Aloe Bay, the historical and cultural core of Dauphin Island, provides a strategic waterfront location with boat slips, beach landing, and numerous other maritime businesses. The planning area includes the waterfront properties along De Soto Avenue between Aloe Bay Landing and Lemoyne Drive.

The Dauphin Island Town Council chose a team formed by Goodwyn Mills Cawood, Dover Kohl, and Partners, Randall Gross Development Economics, Hargrove Engineers + Constructors, William H. Phillips, Jr., AIA, PC, Architect to lead the community through the Aloe Bay design process. Each of these groups was involved and assisted to determine the feasibility and future vision of Aloe Bay. The consultant team took a “Designing in Public” approach, which yields a hands-on, immersive, and visual experience and a better plan.

The Master Plan for Aloe Bay Town Center is respectful of the site context and designed in phases. The plan addresses short-term interventions to meet the needs of the community and how those can attract more economic development by creating a more popular destination. The first step is to create a fishing village with a Fish Market and Ecology Center that accommodates the waterfront industry that is at the root of the community on the town property. Proposed new buildings have a human scale and reflect the community’s character. Activities are created at multiple levels in both the street and the elevated boardwalk. The design creates an active waterfront with public open spaces that are distinct to Aloe Bay.  Dauphin Island’s Town Center will be a center of mixed uses and shared activity —places to gather, shop, work, socialize, and more. A balance is created among culture, community, commerce, and nature.