East Garden Shaping Up
The East Garden District will have two additions in August. Chef Blake Rushing will open his new Union Public House location on the corner of Garden and Jefferson streets, and Raf Simpson and Vinyl Music Hall will open Proper Burger behind the popular music venue known as Side B.
Why this matters: Two years ago, the Pensacola City Council approved a public-private partnership to reimagine a chunk of downtown Pensacola as the East Garden District.
Dig Deeper: Catalyst HRE CEO Chad Henderson has laid out plans for 20,000 sq. ft. of repurposed properties along Garden Street, as well as 30,000 square feet of new mix-used developments. The plans also include 175,000 sq. ft. hotel at the intersection of Jefferson and Chase streets.
- The first steps were reworking North Jefferson Street between Chase and Garden streets and renovating space for The Well next to Perfect Plain. Union Public House will be the latest addition. More on EGD.
Proper Burger is independent of the Catalyst HRE development but will help expand the offerings east of Palafox.
- Raf Simpson: “This project is actually an extension of Vinyl. The entire site is called B Side and Proper is basically a joint venture between us and the Levins – Terry, Evan, and Harry – to make it a really exciting outside activation right here in the heart of downtown.”
Free ECAT WiFi
Escambia County Area Transit yesterday announced the launch of WiFi on all its buses, making it easier for commuters to stay connected on the go.
Why this matters: Commuters can now use their travel time to catch up on work emails, attend virtual meetings or even stream their favorite shows. The new service will increase productivity and efficiency for those who rely on public transportation.
- “Providing WiFi on public transit is a game-changer for our commuters,” said Mass Transit Director Rodriquez Kimbrough. “We understand the importance of staying connected and we are committed to providing our riders with the best possible experience.”
Dig Deeper: The Wi-Fi service is free for all riders and is available on all buses. To access the service, riders simply need to connect to the network and accept the terms and conditions. The service is secure and provides a fast and reliable connection.
UWF awarded $460,000 grant
The University of West Florida has been awarded a $460,000 grant by the Florida Defense Support Task Force to support the training efforts of the Florida Air National Guard and various military units based and operating in and around Florida.
Why this matters: UWF’s Office of Research Administration and Engagement will serve as administrative lead on the project, teaming with a group of military experts to develop a military training system and network that mixes virtual and real-world elements for realistic scenarios.
- In this role, UWF will oversee the execution of the project, manage and distribute grant funds, foster collaboration among participants, develop program guidelines and action plans and oversee project deliverables.
Dig Deeper: Components of the training program will include surface, air and sea military operations for Florida-based unit operations on the Avon Park Air Force Range in Central Florida. The project will result in a proof of concept and demonstration of the Florida Advanced Training Range with possible future deployment to broader federal training operations.
For more information, visit UWF.edu/rae.
