Palm Beach, Fla. (January 5, 2015) – Heaton Companies (heatoncompanies.com), developers of the Vero Beach Hotel and Spa and its popular restaurant, Cobalt, announced it has launched a new beachside community in North Hutchinson Island. Tarpon Flats, a spectacular riverfront, gated community on the barrier island with deeded beach access, will feature 38 new homes starting at $399,000. The community is located on A1A, eight miles directly south of Vero Beach, on a quiet seaside island known as Orchid Island. Tarpon Flats’ location on Orchid Island offers ‘river to ocean living,’ and provides residents with unspoiled beaches, natural sand dunes, and plentiful natural reefs. The community is adjacent to 2,000 miles of pristine wildlife, noted for its stunning bike and walking trails, and is just eight miles from the eclectic shops and vibrant dining scene of Vero Beach. Tarpon Flats offers a gated entrance, 17 waterfront properties, a private beach access and fishing, as well as a community pool, waterfront pavilion and a communal dock and pond.  Each home features a spacious great room, a gourmet kitchen with granite countertops, stainless steel under mount sink and stainless steel appliances, soaring ceilings, crown molding, 8’ doors, marble window sills and ceramic tiled baths. The four-bedroom homes feature open patios and are designed for an optional private pool. The homes are standard with impact glass, metal roofs, concrete block construction, oversized garages, and include a one-year builder’s warranty. Tarpon Flats HOA fees are just $208 per month and include lawn maintenance, trash pick up, community pool maintenance, beach access walkway and a private gate. “We have already experienced high demand for the homes at Tarpon Flats,” said George Heaton, President and CEO of Heaton Companies. “It’s exciting for us to be able to offer such affordable luxury on the barrier islands, and clearly folks share our enthusiasm. We already have four homes under contract, and we expect that will increase significantly in a very short amount of time.”