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Follow on Google News | Turquoise-Blue 'Caribbean' Water Sparkles in Beachwalk's 14-acre Crystal Clear LagoonBy: Beachwalk Developers have begun filling the Crystal Lagoon at Beachwalk, a luxury home community off CR 210 that aims to bring a little bit of the Caribbean to Northeast Florida. Within the first week, 2 million gallons have poured into the 14-acre water amenity. Set against a white lining, the lagoon is already taking on the natural turquoise hue that will deepen to a "Caribbean" blue as it approaches its 10-foot depth. By February, its sparkling waters will be surrounded by a 100-foot white-sand beach with wavy palms and winding footpaths. When finished, Beachwalk's Crystal Lagoon will be the largest man-made water feature in the U.S. "There's nothing else like it in Northeast Florida," said Beachwalk developer John Kinsey. "It's the only community where you can literally have the beach in your backyard without being at the beach." The lagoon will be maintained with water treatment technologies like those used in municipal water systems, said Kinsey. The proprietary system uses ultrasonic disinfection pulses that are so efficient, only 1 percent of the chemicals and 2 percent of the energy used by conventional swimming pool filtration systems will be needed. Crystal Lagoon technology was developed 20 years ago and first used at the San Alfonso del Mar resort in Chile. Since then, it's been part of more than 300 real estate projects in over 60 countries. Kinsey saw the Crystal Lagoon while visiting Chile. "The first time you step onto the shore of one of these things, you're sold. You can't imagine it just from pictures," he said. "A week later, I visited the Bahamas. The beach there looked exactly like the Crystal Lagoon." Other new communities in St. Johns have sold thousands of homes annually by sticking to a prescribed strategy of live oak and magnolia landscaping and old Florida-themed architecture. Beachwalk breaks with the trend. The community instead features a Caribbean, Key West and West Indies style -- metal-roof homes, Bermuda grass, and every type of palm tree that will grow well in North Florida. The signature amenity is its 14-acre lagoon where residents will be able to swim, paddle kayaks, or stroll along a boardwalk. Additional resident-only amenities include water slides, a miniature golf course and a 2,500 square-foot splash park for dogs. A planned clubhouse has been styled after one seen at a multi-billion- Or, they can enjoy a 3,000-square- Construction at Beachwalk will include single-family homes and twin villas on the lagoon. Models by homebuilders Americrest Luxury Homes, Lennar and Vintage Estate Homes will open in January. Presales have already begun, with homes priced from the low-$300,000's to the mid-$800,000's. Beachwalk will have 761 homes at build-out. The community is located just one mile east of Interstate 95, close to U.S. Highway 1, and on the main east-west highway to Ponte Vedra Beach. For more information visit www.mybeachwalkhome.com. End
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