PANAMA CITY HAS BIG PLANS FOR OLD AIRPORT

The City of Panama City has big plans for old Airport. It looks like another City in the Panhandle getting ready to put on the Jets to move forward. As mentioned many times before, the world has their eyes on the Panhandle of Florida. It has too many things going for it. I am glad I grew up here.


First Glimpse at Airport Site Plans
06/25/09 - 12:01 PM By: Bree Sison Bay County, Fla:
In less than year the Panama City airport will relocate and while all eyes are on West Bay, there’s major developments coming to the current site as well.
The new land owners and their team of developers are holding an open house to introduce the new face of an old airport.
“We need to know what’s on people’s minds to develop the best reuse plan for their site,” says Fred Merrill, a Principle in the Saski Associates design firm.
The firm out of Boston was responsible for some of the Beijing Olympics planning. Now they’ve mapped out a master plan for 708 acres of airport land that includes shopping, dining, housing, entertainment and even a marina. The community would be open for everyone to enjoy and not just it’s residents. Developing a long-term plan for the site is something residents and city leaders are getting behind.
“I’ll be able to walk to a park there and that’s what I’m looking forward to so I’ll have some place to walk,” says Kathleen Zeigler of Panama City.
“[It will be] Responsible growth. It will increase the tax base obviously for Panama City but more importantly it’s something we can leave behind for our children,” says Panama City Commissioner Billy Rader.
“We’re trying to create a place that people can live work, play, shop and have a good time that will be a symbol of Panama City going forward,” says Merrill.
“We are ready for it! Pier Park has got overwhelmed so I’d like a smaller area to come and enjoy shopping, restaurants and maybe eventually move down this way,” says Joyce Ledbetter of Youngstown.
Unlike the old Bay County Jail, the plan for the current terminal building isn’t to demolish it but to repurpose and incorporate it into the ten year plan.
The master site plan will be put into motion after the airport relocates in a year.