Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves has sent a formal letter to South Palafox property owners asking them to offer help to their tenants during the five- to six-month redevelopment of South Palafox from Garden Street to Main Street.
- “These are private property owners, and this is clearly not a mandatory thing,” Mayor Reeves told reporters at his press conference this morning. Based on his meeting with property owners on Oct. 29, he gained a sense that they appreciated the $10.7 million investment the city was making in the Reimagine Palafox project, which includes stormwater and pedestrian safety improvements, as well as aesthetics.
His letter has two specific requests:
1. Minimum of $10,000 in rent relief per leased commercial unit from January to May
The mayor asks property owners to provide this rent relief to help small businesses with their fixed costs during the construction period. The letter notes that property owners will benefit most from the long-term reinvestment, so they should help support the small businesses during this disruption.
- Additionally, the mayor offers an incentive: if property owners provide at least $25,000 of rent relief during this period to non-property owner small businesses, the city will recognize them as a sponsor of the project and commemorate their contribution.
2. Private parking lot owners make free or reduce parking fees
The mayor requests that private parking lot owners adjacent to Palafox Street discount or offer free parking during off-peak hours and offer peak-hour discounts during the construction period. This mirrors the city’s commitment to provide 414 paid spaces around Palafox during construction, free of charge, to help maintain customer access to retailers.
- Both requests aim to minimize disruption to small businesses during the $10 million Palafox Street reconstruction project.
Read Palafox Property Owners Letter_11-3-25.
Mayor Reeves announced that the Community Redevelopment Agency will vote on a funding plan for the project on Monday, Nov. 10, and make a recommendation on the construction contract to the Pensacola City Council, which will vote on the agreement at its regular meeting on Thursday, Nov. 13.