Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves opened his weekly presser with good news. Pensacola International Airport experienced its busiest day in history on Monday with approximately 15,400 total passengers traveling through the facility.
- The previous record was set on July 7, 2024. During the peak hour, TSA screened 762 passengers, exceeding their full capacity rating of 600 per hour. Despite this volume, the longest wait time was only 31 minutes, with an average of just over 13 minutes.
Mayor Reeves attributed the high traffic to the “Sand in My Boots” Festival in Gulf Shores and emphasized the airport’s regional importance, noting significant traffic from Pensacola residents and Baldwin County. He anticipates another busy weekend ahead with Memorial Day and recommends residents check flyPensacola.com for parking information.
Land Development Code Update
The rewrite of Pensacola’s Land Development Code continues to progress. Inspire Planning, the firm hired to assist with the rewrite, has provided a preliminary draft for staff review. Mayor Reeves clarified that public input is still being accepted via the website, and the process will include additional public workshops.
- The first public draft is expected in September, with a second round of public workshops scheduled for October. Interested citizens can provide feedback at https://www.inspire-engagement.com/pensacola-ldc.
Mayor Reeves emphasized the importance of the Land Development Code changes, calling it “the broadest brush stroke a mayor has in any city in the country” to address issues like housing at scale.
Florida Young Professionals Initiative
Mayor Reeves will be traveling to Fort Myers for the Career Source Florida board meeting, where he’ll participate in a panel discussion titled “Retaining Florida’s Future,” focused on keeping young professionals in the state.
The mayor referenced Florida Chamber data showing that while Florida has seen positive population growth, the 25-34 age demographic has reached a net-zero migration rate. He plans to discuss Pensacola’s childcare initiatives as a key strategy for retaining young talent, noting that this age group is often starting families while not yet having established financial security.
Memorial Day Schedule Changes
City Hall administrative offices and community resource centers will be closed for Memorial Day on Monday, May 27. However, Roger Scott Tennis Center and Osceola Golf Course will remain open.
Sanitation schedules will be adjusted as follows:
- Monday pickups will move to Tuesday
- Tuesday pickups will move to Wednesday
- Thursday and Friday pickups will remain as scheduled
Saenger Theatre 100th Anniversary Celebration
The postponed Saenger Theatre 100th anniversary celebration has been rescheduled for this Saturday. The event will run from noon to 8:00 PM, with portions of Palafox and Intendencia closed for the festivities. The celebration will include food trucks, street entertainment, and a music stage.
Two screenings of the silent film version of “The Phantom of the Opera” featuring Lon Chaney will be shown at 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM, with soundtrack provided by the 1925 Saenger Pipe organ. Tickets are free and can be claimed at the box office in advance or at the door while supplies last.
SYSA Rafferty Center Ground Lease
Mayor Reeves addressed the upcoming city council vote on a ground lease with SYSA (Southern Youth Sports Association) for the new Rafferty Center. The project represents a $3 million private donation to build a facility for youth in the community.
- “Anytime anybody approaches us to say, ‘Hey, we want to donate a $3 million facility, I think to help youth in our community,’ I think that’s a great conversation,” Reeves stated. He emphasized the value of transforming unused city land into a facility that increases capacity for youth activities.
When questioned about the city taking on maintenance obligations for the facility, Reeves noted that the city’s facilities department estimated annual maintenance costs at $17,500, which he deemed reasonable for a $3 million asset that will serve thousands of local children. The lease specifies this amount as an “up to” figure, not necessarily the full amount that will be spent each year.
The mayor drew a distinction between this project and previous lease discussions, highlighting that “this is a facility that wouldn’t otherwise exist” and that “the only investment on the front end from the city is the empty dirt that’s been empty for decades.”
Reeves acknowledged council members’ concerns and looks forward to the discussion on Thursday, but emphasized the value of private investment in youth services: “If we end up having a privately funded facility helping the youth of this community, that’s a conversation that any mayor better be having.”
Downtown Development Projects
Palafox Street Renovations
Meetings with downtown business owners are scheduled for mid-June to discuss the Palafox Street renovation project. Mayor Reeves described it as a “generational project” but acknowledged the complexity involved with construction in the busy downtown area.
Complete design plans are ready to share with business owners, with discussions focused on construction timing and methods to minimize disruption. The mayor indicated construction would likely begin around January 2026 to avoid the holiday shopping season.
Hotel Tristen
Steel construction has begun rising above the roofline at Henderson’s hotel project in the East Jefferson District. Mayor Reeves expressed enthusiasm for the development, noting that hotels and residential projects both contribute to downtown vibrancy and economic activity.
The mayor stated that downtown Pensacola offers a unique combination of “a beach that looks like the best in the world” along with “a real local downtown with soul,” making it an attractive location for conventions and visitors.
Bay Center/Convention Center Discussion
A joint meeting between the city council and county commission to discuss the future of the Bay Center is tentatively scheduled for July 10. Mayor Reeves indicated this meeting would help determine whether an advisory committee is needed and its specific role.
When asked about the importance of a convention center, Mayor Reeves supported the concept, noting that Pensacola’s combination of beautiful beaches and an authentic downtown gives it advantages over neighboring destinations.
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