Panhandle Development News

[fvcrew22]

This looks like an exciting project downtown, it will be good to bring more people downtown and will probably help nearby businesses as well.

A new sound for downtown
Music hall planned for Masonic Lodge

Julio Diaz • jdiaz@pnj.com • April 19, 2009


The Masonic building in the heart of downtown Pensacola has been sitting silent for about a decade. But this fall, it's set to make some noise.

The Levin Group, which owns the three-story building at Palafox Place and Garden Street, is teaming with the owners of Hopjacks Pizza Kitchen, two doors away, to open the Vinyl Music Hall.

Corey Fogarty, one of Hopjacks' owners, said the ground-floor Music Hall will be comparable to New Orleans venues like the House of Blues.

He promised live music of all genres "unparalleled in the region," a full bar and enough room for 400 people.

"We absolutely have the connections in the A-list of this industry that can make this a premier location in all of Northwest Florida," he said.

Escambia Masonic Lodge No. 15, which first met in 1846, built the three-story structure in 1897. Allen Levin, who died in 2007, purchased the vacant building in 2005.

Since the purchase, plans to renovate and reopen the building have been promised. Some exterior work, including painting and masonry repair, as well as some interior demolition, were completed last year.

"We're really excited about the opportunity to bring the Masonic Temple back to life," said Harry Levin, one of three partners. "We've been waiting for the right opportunity to open this building. We have had a number of interested parties in the building, but we have been waiting for the right concept to come along."

He said the building needs to be brought up to code and tailored to the music-hall concept while preserving the building's "historical integrity." Pensacola's Quina Grundhoefer Royal Architects will work on the project.

Once completed, Vinyl Music Hall will employ about 40 people in promotional, office and bar jobs, Fogarty said. Hopjacks will continue to operate.

He's not worried about the sluggish economy.

"We all agree that it is the perfect time to launch this," Fogarty said. "Our entire group feels that Hopjacks has proven that a restaurant/bar can thrive in slow economic times if it is unique and operated ethically and with quality."

Mark "The Shark" Dyba, assistant program director and afternoon host at Pensacola rock radio station TK101, said he thinks a music hall such as Vinyl is exactly what this community needs.

"A lot of mid-level bands that can't fill the Civic Center but are too big for the clubs have been bypassing this market," he said.


Link: http://www.pnj.com/article/20090419/...90322/0/NEWS01

[FloridaFuture]

^Cool..

[fvcrew22]

Finally!!

Council sparks park
After 4 years, CMP gets final approval to break ground
Thyrie Bland • tbland@pnj.com • April 24, 2009

Pensacola is finally going to get a downtown waterfront park.

The Pensacola City Council unanimously approved a contract Thursday with Maritime Park Development Partners to build the Community Maritime Park on 30 acres along Main Street.

"This makes it all worthwhile," said Lacey Collier, chairman of Community Maritime Park Associates, the 12-member group appointed to run the park. "We will start very soon to put the shovels in the ground."

Collier said the park will be an important part of Pensacola's future.

"To me it's a new renaissance for the city, almost a new beginning," he said. "It's a historic change."

The concept of the Community Maritime Park was born about four years ago. The park will include a multi-purpose stadium, office building, condominiums, shops and a maritime museum.

"Nobody dreamed it would take this long," said Mort O'Sullivan, chairman of the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce.

The park will use private money and $40 million from the city, with $2 million of that earmarked to Community Maritime Park Associates for startup costs. The city expects to take out a loan for the $40 million.

Maritime Park Development Partners will act in several different roles including project developer, contractor and ongoing manager of the site.

The vote on the park was scheduled to take place near the end of the council agenda. But Mayor Mike Wiggins moved it to the top of the council's business because of the large number of people at the meeting interested in the vote.

While the entire council approved of the project's developer, two members — Jewel Cannada-Wynn and John Jerralds — expressed concerns.

Jerralds, who represents District 5, said his worries are connected to the economy.

"I am moving cautiously on this item," Jerralds said before the council vote. "I'm nervous about the financing."

Cannada-Wynn had a long list of concerns, including when the park's proposed museum would be built and public access to the park.

The District 6 councilwoman also warned that the park will not be the cure-all for the city's downtown development issues.

Other members of the council who spoke before the vote were enthusiastic about the project.

"I'm really proud," District 7 Councilman Ronald Townsend said. "Hallelujah."

Wiggins called the council's vote historic.

"This truly will change our city for the better," the mayor said. "I am just excited to be apart of this important council decision."





Link: http://pnj.com/article/20090424/NEWS01/904240326

[CubanBread]

Originally Posted by fvcrew22

Finally!!

Council sparks park
After 4 years, CMP gets final approval to break ground
Thyrie Bland • tbland@pnj.com • April 24, 2009

Pensacola is finally going to get a downtown waterfront park.

The Pensacola City Council unanimously approved a contract Thursday with Maritime Park Development Partners to build the Community Maritime Park on 30 acres along Main Street.

"This makes it all worthwhile," said Lacey Collier, chairman of Community Maritime Park Associates, the 12-member group appointed to run the park. "We will start very soon to put the shovels in the ground."

Collier said the park will be an important part of Pensacola's future.

"To me it's a new renaissance for the city, almost a new beginning," he said. "It's a historic change."

The concept of the Community Maritime Park was born about four years ago. The park will include a multi-purpose stadium, office building, condominiums, shops and a maritime museum.

"Nobody dreamed it would take this long," said Mort O'Sullivan, chairman of the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce.

The park will use private money and $40 million from the city, with $2 million of that earmarked to Community Maritime Park Associates for startup costs. The city expects to take out a loan for the $40 million.

Maritime Park Development Partners will act in several different roles including project developer, contractor and ongoing manager of the site.

The vote on the park was scheduled to take place near the end of the council agenda. But Mayor Mike Wiggins moved it to the top of the council's business because of the large number of people at the meeting interested in the vote.

While the entire council approved of the project's developer, two members — Jewel Cannada-Wynn and John Jerralds — expressed concerns.

Jerralds, who represents District 5, said his worries are connected to the economy.

"I am moving cautiously on this item," Jerralds said before the council vote. "I'm nervous about the financing."

Cannada-Wynn had a long list of concerns, including when the park's proposed museum would be built and public access to the park.

The District 6 councilwoman also warned that the park will not be the cure-all for the city's downtown development issues.

Other members of the council who spoke before the vote were enthusiastic about the project.

"I'm really proud," District 7 Councilman Ronald Townsend said. "Hallelujah."

Wiggins called the council's vote historic.

"This truly will change our city for the better," the mayor said. "I am just excited to be apart of this important council decision."





Link: http://pnj.com/article/20090424/NEWS01/904240326

Pensacola Should consider getting a Minor league franchise,...Double A team in the southern league maybe, could be real good for the city.

[FloridaFuture]

Looks good. Here's some more renderings from the park website:















http://www.brownmarine.com/maritime-park.htm

[fvcrew22]

Originally Posted by CubanBread

Pensacola Should consider getting a Minor league franchise,...Double A team in the southern league maybe, could be real good for the city.

Well, actually thats kind of how this project came about. Pensacola has a team in the American Association (an independant league), the Pensacola Pelicans, http://www.pensacolapelicans.com/. Back about 4 years ago the owner of the pelicans (Quint Studer) helped come up with the maritime park idea, thats why there is a stadium in the plans. He has commited a few million of his own dollars towards the project as well as paying to rent the stadium for the baseball team.

[fvcrew22]

The road's finally reopened!

Fort Pickens Road offers access to popular attractions
May 22, 2009


It's been a long time coming, but it's worth noting the reopening today of Fort Pickens Road for the first time since it was washed out nearly four years ago.

The officials and employees of Gulf Islands National Seashore deserve a hearty round of applause for their hard work and dedication in getting Fort Pickens open for this weekend's Memorial Day holiday.

Reopening the road is good news for people who love the beach and who have, especially, missed being able to travel to Fort Pickens.

After Hurricane Ivan washed out Fort Pickens Road in 2004, it was rebuilt only to be destroyed by Tropical Storm Arlene and hurricanes Cindy and Dennis in 2005.

Even though it has taken nearly four years to repair and reopen the popular road, some good came from the delay. Many parts of the barrier island have become a haven for nesting shorebirds, and park officials wisely will minimize the impact on the birds as the park reopens.

Much like any of the beaches in Pensacola, the beaches at Fort Pickens are easily accessible and stunningly beautiful.

Now that Fort Pickens Road is open, visitors can again drive to explore areas around the fort, including the fort itself. We expect that visitors will be lining up to use Fort Pickens Road given the popularity of the Gulf Islands National Seashore.

Before Hurricane Ivan, visits to the park made it one of the top national park destinations in the country. And that level of visitation has made the park an integral piece of the local economy.

Nearly 5 million recreational visitors came to the park in 2003, placing it ahead of both the Grand Canyon and Yosemite national parks. Nearly 700,000 of those visitors came to Fort Pickens.

Fort Pickens is one of the premier recreational choices and tourist attractions in the Pensacola area.

We're excited that the road leading to this popular site is ready and open again for many to use and enjoy the sights and scenery at Fort Pickens.

link: http://www.pnj.com/article/20090522/...18/1006/NEWS01

[FloridaFuture]

Destin:
DO-over: Almost a dozen developments would benefit from city extension
Project slideshow: http://www.thedestinlog.com/sections...3&db=destinlog
May 21, 2009 - 12:33 PM
Fraser Sherman
Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days for a development order in Destin.

City rules require builders to break ground within a year of receiving their DO, and that they make periodic progress on construction to keep the DO from expiring. This prevents developers from applying for a permit far ahead of construction so that they’ll be grandfathered in if the city toughens its Land Development Code.

Developers who can’t meet the deadline can apply for a year’s extension. Last month, Destin City Council directed its staff to research the pros and cons of offering an extra year’s extension so that developers unable to build because of the current recession won’t see their DOs expire.

Destin’s Community Development Department gave The Log a list of development orders that could potentially benefit from an extra year’s extension. Some received the initial DO earlier this year, others have already received an extension. Developers who continue making “improvements” to the property don’t need an extension.

•Caretta Dunes Condominium, two five-story buildings, 80 condos.
This project began in 2005 as Beach Crystal, a four-story, 64-condo complex in Crystal Beach. Last year, Traship Holding proposed adding a fifth story, which would make Caretta Dunes a Tier Three project, the highest level of development in the city’s Land Development Code. The changes also required an amended DO.
Destin City Council approved Caretta Dunes in February 2008, despite opposition from a number of Crystal Beach residents. Since then, they’ve been working under construction permits to keep the DO active.

•Beach Pointe Condominium II, five stories, five condos, 60 feet tall.
The council approved this Crystal Beach Tier Three development in August 2008, south of Scenic Hwy. 98 and next to Green Reef Townhomes. The owners listed in the city’s files are Daniel Fitzpatrick and Theodore Jones.
Tier Three buildings on the harbor can run to 15 stories, but in Crystal Beach, which is predominantly residential and rental, the bar for Tier Three is much lower.

•Denny’s Restaurant, 4,720 square feet.
The Denny’s chain assumed the lease of the Destin Diner property last year with an eye to opening an eatery there. Charlie Sutherland of the Shopping Center Group told The Log in January that Denny’s had changed its plans and had hired Sutherland’s company to find someone else to take over the lease.
Sutherland said the site on the corner of Airport Road and U.S. 98 is a good one, but potential lessees have been discouraged to learn Denny’s stripped the inside of the diner last year, when they still intended to demolish and replace it.
Denny’s has not withdrawn its application.

•Destin Water Sports.
This Howard Group-owned harborfront business wants to add an 883-square-foot, one-story office to its property. It received an extension to its 2008 DO on March 9, 2009.

•Harbor Reflections Condominiums, 15 stories, 28 condos, 99 hotel rooms.
In January 2008, Harbor Reflections — a project ABC Amusement plans for the site of Gilligan’s Restaurant and Gilligan’s Watersports — became the first Tier Three project to receive a development order from the city. It received an extension in January.

•Industrial Park building addition off Airport Road.
A 3,348-square-foot warehouse added to a one-story building owned by Colt Development. It received a minor development order last November.

•Le Melange, 145 feet tall, with 55 condos and 50,393 square feet of office/retail space.
Le Melange, the brainchild of LeMelange Development, will go up at the east intersection of U.S. 98 and Restaurant Row, on the site of Whitney Bank. It received a DO in 2006, an extension in 2007, an amendment to the DO in November, and is now working under construction permits.

•Pointe One Beach and Yacht Club, 79 condos, 10 stories.
This development, now called the Pointe Beach and Yacht Club, is located at Norriego Point at the end of Holiday Isle. It generated controversy because when it first went before the city, it included a marina that some Destin residents said wouldn’t be safe so close to the busy Destin harbor.
Developers removed the marina from the proposal, and the city issued the DO in 2005. Pointe One then applied to the Department of Environmental Protection for a marina permit — which would then have to come before the city for approval — but has not received one yet.
Pointe One received an extension in 2006, and has been working under construction permits since then.

•Safe Harbour Estates, eight lots off Bayou Drive.
Developer Rod Wright told the City Council in February that the 4.5 acres of Safe Harbour held a house that had been his family home until an inspection showed it was heavily infected with 11 different molds, some of them potentially fatal.
The council approved Wright’s plan to break the property into eight single-family lots, which he said will become an “old world Mediterranean style boating community.”
The council issued Wright’s DO in February.

•Village Inn Development, 82 condos, 148 hotel rooms, 2,299 square foot of retail, 1,717 square feet of restaurant space.
This redevelopment project from SFB Investment Co. will replace a motel at 215 Harbor Boulevard. The city issued a DO in April 2008 and granted an extension in March 2009.

•West Harbor, a four-lot subdivision at 220 Sibert Avenue.
Ronald Wright’s West Harbor received its DO last September, for four “single-family residential detached condominiums.”

http://www.thedestinlog.com/articles...extension.html

[fvcrew22]

Hopefully this is the start of University Mall finally being renovated.


Movement on the mall
Posted 6/3/2009 7:07 PM EDT
markobrien's page

There’s life in University Mall's effort to upgrade.

The mall’s owners will ask the Escambia County Commission in July to consider changes in the process to enable them to convert the facility into a "lifestyle center" that will drop more shoppers to the landmark on Davis Highway.

That’s the word from Commissioner Grover Robinson IV. He said today the owners, Simon Group Properties, want to address a rule that 15 percent of the area be "green space" devoted to trees and grass.

This is a common issue in redevelopment projects. One option: Allow the redevelopment to go ahead, with the developer offering "green space" elsewhere to offset the loss at the original site.

The emphasis on green space can backfire and lead to more sprawl. For example, a developer may simply move further from town — and tear up more land and create more traffic — rather than comply with redevelopment rules he considers too onerous.

http://www.pnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/sec...Id=personaDest

[fvcrew22]

Here's a few highlights of an article from the news journal, it's a fairly long article.

CRA's downtown master plan in the works
CRA weighs ideas for downtown Pensacola
Jamie Page • jepage@pnj.com • June 8, 2009


Redeveloping the old Main Street Wastewater Treatment Plant site.

Reopening Bruce Beach as a usable downtown beach and boardwalk area.

Reopening Government Street to traffic at Ninth Avenue through the Seville Historic District.

These are ideas that might be contemplated in Pensacola's Community Redevelopment Agency master plan, which will be presented later this summer.

The CRA plan is key to how downtown progresses over the next five to 20 years, because it lays out a strategy for redeveloping the CRA district, the greater downtown area. It specifies projects for improving the downtown waterfront, the urban core, pedestrian access, and mixed use and residential developments.

A new perspective

Most importantly, the plan — which is always evolving and has had small updates throughout its 25-year history — has not had a comprehensive update in 20 years. It's being updated to include new elements, such as how the Community Maritime Park may tie into nearby developments.

The concept plan focuses on "first impressions," and one of the challenges is that Pensacola is "not on the radar screen," as the concept plan admits.

Fixing the parking perceptions, improving mass transit, considering things like water taxis, and filling in the blank spots between buildings to make downtown more dense and walkable. It's all mentioned in the concept plan and shows example sketches of what certain streets could look like if "filled in."

"Downtown has come a long way. But we have talked about a lot of these things before and where are we?" Senkarik said. "How are we going to prioritize the funding so it all happens this time?"

Will they come?

Another challenge the plan addresses is bringing people downtown every day — not just for special occasions — and creating downtown housing to attract broader income levels. The idea is to get people living downtown then the businesses the area is lacking will follow.




Link: http://www.pnj.com/article/20090608/...13/1006/NEWS01

[fvcrew22]

^ Yeah, I was in the mall last week and saw that it says Coach coming soon.

This might be an interesting plan for the library downtown.

Library plans need a new look
markobrien's page
Posted 6/9/2009 1:42 PM EDT

Let’s rethink this notion of building a new library at the site of the old (really old) downtown Pensacola library at Spring and Gregory streets.

City Councilman Larry Johnson has a better idea: Build it at Palafox and Gregory streets, where it would be much more visible and accessible than the current facility, built 50-plus years ago.

"It also could open up North Palafox Street to more activity," Johnson says. The land now is a lightly used parking lot owned by the city.

A new library could provide a jolt of activity on Palafox. And the current library and decommissioned firehouse nearby could be revamped for housing, high-tech business or other activities that mesh with the neighborhood.

Yes, the previous council agreed last year to build the new library at the old site, but there’s no reason to deny another look by Johnson and other new council members. They only took office in January. No ground has been broken, so give the new idea a good once-over.

Meanwhile, there's a public meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday to discuss new library's design. The meeting, at the library's Community Room on 200 W. Gregory St., will let residents express their ideas and concerns about conceptual plans. Representatives of the firms of Townes+Architects and Williams-Blackstock Architects will be there to answer questions and gather information.

link: http://www.pnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/sec...Id=personaDest

I made a quick map to show where the 2 sites are located.

[fvcrew22]

Blazzues aims to jazz up nightlife on Palafox Place
Taris Savell • tsavell@pnj.com • July 6, 2009

The musical sounds of blues and jazz will soon be heard in downtown Pensacola when Blazzues opens at 200 Palafox Place, in the former Abbott's Uniform location.

The upscale, live-entertainment venue, which can accommodate 179, is owned by Darice Langham, who said the idea of Blazzues started last year, "to help revive the downtown Pensacola economy while giving blues and jazz artists the forum to express themselves through the art of music."
Gallery Night visitors can see and hear Blazzues for the first time when it opens Friday.

Live entertainers will perform several nights a week. On Wednesday nights, "we will feature big-band swing music for all those who just can't wait to cut a rug and swing the night away," Langham said.

New Orleans-style blues and funk bands will rotate, as well. Nationally and internationally touring bands could appear several times per year.
"Our target customers will most likely live or work downtown. We plan to fill the niche of the more-mature consumers," Langham said.

Hours are 3 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Tuesday through Friday; and 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. Saturday. On Monday night, Blazzues is open for private functions only. Call 696-2290.

On the Kutting Edge
Donna Walker opened Kutting Edge Hair Wellness Salon in Navarre in 2004, but when her family moved to Milton last year, her shop was bound to follow. The new address for Kutting Edge is 7257 U.S. 90 East.
"We are not a day spa," Walker said. "We are a day salon and our intention is for your experience to be one that has made you feel beautiful inside and out."
Services include haircuts — including razor cuts — coloring, dimensional foiling, perms and waxing.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; and Saturday by appointment. Call 981-8440.

Coach comes to Cordova
Things are popping at Cordova Mall because there's news about a popcorn business gearing up for an official opening. More about that kernel of information in next week's column.
In the meantime, Pensacola's first Coach opened Friday. The national chain store, located between Aldo and Kids Footlocker across from The Gap, features luxury brands of handbags, leather goods, footwear and jewelry.
"We are very excited to bring Coach to the Pensacola market," said Candy Carlisle, marketing director for Cordova Mall, who said an addition to the Food Court will be announced this summer.
Call Coach at 478-5003.


Link:http://www.pnj.com/article/20090706/...907060303/1003

[fvcrew22]

It's a go for construction of Holiday Inn on beach
Carlton Proctor • cproctor@pnj.com • July 25, 2009

Innisfree Hotels owner Julian MacQueen closed a loan deal Friday with two local credit unions and a Tampa bank for $38 million to build a 206-room Holiday Inn on Pensacola Beach.

The loan was a result of a partnership between Superior Bank of Tampa, Virginia-based Navy Federal Credit Union and Pen Air Federal Credit Union in Pensacola.

Superior contributed $18 million to the loan package.
Pensacola-based and competing credit unions, Navy Federal and Pen Air Federal Credit Union, each contributed $10 million.

It is reportedly the largest commercial loan ever made by Navy Federal.
"We're proud to help jump-start commercial lending in Pensacola," said Cutler Dawson, president and CEO, Navy Federal Credit Union. "This partnership underscores our continued commitment to Navy Federal members and the Pensacola community."

MacQueen said he expects the project to break ground some time in August.
"We originally planned to begin construction a year ago," MacQueen said. "When the financing fell through, I knew we were going to have to start thinking differently."

MacQueen's Innisfree company owns several hotels, including the Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front and Hampton Inn.

"I am delighted these three innovative financial institutions share our vision for the bright future for Pensacola Beach," MacQueen said. "To my knowledge, it's the first time a commercial collaboration of this size has occurred between a bank and credit unions. Their participation is a strong investment in the local economy."

Only 16 Holiday Inns will begin construction nationwide this year and Pensacola Beach's is the second largest Holiday Inn among those, said Bill Murrah, regional director, InterContinental Hotels Group.
IHG is the world's largest hotel company, franchising seven hotel brands across the globe.


link: http://pnj.com/article/20090725/BUSINESS/907250311

[FloridaFuture]

^Good news. Not the highest quality hotel brand but at least there's construction.

[fvcrew22]

City woos technology companies
New building for Avalex, AppRiver
Kimberly Blair • kblair@pnj.com • July 31, 2009

Ground could be broken on a $12 million, high-tech office building and a $5 million, four-level parking garage as soon as this fall if the City of Gulf Breeze obtains a parcel of land from the state.

"This is huge," said Gulf Breeze City Manager Edwin "Buz" Eddy. "With the Andrews Institute and Seashell Collections, this is another leg on the stool to support the city."

The Quietwater Office Park expansion, to be located on U.S. 98 east of the Pensacola Beach overpass, is bigger than construction of two buildings.
The project represents a six-month effort by the state, Santa Rosa County Commission, Team Santa Rosa and Gulf Breeze to retain two of the area's major technology firms — Gulf Breeze-based Internet security provider AppRiver, and Pensacola-based aerospace avionics development firm Avalex Technologies.

Both companies were poised to relocate to other states.
Instead, they partnered with Bob Savage, owner of Quietwater Office Park and formed Quietwater LLC to build the office building.

The city of Gulf Breeze will build and operate the parking garage.

State incentive grants
AppRiver was running out of space at Quietwater Office Park in Gulf Breeze, president and CEO Michael Murdoch said.
"We were looking at going to Texas. Austin actually offered us more incentives, but we'd rather stay here," he said. "Gulf Breeze is a great place to live and work. We recruit local talent and people from all over the country."
With the help of Team Santa Rosa, Murdoch said AppRiver qualified for $895,000 in state incentive grants to be used on the expansion project.

Among the grants is $400,000 that AppRiver secured because it is committed to creating 80 jobs in three years that pay salaries 125 percent higher — or $46,000 annually — than the average county salary.

AppRiver was founded by Murdoch and Joel Smith in 2002.The firm employs 108 and generated revenues of $20 million last year.

New home
Avalex's participation in the project hinges on securing a similar incentive package from the state.

Avalex President Tad Ihns said that if the package is approved, he will consolidate his two downtown Pensacola locations and his Atlanta operations to Gulf Breeze.

"We've been working on a new home for Avalex for some time," he said. "If the project goes through, we'll take 25,000 to 30,000 square feet of the new building."

Avalex moved to Pensacola from Atlanta in 2001 with four employees. It has grown to 54 employes, and last year it generated $12.5 million in revenues. The company continues to expand and is committed to paying annual salaries of $46,500 and more if it consolidates in Gulf Breeze, Ihns said.
Charles Wood, senior vice president of Economic Development for the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, said he's glad Avalex plans to stay in the area.

"Would I like to see Avalex stay in Pensacola? Absolutely," he said. "But we'd like to see them grow first. In these economic times, it's a very good sign to see companies expand."

Monday vote
The city will send a formal request to the Florida Department of Transportation asking for the land.

The council will vote Monday to amend the city's land-use codes and comprehensive plan to allow for the construction of the 60-foot-tall office building. Current codes only allow for 35-foot-tall structures.

The new parking garage would be city-owned and operated and paid for with government grants, economic development grants or with the city's community redevelopment agency budget.

Shannon Ogletree, industry recruiter for Team Santa Rosa, said the project will put Gulf Breeze on the map as a technology hub.

This is how a technology cluster starts; two companies coming together and putting up a class A building and other companies want to be a part of it."


link: http://pnj.com/article/20090731/NEWS01/907310337/1124

[BuildHigher]

from INWeekly.net

News: Maritime Park Scheduled To Break Next Month
by Sean Boone

Pensacola may soon see a start to the long-awaited Community Maritime Park.


According to Ed Spears, the neighborhood and economic development administrator for the city, groundbreaking is scheduled for the middle of September once the $40 million bond is issued for its funding.


"The bonds are going through a legal process with city staff," he says. "We have not yet had the bonds issued. There are no problems, it's just a formal process.


"Our bond counselors are saying they will be highly desirable for this market."


Spears says the final approval of the staff decisions will be made by City Council at its upcoming meetings.


The park will be built just south of City Hall on the old Trillium site.

[BuildHigher]

Originally Posted by fvcrew22

City woos technology companies
New building for Avalex, AppRiver
Kimberly Blair • kblair@pnj.com • July 31, 2009

Ground could be broken on a $12 million, high-tech office building and a $5 million, four-level parking garage as soon as this fall if the City of Gulf Breeze obtains a parcel of land from the state.

"This is huge," said Gulf Breeze City Manager Edwin "Buz" Eddy. "With the Andrews Institute and Seashell Collections, this is another leg on the stool to support the city."

The Quietwater Office Park expansion, to be located on U.S. 98 east of the Pensacola Beach overpass, is bigger than construction of two buildings.
The project represents a six-month effort by the state, Santa Rosa County Commission, Team Santa Rosa and Gulf Breeze to retain two of the area's major technology firms — Gulf Breeze-based Internet security provider AppRiver, and Pensacola-based aerospace avionics development firm Avalex Technologies.

Both companies were poised to relocate to other states.
Instead, they partnered with Bob Savage, owner of Quietwater Office Park and formed Quietwater LLC to build the office building.

The city of Gulf Breeze will build and operate the parking garage.

State incentive grants
AppRiver was running out of space at Quietwater Office Park in Gulf Breeze, president and CEO Michael Murdoch said.
"We were looking at going to Texas. Austin actually offered us more incentives, but we'd rather stay here," he said. "Gulf Breeze is a great place to live and work. We recruit local talent and people from all over the country."
With the help of Team Santa Rosa, Murdoch said AppRiver qualified for $895,000 in state incentive grants to be used on the expansion project.

Among the grants is $400,000 that AppRiver secured because it is committed to creating 80 jobs in three years that pay salaries 125 percent higher — or $46,000 annually — than the average county salary.

AppRiver was founded by Murdoch and Joel Smith in 2002.The firm employs 108 and generated revenues of $20 million last year.

New home
Avalex's participation in the project hinges on securing a similar incentive package from the state.

Avalex President Tad Ihns said that if the package is approved, he will consolidate his two downtown Pensacola locations and his Atlanta operations to Gulf Breeze.

"We've been working on a new home for Avalex for some time," he said. "If the project goes through, we'll take 25,000 to 30,000 square feet of the new building."

Avalex moved to Pensacola from Atlanta in 2001 with four employees. It has grown to 54 employes, and last year it generated $12.5 million in revenues. The company continues to expand and is committed to paying annual salaries of $46,500 and more if it consolidates in Gulf Breeze, Ihns said.
Charles Wood, senior vice president of Economic Development for the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, said he's glad Avalex plans to stay in the area.

"Would I like to see Avalex stay in Pensacola? Absolutely," he said. "But we'd like to see them grow first. In these economic times, it's a very good sign to see companies expand."

Monday vote
The city will send a formal request to the Florida Department of Transportation asking for the land.

The council will vote Monday to amend the city's land-use codes and comprehensive plan to allow for the construction of the 60-foot-tall office building. Current codes only allow for 35-foot-tall structures.

The new parking garage would be city-owned and operated and paid for with government grants, economic development grants or with the city's community redevelopment agency budget.

Shannon Ogletree, industry recruiter for Team Santa Rosa, said the project will put Gulf Breeze on the map as a technology hub.

This is how a technology cluster starts; two companies coming together and putting up a class A building and other companies want to be a part of it."


link: http://pnj.com/article/20090731/NEWS01/907310337/1124

awesome development, more for the economic impact than skyline appeal- only wish that this project stayed in downtown Pensacola. Between this, IHMC, and the new technology park-one could have made a reasonable argument that Pensacola was emerging as a new potential leader in Tech in the southeast. Don't get me wrong, one project won't kill the new momentum, but this isn't the first time something like this fell through. Congrats, GB-


Still excited about Pensacola's Tech Park. As long as it's offices fill up, it should do wonders for downtown. I really like the location, and it's land that I sad years ago should be used for something like this. I am really anxious to see how tall it will be, The Civic Center and hotel are both fairly tall in the context of Pensacola, and one another sizable building could really start to make an impression as people enter the city through the interstate. Even if it's four floors or whatever, it will still fill up that part of the town. The maritime park will anchor the west, this could be another anchor, and hopefully their impact will help fill in what's in between.


Here is an article about it, should break ground in a couple months.

http://www.pnj.com/article/20090721/...18/1181/NEWS01

Technology park

The planned downtown technology park — proposed to bring 1,000 high-tech jobs to Pensacola — is scheduled to start construction in November, said Charles Wood, senior vice president of economic development for the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce.

The City of Pensacola, Escambia County and the city's Community Redevelopment Agency are working on a joint agreement for the funding and operations of the tech park.

The county has donated $8 million worth of property and put up a $2.5 million line of credit to help install infrastructure so that technology businesses will want to locate there.

Wood asked commissioners last week to work out legal issues with the agreement so it could be signed, since the tech park is moving forward. Wood is asking the same of the city.

The county is considering selling lots at the tech park at below market value to companies that commit to creating at least 50 jobs with an average wage that is 125 percent of the average county wage. Tax abatements also may be offered.

Those locating at the park would share parking at the Pensacola Civic Center, across the street from the tech park site. Part of the Civic Center's overflow parking could be used to build a parking garage.

[FloridaFuture]

Good job keeping the updates going guys.

[fvcrew22]

Yeah, it would have been good to keep that company downtown, but at least they're staying in the area.

A date is finally set for groundbreaking on the Maritime park.

Maritime Park, Saufley Landfill and traffic interchange
Jamie Page • jepage@pnj.com • August 11, 2009

Maritime Park ground-breaking
The long-awaited ground-breaking for the Community Maritime Park is tentatively set for Sept. 17, Pensacola City Manager Al Coby said Monday.

However, the date won't be firm until the Community Maritime Park Associates board confirms it at Friday's meeting, said Lacey Collier, chairman of the CMPA board.

"We already have the (development) contract in hand, and I am authorized to sign it as soon as he gets the approval," Collier said.

The developer is awaiting state approval of his application to be certified as a design-build contractor. The board that must approve the certification meets Thursday for its monthly meeting.

If the ground-breaking date holds, it will be scheduled from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on the site of the proposed park, south of City Hall, said Jane Birdwell, a spokeswoman for the developer.

Construction will begin with land clearing and environmental site remediation, Birdwell said.

The city is expected to issue the $40 million in bonds for the park's construction in mid-September, City Finance Director Dick Barker said.

I-10 at Ninth Avenue
City officials say the lack of a traffic interchange at Ninth Avenue and Interstate 10 has long been an issue that hampers Pensacola's roadways.

So, the City Council may endorse adding an interchange to the Northwest Florida Regional Transportation Planning Organization's long-range plan.

Ninth Avenue is a highly used thoroughfare in Pensacola and Escambia County, as well as a major retail corridor, making for economic reasons to get the interchange, City Manager Al Coby said.

It is the primary route for accessing places such as Cordova Mall, Pensacola Junior College, Sacred Heart Hospital and Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport, to name a few.

Widening Ninth Avenue to six lanes with medians and bike paths is part of what the Federal Highway Administration would like to see done first before considering an interchange there.

Coby said those improvements may not be an option because it could "negatively impact adjoining properties on Ninth Avenue."
City Council will vote Thursday on the matter.

Full article: http://pnj.com/article/20090811/NOTE...ic-interchange

[SkyDiveJunkee]

Great news on the maritime park, this is a solid addition and expansion of the downtown area akin to what Charleston did about 10 years ago in its French Quarter with the Charleston Waterfront Park (Pineapple Park). I hope the full plans are realized.