MIRAMAR BEACH — Controversy over a proposed drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility has moved from one beachside neighborhood to another.
Narconon Gulf Coast Inc. wants to purchase a beach house at 263 Snowdrift Road and turn it into a 28-bed residential facility.
The nonprofit organization drew heated opposition earlier this year with its plan to buy a house on Scenic Gulf Drive for the same purpose.
That purchase has since fallen through, and Narconon is now hoping to buy the house near the beach on Snowdrift Road.
The new location is across the street from the 200-unit Mainsail condominiums.
Mainsail residents and owners are “vehemently opposed” to having Narconon in their neighborhood, said condominium owner Cindi Bleifer.
Such a facility will attract drug dealers and create problems with property theft, she said.
“There’s just too many bad things that can happen when people are going through rehab,” she said.
Narconon will host a community meeting this evening at 5 at Embassy Suites on Scenic Gulf Drive to discuss the plans with neighboring property owners.
Bleifer said dozens of Mainsail owners have concerns about Narconon and many will attend the meeting.
Narconon has a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility in Destin. The Miramar Beach location will house patients who have already undergone 30 days of treatment in Destin.