Downtown Pass Christian has a new skyline taking shape along the beach, and the crew building it stopped on a Saturday afternoon to celebrate.
Legacy Construction held a topping party on Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Eagan Beachfront Development, where two 20-unit condominium buildings are going up along Highway 90, WLOX reported. The event also marked the opening of three new businesses in the development's retail space.
A topping party is a long tradition in construction, held when a building's structure reaches its highest point. It's a chance for crews, owners and neighbors to mark the moment a project goes from a hole in the ground to something you can see from the street.
Condos for long-term renters
Construction began in October 2025, according to WLOX.
Derek Schubert, project manager for Legacy Construction and Development, laid out what's coming. "We're in the process of completing the two towers you see in the background, which will be completed by December. So, they're 1,255-square-foot units. Penthouses are 1,366 square feet... They're going to be long-term rentals, and it'll be through Eagan Investments," he told WLOX.
When it's finished, the development will provide more than 30,000 combined square feet of retail and condo space, WLOX reported. Those involved with construction told the station the condos are expected to be ready by the end of 2026.
That timeline puts the project roughly 14 months from start to finish for two 20-unit buildings, plus the street-level retail. It also leaves the crews about three months after the topping party to close out the work.
Legacy Construction and Development describes itself as a general contractor based in Slidell, La., formed in 2024 through the merger of ProQuality Contracting and Wodehouse Construction. On its LinkedIn page, the company said it was "proud to be building this one" in Pass Christian.
That plan means the 40 condos will be leased as long-term homes through Eagan Investments rather than sold, according to Schubert. The buildings sit on the same block as the new shops, so residents will live steps from the retail space on Scenic Drive.
Shops open on Scenic Drive
The topping party doubled as a grand opening. According to the event listing on Eventbrite, Legacy Construction & Development hosted the party from 4 to 7 p.m. at 210 E. Scenic Drive, and it celebrated the openings of three businesses: Bonjour Nails & Spa, Salty Kisses and Urban Charm. The listing called them "three of the businesses bringing new life to the Eagan development."
The company billed the party as "an evening dedicated to the crew, partners and community behind the project," with food, drinks, music and guided site tours. That's a nice touch for the people doing the work. The carpenters, concrete finishers, electricians, plumbers and laborers on this job have been on site since October 2025.
The owners of Salty Kisses Boutique told WLOX the location is a prime spot because of the foot traffic along East Scenic Drive.
"We get a lot of foot traffic from Davis all the way down to Bacchus and that area. Bacchus and by Elysians and stuff. So, it's like the perfect spot," said Ashley Tripoli and Summer Tallant, the boutique's owners.
Scenic Drive runs parallel to Highway 90 through downtown Pass Christian, facing the beach and harbor. A mixed-use project like Eagan Beachfront puts shoppers and residents on the same block, and the shop owners are counting on the foot traffic that already moves along the street.
Why it matters for Contractors
With two condo buildings due to be finished by December, the Eagan Beachfront job is in its busiest stretch. After topping out, the work shifts to the inside: drywall, painting, flooring, cabinets, countertops, plumbing and electrical trim, HVAC startup and final punch lists. Specialty subs and suppliers on the Coast who haven't connected with Legacy Construction and Development may still find openings for finish work. The retail space is also worth watching. Three businesses have opened, and as more tenants sign on in a development with more than 30,000 square feet of combined space, there may be tenant build-out work for commercial interior contractors. For builders elsewhere on the Coast, the project is an example of a developer pairing long-term rental housing with street-level shops in a small downtown.