The waterfront lifestyle of Roseland
Water is a way of life for those living in Roseland, Florida. It’s bordered by the St. Sebastian River and Indian River, lined by private boat docks and marinas. Part of Indian River County, residents of Roseland feel no separation from its neighboring city of Sebastian. “Roseland is an almost historic area that’s been unincorporated for a time outside of Sebastian city limits,” says Chris Junker, a Realtor with Re/Max Crown Realty. He currently lives in Sebastian and has a decade of experience selling in the area. “It’s a boater’s paradise since you’re directly across from the Sebastian Inlet, and there’s less restrictions than in the city. We don’t consider Roseland and Sebastian as two separate areas, it’s all intertwined.”
Heading out on St. Sebastian River
In and around Roseland, water brings the community together and draws in both new homeowners and thousands of tourists. Within Roseland is Dale Wimbrow Park, which sits at the edge of the Sebastian River. It’s popular for locals who want somewhere quick to take the kids to the playground, stroll along the paved walkways or launch a boat into the river. Standing on the eastern side of Roseland, the shores and green cropping of Sebastian Inlet State Park are visible on the horizon, and its natural beauty is a huge draw for not just Roseland but Sebastian as a whole. Crossing over the Wabasso Causeway Bridge, Sebastian Inlet State Park is best known for the rushing waves that bring in surfers, the calm areas perfect for kayaking and saltwater fishing, and the thousands of plant and animal species that have made it home. “If you go out early in the morning, it’s rare to see anyone else there,” says Ken Torres, the park manager of Sebastian Inlet State Park. “You can’t miss a sunrise here.”
From ranch homes to large Spanish Revival waterfront properties
Roseland, being bordered by the water while still having plenty of residential inland streets, lends itself to a wide range of home types. “You’ve got riverfront homes right on St. Sebastian and the Intracoastal,” Junker says. “They’re nice and quite expensive, but Roseland also has affordable options that are just essential Florida homes.” Ranch homes and smaller Mediterranean-inspired houses typically sell for between $200,000 and $400,000, while large homes near or on the water sell between $800,000 and $1.5 million. Though Roseland is right by the water, the risk of flooding is surprisingly minimal due to floodwalls and the number of homes not directly on the water. Anyone living immediately riverside may consider looking into further flood prevention and insurance.
The arts and music scene of Sebastian
Sebastian is a small city, so while Roseland is at its northernmost point, the leading event site of Riverview Park is just 3 miles away. Riverview Park is where locals head for nearly all significant annual events, of which the city has plenty year-round. Some of the biggest events in Sebastian include live music and local eats at RiverDays & Craft Brew Hullabaloo, held in March, to the talented artisans and a wide berth of genres at the Sebastian Fine Arts and Music Festival in January.
Finding commercial areas and local eats
Some of Sebastian’s largest commercial areas are in the southern portion of Roseland. “Sebastian itself isn’t huge, so it’s a 5 to 10-minute drive for most people to go to Roseland if they need to do shopping,” Junker says. Found off Route 1 are major errand stops, such as Publix, Walmart Supercenter and The Home Depot. There are several chain restaurants as well, but the community personality comes through in Roseland’s local eateries, many of which are running business at the shores of the Indian River. “The waterfront restaurants are where we find tourists, but everyone in Sebastian goes there, too. Captain Butchers - well, it's called Sebastian Saltwater Marina now - has great seafood and live bands. You can even rent a boat there.”
Schooling with Indian River County
Roseland is zoned to the Indian River County School District, which receives an A-minus grade from Niche as a district. Most local kids will start at Sebastian Elementary, which gets a B-minus. They can move on to Sebastian River Middle and then to Sebastian River High, both rated with overall B grades. Sebastian River High ensures that students have more than just an opportunity to earn their high school diploma; while attending, they can earn industry certifications, college course credits or a simultaneous associate degree.
Navigating the coast with Route 1
Roseland is intersected by Route 1, which runs directly up the east coast. Ramps to Interstate 95 are just a few miles away, and residents mainly rely on cars for transportation. While the Sebastian-Roseland Municipal Airport is just south of Roseland, it’s more well-known for flight school and private flights. Most residents will catch flights at Vero Beach Regional Airport, found 15 miles south, or from the Orlando Melbourne International Airport, just 22 miles north.
