It is apparent that PNJ columnist Theresa Blackwell didn’t read the recent University of West Florida study regarding just 46 acres of OLF-8 before she wrote her column attacking the economists. Blackwell didn’t understand the analysis and mischaracterized it as a “either-or fallacy.”
The UWF Haas Center found that developing 46 of the 271 acres set aside for light industrial use in the hybrid would generate an economic impact of $1.3 billion over five years for the local economy, local tax revenue of $10.8 million, 1,550 direct, indirect and induced jobs, and $445.5 million in total personal income.
DPZ LOVE: However, she praised DPZ CoDesign for its analysis of the hybrid plan: “Far better economic analysis that was part of the DPZ master planning process is available in the OLF8 Master Plan Scenario Plan Report…In this analysis, the Hybrid Plan would yield from 5,420 jobs (20 per acre, ST Engineering) to 17,886 jobs (66 per acre, Navy Federal). That is far more than the minimum of 1,000 jobs that the BCC said they wanted.”
OH NO: The UWF Haas Center did the analysis of DPZ CoDesign, too. Read the report.
From the report: “Haas Center staff ran an impact scenario for each of the considered plans through an econometric simulation that forecasts the outcome of new construction spending and jobs in targeted industries. The model incorporates a 536-sector scheme—based on NAICS sectors—which groups firms that share similar spending patterns. The analysis provides a way to compare an array of options.”
I checked with UWF Haas Center director Nicole Gislason. The same team at the Haas Center ran the DPZ model and the FloridaWest model.
QUESTION FOR THE PNJ: What is Gannett’s policy for fact-checking its columnists? The information is readily available online. Why didn’t the PNJ editor contact the Haas Center?
DIG DEEPER: Blackwell has campaigned against an Amazon distribution center, claiming the master plan, as approved, would not have allowed for it. But an Amazon distribution center is a light industrial use.
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