Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves provided updates on several city developments during today’s press conference, ranging from Mardi Gras parade preparations to major construction projects and the return of American Magic’s sailing team.
Mardi Gras Parade Safety Measures
Mayor Reeves reminded the public of the new road closure protocols announced several weeks ago. Main Street will be closed an hour before the parade, with the standard parade route closures beginning three hours before the start.
- The mayor explained why Main Street must be closed from Maritime Park to Ninth Avenue so that traffic can be rerouted to Cervantes Avenue. “If we were to block all the way to Tarragona, Tarragona is already going to be hectic as the eastern edge of the box.”.
Mayor Reeves also clarified that vehicles parked in angled spaces along Plaza Ferdinand will be subject to the city’s towing policy. Previously, some attendees had parked in these spaces thinking they were exempt from restrictions.
Over 600 Residences Scheduled for old ECUA site
The presser highlighted several major construction projects bringing significant housing development to the city:
– On the western half of the ECUA property (along Club Street), development has begun on 282 residential units across eight acres. The civil and site permit was issued on Dec. 20, with the sale closing on Feb. 20.
– The eastern half (along DeVilliers Street) has a proposed 324-unit development currently under review. While less advanced than the western project, this development would bring the total of new housing units at the former Main Street Sewage Plant site to over 600.
– The Hard Rock/Reverb project at Maritime Park (Parcel 5) continues progressing, with a planning board conceptual review scheduled for March 11. The project still intends to apply for the Live Local Act for administrative exceptions related to affordable housing.
Foiling Week and American Magic Updates
Mayor Reeves addressed the scheduling overlap between Mardi Gras and Foiling Week, acknowledging that having two major events simultaneously creates challenges for city resources. While supportive of the events, he asked the Tourist Development Council (TDC) to keep the city informed when deciding on funding events that impact city resources.
- “One of the huge returns on investment for the American Magic project is things like sailing events, regattas, Foiling Week. That’s us realizing our return on investment as citizens, as a community,” the mayor said. “As we continue to see more and more of these, we just want to make sure that we’re in better lock step across the board.”
In related news, Mayor Reeves confirmed that American Magic has returned to Pensacola with approximately 30 team members currently working in Warehouse Nine at the port. The team’s boats, Patriot 1 and Patriot 2, arrived last Friday. Construction of the Center for Maritime Excellence continues, with wall panels expected to go up in the coming weeks, and completion is targeted for September.
The mayor mentioned he has a meeting scheduled with American Magic leadership this Thursday to discuss planning for national and international regattas for this year and next.
Government Efficiency and Fiscal Responsibility
When asked about Governor DeSantis’ announcement regarding the creation of a state-level DOGE initiative focused on examining government waste, Mayor Reeves defended the city’s fiscal approach.
- “If I seem nervous about that, then you’re misreading me. I’m happy to defend the efficiency of our government at any point,” Reeves stated. He emphasized that the city treats its budget like the dollars were coming directly from citizens.
The mayor pushed back against what he called a “boogeyman presumption” that local governments are inherently wasteful. “It’s simple to say on one day, why don’t we cut a bunch of stuff? But… cutting stuff is not the automatic solution to everybody’s problem. If we are going to cut a lot of stuff, then I’m going to come to you and show you what the consequence of that is going to be.”
Reeves also cautioned that pausing projects often leads to higher costs when they resume due to inflation and contract complications.
Other Updates
– The Pensacola Police Department earned re-accreditation for its 911 communications and law enforcement operations.
– The Land Development Code (LDC) process started with a city council presentation yesterday, The city has scheduled a public workshop for tonight and an open house tomorrow.
– A million-dollar Urban Forestry grant for improving the city’s tree canopy has been paused, the only city project affected so far by recent federal funding reviews.
– The city’s legislative priorities for the upcoming Florida legislative session include protecting the $7 million in funding for Baptist Hospital and an appropriation request for a new fire boat.
