Airport Relocation Update

From the WMBB website:

The Panama City Airport Authority met Tuesday morning to discuss bids for both the sale of the existing airport and the contract to build the new terminal.
The airport is relocating from Panama City to West Bay on the far end of the beach. That project will cost upwards of 300 million dollars.
Part of the revenue for that airport is the sale of 713 acres the current airport sits on. The Property Appraiser's office estimated it was worth 60 million two years ago.
PCA Development won the bidding process with and offer of 75 million dollars. They hope to build a community with affordable housing, entertainment, and housing complexes.
"We want this to be an exciting place to live and to visit," says Vaughan Blaxter, Managing Director for PCA.
The Airport Board will now begin negotiations with PCA to work out payment. PCA has requested that 14 million of the offer be paid over a period of time, as much as 30 years. They hope to be able to sell parcels of the land before paying the entire 75 million.
Also at the board meeting, a contractor was selected to begin negotiations for an airport terminal at the new site. The victor was Kellog Brown & Root from Houston. They will relocated several employees to the area including Project Manager Jeff Dealy.
"My family can't wait to come to the beach," Dealy says.
KBR was one of seven contractors vying for the job. Board Chairman Joe Tannehill made clear to other firms that they're not out of the running yet. If negotiations with KBR fall short, the board will revert back to one of the other companies.
The Airport Board is still waiting for the Army Corp. of Engineer's permit. Airport Executive Director says all issues with that permit, including the existence of Ivory Billed Woodpeckers on the land, have been resolved.

From the WMBB website:

The Panama City Airport Authority met Tuesday morning to discuss bids for both the sale of the existing airport and the contract to build the new terminal.
The airport is relocating from Panama City to West Bay on the far end of the beach. That project will cost upwards of 300 million dollars.
Part of the revenue for that airport is the sale of 713 acres the current airport sits on. The Property Appraiser's office estimated it was worth 60 million two years ago.
PCA Development won the bidding process with and offer of 75 million dollars. They hope to build a community with affordable housing, entertainment, and housing complexes.
"We want this to be an exciting place to live and to visit," says Vaughan Blaxter, Managing Director for PCA.
The Airport Board will now begin negotiations with PCA to work out payment. PCA has requested that 14 million of the offer be paid over a period of time, as much as 30 years. They hope to be able to sell parcels of the land before paying the entire 75 million.
Also at the board meeting, a contractor was selected to begin negotiations for an airport terminal at the new site. The victor was Kellog Brown & Root from Houston. They will relocated several employees to the area including Project Manager Jeff Dealy.
"My family can't wait to come to the beach," Dealy says.
KBR was one of seven contractors vying for the job. Board Chairman Joe Tannehill made clear to other firms that they're not out of the running yet. If negotiations with KBR fall short, the board will revert back to one of the other companies.
The Airport Board is still waiting for the Army Corp. of Engineer's permit. Airport Executive Director says all issues with that permit, including the existence of Ivory Billed Woodpeckers on the land, have been resolved.

This is excellent information, thanks! Was driving through Ebro yesterday and wondering what it's going to be like in a year ... two years ... 10 years. :shock: I do feel bad for the people who live there and like being away from it all.

I find it interesting that the Property Appraiser's office valued that land at $60 million two years ago. What would have been the market value at that time then? About $75 million, given the unwritten 80 percent rule of area property appraisers? If so, why would the land still be worth that much given the market changes since March 2005? :idontno: Maybe it's legit but it does seem a little fishy to me.

I've read some interesting articles about the ivory billed woodpecker, and it seems to me that even if there were some on airport land, they would hear the noise and immediately move somewhere else much quieter. I understand they don't like to be near any roads or activity at all, so if they are hiding in Walton/Bay counties it wouldn't be off Hwy 79.

This should help St. Joe sell Rivercamps..........

This should help St. Joe sell Rivercamps..........

??? To add to the creepy crawlies and mosquitoes, there will now jets flying at low altitudes. Rivercamps is right in the heart of all the new development so its difficult to predict just how the area will evolve. Could be great, could be not so great.

??? To add to the creepy crawlies and mosquitoes, there will now jets flying at low altitudes. Rivercamps is right in the heart of all the new development so its difficult to predict just how the area will evolve. Could be great, could be not so great.

My bet is that the area will boom. Why else would a company like Joe give the land for the airport? Largest in the nation land wise, second largest in Florida and the first airport to be built since 911. It is a no brainer.

Opening is still expected in 2009.

If this thing opens in 2009, I will post my photograph taken in front of the airport entrance sign....nekked.....except for a straw hat.


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If this thing opens in 2009, I will post my photograph taken in front of the airport entrance sign....nekked.....except for a straw hat.


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Don't forget the fake schnozz and specs! ;-)

If this thing opens in 2009, I will post my photograph taken in front of the airport entrance sign....nekked.....except for a straw hat.


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Hmmm.. I don't think that will be necessary. :cool:

Hmmm.. I don't think that will be necessary. :cool:

Neither do I,..... that's why I suggested it. :cool:


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If I was a betting man, I would bet that we won't be seeing Shelly's nekked photo. I say, come on 2010 airport!!!

Neither do I,..... that's why I suggested it. :cool:


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You can have your picture taken but a "nekked" pose....well......

If this thing opens in 2009, I will post my photograph taken in front of the airport entrance sign....nekked.....except for a straw hat.


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I am in on this one!!! Do you promise?

I'm passing this along, from Kriss, FYI:

Hello Everyone

As you know the new airport in Bay County will begin construction in early June, it is expected to open late 2009 early 2010. As you can imagine there is a tremendous amount of planning to be done. On Wednesday, April 4th from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at Edgewater Beach Resort in Panama City Beach there will be the first regional workshop to examine how we can best take advantage of this opportunity to build a future for the Emerald Coast. I would like to encourage all of you to consider attending this very important milestone workshop regarding the future development of our airport. The afternoon sessions will cover four facilitated work sessions; Marketing/Branding, Economic Development, Destination Draw, and Regional Airport Commerce Council Organization and Task Force Development. Please join with me and help bring Walton County's interests to the discussion table. For more information call our office 267-1216. Space is limited.



Thank you,

Kriss Titus
Executive Director
Beaches of South Walton TDC
P. O. Box 1248
Santa Rosa Beach, Florida 32459
(850) 267-1216 ext. 126
(800) 822-6877
(850) 267-3943 Fax
Visit our web site at www.beachesofsouthwalton.com

Beaches of South Walton" - host to Florida Encounter 2007 www.encounter.visitflorida.com

If this thing opens in 2009, I will post my photograph taken in front of the airport entrance sign....nekked.....except for a straw hat.


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Shelly...i've got a $5 dollar bill with your name on it if you'll got to the site and do it today....:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

Shelly...i've got a $5 dollar bill with your name on it if you'll got to the site and do it today....:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

Reminds me of an old joke whose punchline goes something like this:

"I've already established what you are, now I'm just haggling over the price."

😀

With talk of "milestone workshops, facilitated work sessions, committees, and Task Force Development," ....I see this project being pushed back even further than before.

I bet they'll gather their little cabal of cronies in the swamp in June, dressed in "Builder Bob outfits" to stick a shovel in the ground, but to land aircraft in 2009?.......:funn:....not a Seattle slug's chance in the Florida sunshine.

To build an airport is not that intensive. There is a terminal and parking lot and runway. A multi story office complex is requires more time to build than paving a runway.

To build an airport is not that intensive. There is a terminal and parking lot and runway. A multi story office complex is requires more time to build than paving a runway.

:confused: This is a "major international airport" afterall <if one is to believe the rhetoric in glossy brochures and RE websites trying to hawk land>.

I imagine they'll use the local Texaco station to fill up gas cans to fuel the jets; hire a bunch of illegals to do a hand-over-hand chain to unload the baggage; swipe a SoWal lifeguard chair to use as a control tower; and clear a double-lane dirt roadway through the swamp to provide access to transport construction vehicles during building and ferry tens-of-thousands...nay....millions of domestic and international visitors to and fro.

That said, I don't see how a few extra-large Sears garden sheds and a couple of truckloads of asphalt will result in an attractive and functional international airport.

The clock is running for a 2009 grand opening...nice to know that they'll go from a shovel in the swamp in June 2007 to a Boeing Dreamliner touchdown faster than it takes a contractor to finish a 2500sf beachhouse. (This must have something to do with the Disney-thing....that's your cue 00seer00 ;-) )

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Now you know they will not being using that kinda stuff to build. And yes the slack builders that take a year to build a 2500 sq ft house will be surprised to see a 12000 foot runway completed faster than granite tops. Trust me on this one. I know unless you have built an airport also.

Trust me on this one. I know unless you have built an airport also.

How long did it take you to build your last international airport?


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