Early this morning the Airport Authority began emailing invitations to a ?Ceremonial Groundbreaking? for the new airport, to be held on Thursday, November 1, at 9:30 a.m.
If you need information about the event, send an email to: patty@pcairport.com
This community has worked nearly ten years to reach this day.
Congratulations to Airport Authority Chairman Joe Tannehill; Airport Board Members Bill Cramer, Gerry Clemons, Rick Koehnemann and Andy McKenzie; Airport Executive Director Randy Curtis; and the countless others who have contributed to the process and worked so hard to bring better air service, economic development opportunities and environmental protection to our region.
http://westbayflorida.blogspot.com/2007/10/date-set-for-groundbreaking-ceremony.html
Replies
59
SoWal Expert
Does this mean that Shelly will stand naked with shovel in hand for the ceremonial pose of the breaking of the ground? 
SoWal Insider
Shelly is secretly buying adjoining property to the airport, and has plans for a fish and chips stand to accommodate all those pink Brits who will spend their two for one currency on Sowal vacation homes.
SoWal Expert
Did anyone read about the new Airbus making its first flight, where people spent upwards of $10,000 per ticket to take the first flight? The new PC airport will be able to land the new Airbus, and Fed Ex and UPS will likely be using the the new jet for cargo, saving millions of dollars in fuel expense. The new Airbus will fly half way around the world on one tank of gas. From here, that would mean that the Airbus could fly to Singapore on a single tank. :shock: I wonder why UPS has purchased property near the new airport. I wonder why I hear rumors of Fed Ex looking to relocate from Memphis to Panama City Beach / West Bay. It is very interesting to think about. Does anyone know if Fed Ex and UPS have orders for the new Airbus?
I wonder why I hear rumors of Fed Ex looking to relocate from Memphis to Panama City Beach / West Bay. It is very interesting to think about. Does anyone know if Fed Ex and UPS have orders for the new Airbus? 
SoWal Insider
Does this mean that Shelly will stand naked with shovel in hand for the ceremonial pose of the breaking of the ground?
The bet was for the airport scheduling its GRAND OPENING in 2009 :roll:--ain't gonna happen. With the first shovel of dirt, the fun begins.
BTW...I like the idea of the "emailed" invitations due to the short notice....
:scratch:...let's see, why would that be? Maybe to get it in before JOE's conference call on Nov 6?
The big question remains to be answered....will there be snacks at the ceremony?
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Edited
SoWal Insider
Does anyone know if Fed Ex and UPS have orders for the new Airbus?
Airbus 380s plagued with delays. Fed Ex canx it's order for the Airbus 380s last year...opted for smaller Boeing 777s instead. UPS canx its order with Airbus in March.
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SoWal Insider
The bet was for the airport scheduling its GRAND OPENING in 2009 :roll:--ain't gonna happen. With the first shovel of dirt, the fun begins.fried Mars Bars, and feeesh/cheeps
BTW...I like the idea of the "emailed" invitations due to the short notice....
:scratch:...let's see, why would that be? Maybe to get it in before JOE's conference call on Nov 6?
The big question remains to be answered....will there be snacks at the ceremony?
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directionally challenged
:shock: I wonder why UPS has purchased property near the new airport.
Don't know about the airbus except that the airport will accomodate it. The grapevine has it that a number of hub relocations are expected to occur because it's the first international airport after 9/11 and will meet new security levels.
Many are very optomistic about the airports success strictly because of this security issue. Would like to know what the enhanced measures are.BTW, nice butt!
The bet was for the airport scheduling its GRAND OPENING in 2009 :roll:--ain't gonna happen. With the first shovel of dirt, the fun begins.
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I've been gone for a while and word is that you've surely become a welcomed addition to the board. Originally, the media was talking 2009 but at the Engineer's meeting last month, they specifically said early 2010.
SoWal Insider
I've been gone for a while and word is that you've surely become a welcomed addition to the board.
Welcome to the Twilight Zone.
Originally, the media was talking 2009 but at the Engineer's meeting last month, they specifically said early 2010.
I'm pretty sure that will change again going forward.
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Edited
SoWal Expert
What will make the new PC more secure than the recent FWB changes?
As always, remember your airport is only as secure as the LEAST secure connecting airport.
As always, remember your airport is only as secure as the LEAST secure connecting airport.
SoWal Insider
What will make the new PC more secure than the recent FWB changes?
For starters....it's in the middle of nowhere.
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directionally challenged
I've got the design somewhere and nothing about the layout struck me as unusual except maybe the buffers so maybe it's electronic stuff or something. Plus as you say, it's in the middle of nowhere for now.
For starters....it's in the middle of nowhere.
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SoWal Insider
now it's in the middle of nowhere like Scottsdale AZ was the middle of nowhere.
SoWal Expert
It's in the "middle of nowhere" only until they build the rental car lots, the airport hotels, the maintenance buildings, the shipping centers.........
SoWal Insider
It's all doomed because commercial investment is "commercialvestulators".
SoWal Insider
It's in the "middle of nowhere" only until they build the rental car lots, the airport hotels, the maintenance buildings, the shipping centers.........
Then why not buy in Orlando, there's lots of stuff out there for sale, there's an airport, there's jobs, there's infrastructure in place, it's Florida and it's a buyer's market there too--one might say it is a turnkey operation. No beach nearby? The same might hold true here as more and more of our beaches are tagged as "Off Limits" to tourists and locals.This "airport story" may not be the best news for local Realtors as it may encourage present sellers in the area to hang on to their unreasonably high asking prices just that much longer.
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SWGB
Did anyone read about the new Airbus making its first flight, where people spent upwards of $10,000 per ticket to take the first flight? The new PC airport will be able to land the new Airbus, and Fed Ex and UPS will likely be using the the new jet for cargo, saving millions of dollars in fuel expense. The new Airbus will fly half way around the world on one tank of gas. From here, that would mean that the Airbus could fly to Singapore on a single tank. :shock: I wonder why UPS has purchased property near the new airport.
Actually FedEx has no plans to move its main hub from Memphis, the main reason FedEx and UPS want access to the new airport is:
Overall Size, the land is bigger than Hartsfield in ATL and offers a huge amount of expansion room.
Employees, there is a huge labor pool available in the area both trained and untrained that need year round employment.
Location, Panama City got its name for its' proximity (I got that word all wrong) to the country of Panama, both carriers will most likely use the airport as a hub to south and central america.
These are the reasons I was told by a friend who works WITH, not for, FedEx.
SoWal Insider
This "airport story" may not be the best news for local Realtors as it may encourage present sellers in the area to hang on to their unreasonably high asking prices just that much longer.
.[/QUOTE For the same reason that real estate markets are local. Some regions in our country now are in boom phase. The panhandle market cannot be compared to Orlando. The beach is obviously the draw in SoWal. That and the fact that there are multiple reasons to buy and hold real estate. Why present the engine for growth in your neck of the woods as a boondoggle? Does it run counter to your desires, or have you shorted St. Joe recently?
directionally challenged
This "airport story" may not be the best news for local Realtors as it may encourage present sellers in the area to hang on to their unreasonably high asking prices just that much longer.
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Actually Shelly from my standpoint, I'd just as soon have sellers hang onto their property and get them off the market. It's no good having a listing that nobody's buying and it's the glut of properties on the market that's causing buyers to wait to write contracts.
The best thing that could happen for the market is for people to pull their stuff off the market but many can't afford to in spite of the fact that they know the airport will boost the market.
Beach Fanatic
SJ: read the story about the the new airbus today flying from Singapore to Sydney in 7 hours - reviews by passengers were rave and as you said, some paid mucho $$$$ for the experience and said they were so spoiled by the experience that they cannot imagine flying any other way. This jumbo jumbo jumbo jet has multiple classes, rooms furnished as suites, beds, etc... will take joining the mile high club to another level i guess 
Beach Fanatic
BUT, as Bill Maher recently said, "I have never boarded a plane and thought to myself, geez: I wish more people were on this plane!!!"
SoWal Insider
Actually Shelly from my standpoint, I'd just as soon have sellers hang onto their property and get them off the market.
...and I'd just as soon hit the powerball for $300m, buy out Emerald Grande, reduce it to dust and put a Goofy Golf in its place--but that's not gonna happen either.
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Meow
Panama City ? Bay County International Airport Being Built on 4,000 Acres to be Donated by
The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE)
Florida Governor Charlie Crist Calls Project a National Model for Balancing
Economic Transformation and Environmental Preservation
Florida Governor Charlie Crist hailed the new airport as ?a national model for economic transformation and environmental preservation.? In a prepared statement, Crist said, ?The State of Florida stands as a proud partner of this project for the new jobs it will create and the environmental jewels it will protect.?
?Though we celebrate today, tomorrow we will redouble our efforts to maximize the potential of this project for the people of Northwest Florida,? said Airport Authority Chairman Joe Tannehill. ?We will work together to attract better air service and high-quality jobs to our region, and we will continue to work to make this airport as green as it possibly can be. I am very proud of the way our community pulled together to create a shared vision of better air service, stronger economic development and permanent environmental protection for West Bay.?
?We have planned this property to allow this airport to serve this region now and for the next fifty years and beyond,? said Tannehill. ?At the same time, we have worked with the environmental community, the state of Florida, Bay County and St. Joe to create an unprecedented environmental preservation area that protects West Bay for our children and grandchildren.?
?As the place-maker for the West Bay Sector, JOE?s role will be a supplier of entitled land,? said Peter S. Rummell, chairman and CEO of JOE. ?With this groundbreaking ceremony, we are open for business and seeking relationships with a broad range of strategic partners and customers.?
?Encompassing more than 100 square miles with the new international airport at the center, the West Bay Sector represents a wide range of opportunities for national and international intermodal, industrial, office, retail and residential developers,? said Rummell.
?It will offer unique opportunities to locate business operations near a new state-of-the-art international airport designed for 24/7 operations with protected approaches,? said Rummell. ?With a link to Panama City?s deepwater port, we believe this airport has significant unique competitive advantages and JOE is positioned to work with dynamic third-party developers and end users to be operational when the new airport opens.?
The West Bay Sector also includes a 40,000-acre West Bay Preservation Area, a conservation area to permanently protect West Bay, including 33 miles of shoreline and an additional 44 miles of creeks and tributaries. JOE and The National Audubon Society have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create The Audubon Center at West Bay being designed as the gateway to the West Bay Preservation Area.
?JOE and Audubon are also seeking to join with progressive strategic partners to explore the feasibility of creating a world-class environmental educational venue,? said Rummell. ?This nature center would offer a unique opportunity for environmental organizations, corporations and citizens to build a consensus about how we can live, work and play in a greener world.?
?In addition, JOE is participating in regional efforts to bring new airline service to Northwest Florida as these white-sand beaches emerge as a new national destination,? said Rummell. ?In turn, new airline service will make Northwest Florida, and its beautiful beaches, more accessible to markets worldwide.?
Initial development of the airport is planned for 1,200 acres of the 4,000-acre site to be donated by JOE. The initial phase of the new airport will have an 8,400-foot runway permitted to be extended to 12,000 feet, a 5,000-foot crosswind runway and a phase one terminal building of approximately 105,000 square feet with eight gates. The site has significant room for expansion that could include a 1,400-acre industrial complex with ramp access and a second 8,400 parallel runway.
Within the West Bay Sector?s first phase, JOE has entitlements for approximately 4.4 million square feet of industrial, commercial and retail space, 5,842 residential units, 490 hotel rooms and two marinas. There is ample land within the West Bay Sector for additional commercial and residential entitlements.
About JOE
The St. Joe Company (NYSE:JOE), a publicly held company based in Jacksonville, is one of Florida's largest real estate development companies. We are primarily engaged in real estate development and sales, with significant interests in timber. Our mission is to create places that inspire people and make JOE's Florida an even better place to live, work and play. We're no ordinary JOE.
More information about JOE can be found at our web site at www.joe.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements about our beliefs, plans, goals, expectations and intentions. Forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty, and there can be no assurance that the results described in such statements will be realized. Such statements are based on our current expectations and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or reissue any forward-looking statements. Risk factors that may cause the actual results to differ are described in this press release and in various documents we have filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 and the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
? 2007, The St. Joe Company, "St. Joe," "JOE,"
and the "Taking Flight" design are service marks of The St. Joe Company.
SoWal Insider
Was Shelly there?! 
Meow
Was Shelly there?!
Passing out snacks, I am sure!
SoWal Insider
Was Shelly there?!
Yeah...no band, no balloons and no snacks!!! Pete Rummell asked me to pretend to be a member of the Press and ask questions. Charlie & I split a bag of Krystal Chiks I bought. I got bit by a raccoon. It was not the fun time I had been promised in my e-mail invitation.
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Edited
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