — to Valliant. Phillips also owned beachfront property, opposite Salt Meadows (what later became Fenwick Acres), and he sold that as well. But when he did, he reserved a 20-foot right-of-way for Salt Meadows.

Then on the other side, there’s a broad, tangled bayberry forest, sprawling toward the Little Assawoman Bay. Valliant pointed to deer tracks in the sand (although he said he still hadn’t actually spotted the deer themselves, yet).

There are plenty of refined features on the bayside, as well — including a cabana-style clubhouse (half screened, half open) near the water’s edge, surrounded by bulkheading and sandy beach.

There’s a pier — the water isn’t all that deep, but Valliant said pontoon boats should have no problems, and he pegged it as a great spot for kayakers or canoeists.

“Of course, nobody wanted property on the bayside, years ago,” Valliant pointed out. Salt Meadows is in high demand now, though, selling in the $1.3 million range.

Buyers get a lot more than just ocean and bay access for $1.3 million — the townhouses are full-sized, and fully outfitted: four stories, counting the finished, two-and-a-half-car garage on the ground level. And not counting the garage, 3,000 square feet of living space.

An elevator comes standard, as do hardwood floors, granite countertops and ceramic tile, oak railings and banisters, gas fireplace and furnace (central heating and air) and sound system.

But accoutrements aside, Valliant expressed the most enthusiasm for the basic layout and design, and the quality of construction. “The detail that’s gone into the work is unbelievable,” he stated, crediting partner and local builder Charlie Zonko. “Of course, you want it right for $1.3 million.”

He said he wasn’t surprised when the first two buildings (four units apiece) sold, basically the day they went on the market. “Look at what you’re getting,” he said. “This is just a unique piece of property.”

For more information about Salt Meadows, contact Skip Valliant at (302) 539-8600.