City Administrator David Stafford announced today that the deadline for the city’s survey on possible upgrades to the county-owned Pensacola Bay Center has been extended to Friday, Feb. 20.
Substituting for Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves, who is in Tallahassee, Stafford offered few details about who received the survey. Other reporters and I said they had received comments from residents who didn’t get any information on it, other than what was reported in the media.
“I’ll have to check into that. I know that there is a survey that’s open. It was what extended until Friday. “
- Public Information and Strategic Communications Officer Shannon Nickinson reported that about 1,000 surveys had been completed.
Is the city going to take it back? Stafford replied, “No, I didn’t say that. (We) have some input to what transpires there, and also just soliciting public input about what’s happening within the city is a valuable exercise.”
Visit here to take the survey.
Other Takeaways
Housing Funding Making a Comeback
Stafford offered good news on the $5.8 million housing grant that appeared to be slipping away. He said the city has made “significant progress” in salvaging at least a substantial portion of the funds. Mayor Reeves met in Tallahassee with Commerce Secretary Alex Kelly as part of those efforts. Stafford stressed the mayor has been working the phones relentlessly, calling in political favors to keep the money available for Pensacola housing programs. An extension of the program deadline is expected, and more details should be forthcoming within the next week.
Palafox Project On Schedule — But Businesses Still Hurting
Adrianne Walker provided an update on the Reimagine Palafox reconstruction, saying the project remains on schedule for its incentivized completion date of May 24. Pavers are expected to be delivered late this week, moving the project into its final hard-scaping phase. After Palafox wraps up, contractors will shift to side street milling and resurfacing work, with a contractual deadline of November, though Walker said it should finish sooner.
- Still, business owners along the corridor are feeling the pinch. Walker acknowledged hearing reports of reduced foot traffic and businesses adjusting hours. She attributed some of that to cold, windy weather and typical slow-season patterns, but said the city has a public engagement coordinator on-site 40 hours a week and has launched billboard advertising spotlighting the businesses rather than the construction project itself.
Baptist Legacy Campus: Demolition and a Public Meeting
The old Baptist Hospital campus continues to move through its demolition process. The city will host a public information session on March 5 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Fricker Center, where staff and owner representative Josh Wallace of Jacobs will present an update and answer questions.
American Magic Expands; Congressman Visits
Congressman Jimmy Patronis visited Pensacola Tuesday, touring Pensacola International Airport and the Port of Pensacola, where American Magic’s Tyson Lamond briefed him on the operation. Patronis offered support for both facilities. Stafford said American Magic’s recent acquisition of a Danish SailGP team further cements Pensacola’s growing reputation as an international sailing hub, with the city’s training facilities expected to host all 14 SailGP teams.
Land Development Code
The city held its final public open house Tuesday for the first comprehensive review of Pensacola’s land development code in 79 years. The next step is a full planning board workshop on April 7. The goal is a board recommendation by summer and a draft ordinance before the City Council in August.