NEW MILITARY RESORT DEVELOPER HAS BEEN SELECTED

As I noted is previous emails, the use of this land by the Air Force will be a major draw for our area.

A new military resort is coming to Okaloosa Island
Mona Moore
2009-12-24 15:16:05
EGLIN AFB — Innisfree Hotels Inc., has been pegged to develop and operate Emerald Breeze Resort Group, Eglin’s proposed 17-acre military resort on Okaloosa Island.
Innisfree Development will develop the resort and Innisfree Hotels will manage the hotel.
Innisfree owns the Holiday Inn Express and Hilton Garden Inn in Orange Beach, Ala., and the Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front and Hampton Inn on Pensacola Beach.
Innisfree has partnered with DCK Corp., the general contractor for the project, according to a news release the company issued Wednesday.
“I think these days, in this economy, to see something moving forward is pretty exciting,” said Jim Breitenfeld of the Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County.
The resort will be a commercial hotel open to the public but that will caters to military members. Innisfree intends to offer thousands of room nights at deeply discounted rates for retired and active-duty military members from all branches of the service.
“The Emerald Breeze will introduce the Emerald Coast community to airmen, soldiers and sailors who may otherwise not have had to opportunity to vacation here, enhancing economic impact,” said Maj. Gen. Charles R. Davis, commander of the Air Armament Center at Eglin. “Emerald Breeze will provide first-class, affordable resort accommodations to our military members and their families. We are pleased our cooperative efforts are providing a venue to increase morale opportunities for our warriors and their families.”
The Air Force presented its Emerald Breeze Resort proposal last January as the best use for Test Site A-5 next to the Sheraton Four Points hotel.
Part of the resort’s roof will be secured and reserved for military receivers, sensor equipment and offices to keep the test site operational.
The first phase of the resort will feature a beachfront pool, 150 rooms and two commercial spaces that will be available for lease. Future phases include at least 100 additional rooms. With 600 feet on the Gulf of Mexico, the resort will also offer direct beach access.
Alternative energy and other green features would be required “wherever feasible,” according to the Air Force’s plan.
The proposed $24 million development is expected to have a significant economic impact for Okaloosa County, according to Larry Sassano, president of the county’s Economic Development Council.
“The Air Force's Emerald Breeze Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) project will help create close to $50 million in economic impact for Okaloosa County and the surrounding areas,” Sassano said in the news release. “This 17-acre parcel is located along some of the most pristine beaches in Northwest Florida.”
The EUL Program is a major part of the Air Force Real Property Agency’s (AFRPA) mission to manage, acquire and dispose of Air Force real property worldwide.
Similar military lodges exist at Walt Disney World in Orlando, on Waikiki in Hawaii and in the German Alps.
The development will be Eglin’s third ELU program. The Mid-Bay Bridge and the Northwest Regional Airport expansions were also a part of the program.