Last week, we reported that Belmont Hall – food and entertainment complex – may move to a site near the Port of Pensacola and the ferry landing. The project is the brainchild of Jordan Yee and Alistair McKenzie.
“We’ve switched gears now, and we are headed to the port, hopefully. We have filed an LOI (Letter of Intent) with them and are in the process of very early stages of discussing doing the food hall down there,” said McKenzie on “Real News with Rick Outzen” this morning.
This week, the Pensacola City Council will discuss an agreement to develop nearby warehouse at port into a indoor sports facility for pickleball, as well as volleyball and basketball. The city already has an agreement for a developer to build a hotel near the ferry landing.
“When Scape came to town and did their whole Waterfront master plan, along with James Lima, they had identified this area, including the port, the hashtag connector, which they think is the part of the waterfront that needs to be super activated in order for Pensacola really to take up another level with its downtown,” said McKenzie.
“They said that they needed a catalytic project down in that area. And we think that the food hall, which is a business incubator as well as an entertainment complex, is the perfect catalytic business that’ll kind of fit the bill of what they were talking about.”
THE PORT IS NOT AN ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX! IT IS A CRITICAL TOOL FOR OUR TRANSPORTATION HUB and SEAPORT COMMERECE<. CURRENTLY, There is a very non transparent agenda for the Port. I own a property 2500 ft from the Port and the Warehouse 4 Developers want to present for approval a warehouse takeover for pickle ball? . This THURSDAY a lease that allows the 48,000 sq ft warehouse with rails is being presented by high end developers for a final signing? The developer and his friends were instrumental in towers 4 and 5 at Portofino. My question, is this port being taken over by non transparent investors who want the DEEP WATER billion dollar location for NOTHING.. Mr Mayor, WHY NOT put out an RFP and let the SUPPLY CHAIN COMMERACE take precedence. Uniquely the same developers want to charge a membership fee many later an assessment?, They also want offer the members a paid parking lot (after they get the memberships?) with 200 cars (Premium Parking?) and all for a whopping $ 2,600 TOTAL a month (A MONTH!!!) The way I see it the city losses and the developers make money at city expense. All this for the same Ware house 4 known to get $18,000 a month for years. SO this week there is a lease that will read similar to a Portofino Lifestyle membership center, be allowed to be assigned to others for what might bring 10's of millions and there is not and I mean NOTHING Martime about it? Something is a little different here! . Are they trying to steal the valuable DEEP WATER PORT from the taxpayers and city? THERE IS NO TRANSPARENCY here.
Remember, I JUST GOT MY NOTICE! As a member of the The Propeller Club supporting ports for maritime commerce and cargo I am concerned because the lease reads with numbers that do not work and the 3 attachments that have not been shared. Some neighbors in the neighborhood of Historic Seville are also not supportive. This is a billion dollar seaport one of our cities most treasured and valuable assets . Members of the city council and economist in the area are you really going to let this happen on your watch? This lease is totally against a NON Partisan Biden Harris Whitehouse Press announcement November 9th 2022 in relationship to PORTS and NEEDS !