Baptist Hospital moving out of the west side of Pensacola could have a dire impact on the economy on that part of the city. All the small businesses that depend on the hospital employees could be hurt. The employees – primarily housekeeping and custodial – who live in the area might not migrate to the N. Davis Highway location. These issues need to be analyzed by the City.
However, the Community Maritime Park and the redevelopment of the area in and around the ECUA Main Street Sewage Plant could help offset the losses. These two projects will definitely boost downtown and the Belmont-Devillers area.
The City needs to look at the economic impact of the West Florida Hospital acquisition and make plans for replacing the jobs possibly lost downtown by the move to Davis Highway. There is time to work this out and the CMP and the MSSP should be key components to any plan.
The City Council needs to move on the alternative financing and get things moving. A plan needs to drawn up for the aftermath of the ECUA plant relocation.
Let’s get ahead on an issue for a change.