Groundbreaking New Library

Mayor Gayle Oberst and the City of Panama City Beach broke ground Thursday for the new Panama City Beach public library. Architectural design by Collins & Associates and construction by the Construct Two Group, the new building will sit on the corner of Hutchinson Boulevard and Lyndell Lane and will be nearly triple the size of the current public library.

Under roof, the new building will house 11,000 square feet and outside will have 240 parking spaces. Panama City Beach Library Branch Manager Frank Walker said, “They’ll be more computers, more shelf space, and a children’s room with children’s programs. We’re thrilled about it.”

Mayor Oberst expects the new library to be a history making event, “Panama City Beach isn’t a very old city,” She said. “A public library builds a history and enriches a community.”

The architectural design went through a few phases before the final decision. With help from the library administrative staff and employees, the new building will have an open space feel, spacing out the shelves to add more walking area. Rooms dedicated to reading, children’s programs and a literacy meeting room will provide additional space for those activities. There will also be more room for books, which means a better overall selection and an upgraded research system.

Although this seems like a large task, the completion date for the new library is set tentatively for February 2010. Charles Lewis, Director of Construction Operations at the Construct Two Group believes that date is reachable. Mr. Lewis said, simply, “That’s more than enough time.” Mayor Oberst is optimistic about the date as well; “By this time next year we’ll be able to walk through the doors of this beautiful new building.”

The new library will cost just over 2 million dollars and was funded by impact fees and donations through donor recognition programs. Construction is set to begin this month.

Groundbreaking for New Panama City Beach Public Library

Tomorrow will be the start of a new book reading era for Panama City Beach. The groundbreaking ceremony for the new public library on Panama City Beach will take place tomorrow at 4:30 pm at the corner of Lyndell Lane and Hutchison Boulevard (Middle Beach Road).

The construction contract for the $2.2 million building was awarded to Construct Two Group from Orlando with the anticipated use of local contractors for much of the work.

Over 72,000 people each year visit the Panama City Beach Library. Among many programs include summer reading activities for children, a literacy program, English as a second language lessons and free internet.

The new library will be 10,000 square feet, with “state of the art” computer center, literacy center and children’s center.

Thanks Concerned Owner for the tip!

New Publix, Office Depot, Dunkin Donuts Close to Opening

Each day, the new Publix and Office Depot leap closer to opening day. The parking lot is paved, much of the landscaping is in and workers are tying up loose ends on cable and patching up walls. With blue skies above and mild weather, working outside this time of year is almost a dream.

The building facades are pretty much done and looking nice. They still need to line the parking, but most of the rest of the outside work is complete. I’m pretty sure that nothing has been done inside any of the buildings. I had been told that projected opening dates were in April, but at this time, it seems unlikely that anything will be open before May.

Many of you have asked what is going in at the old location, and unfortunately, at this time, I don’t really have any good info on that. I did call Equity One, the publicly traded company that owns it along with many other retail properties all over the southeast, and they declined to tell me anything. So, I guess we’ll find out sometime in the future!

How It's Done – Paving a Runway Video

So, I thought it would be cool to shoot a video on how they paved the runway, and turns out, I was right – it is cool. Maybe I’m a nerd, but I found it amazing how they brought in the concrete material, then formed it into a beautiful, nearly flawless, 15 inch slab, working many yards in mere minutes.

The dump trucks would pull under a huge loader that would fill its bed with 10 yards of concrete in 2 minutes. With the time it takes for the truck to stage its position, load and move for the next truck, a truck can be filled every 2.5 minutes.

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=3972906&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1
Paving the Runway at the new Panama City Airport from Jason Koertge on Vimeo.

The runway paving process was, I thought, interesting. Consisting of 15 inches of concrete on top of 4 inches of asphalt, the runway will be capable of handling the load of the largest of aircraft.

Each dump truck would back the loads down the asphalt sometimes up to a quarter mile, then dump their load right in front of the first machine. As the machine worked the pile of concrete to fit under its 15 inch clearance, workers would grab a sample of the concrete with shovels to take back and test. Each load of concrete was tested to be sure that it met the proper strength requirements.

As the concrete passes under the machine, 1 inch rods comb through the mixture vibrating at a high rate of speed to be sure the mixture compacts. It exits the other side a basic form, but not smoothed. The next machine refines the shape, vibrates and compacts more and spits the smoothed almost finished runway out the back end.

The main 8,600 feet of the runway is paved as of right now and upon arrival of the FAA approval of the extension, the remaining 1.400 feet will be paved in about 10 days.

Wonderworks Coming to Panama City Beach

“Let your imagination run wild, that’s the wonder of Wonderworks,” or so goes the tune on the Wonderworks web site. Wonderworks, essentially a huge place to play seems to be coming to Panama City Beach. I use the word “seems” because I still have yet to be able to get in contact with someone that has any solid information on this. Perhaps this is where an “investigative reporter” would come in. Currently there is a location in Pigeon Forge, TN and Orlando, FL.

So far, I’ve found full building plans (thanks Aaron!), information for bidders of the project and heard from a dozen or so people that it will be located next to Walgreens at the intersection of Front Beach and Middle Beach Road.

According to some of the information I’ve found, the building will be a 4 story 36,000 square foot space filled with entertainment including exhibits, small rides, video games and more.

As quoted from the Pigeon Forge, TV location’s web site:

When you enter the building, everything will be upside down, so in order to participate in the fun, you must be inverted. Once you’re properly aligned for your adventure, Family Fun awaits with more than 120 interactive, hands-on exhibits. As the Building hurtled skyward it encountered what can only be described as a time portal.

The building from the outside looks as though it has been planted in the ground upside down, apparently the one here will look the same, according to the elevation that I’ve seen. The site next to Walgreens is cleared and ready for development. I’ve heard that the Walsinghams (they own Ripley’s) are the ones behind Wonderworks here, which would make sense as it is the same basic concept as their Ripley’s museum. Of course, it helps that he owns the property also, all .68 acres of it.

In quoting Ignacio, the Luchador: So anywayz – I’ll keep you updated as I find more info, in my strretchy paunts.

Breaking News! New Double Indoor Flowrider Coming to PCB

Hot off the press – pcbdaily’s press – an indoor double Flowrider is coming to Panama City Beach. Think surfing year-round, think surfing whether the water temperature in the Gulf is tolerable or not, think surfing whether it’s raining or lightning outside, or think surfing if you just don’t feel like paddling out. I’m thinking surfing because I can’t surf for real.

Being a veteran snowboarder remembering the days of the early 1990’s of me and one other guy on the whole mountain learning to snowboard, getting practically run over by skiers hating on the, what they thought, new sport. I always wanted to skate, but frankly, I sucked at it. I read all the magazines, wore the cool clothes, listened to the music, liked riding my board, but I couldn’t do any tricks for the life of me. Or maybe I just wasn’t dedicated. Snowboarding was everything I wanted – a board that was attached to my feet and a padded landing (sometimes). I rode passionately every chance I got for 10 years (growing up is Dallas offered me this opportunity twice a year at best).

Fast forward to moving to Panama City Beach in 2001. “Surfing is just like snowboarding,” a friend told me, “you’ll love it.” Well, it isn’t, and I don’t. It always seemed like too much work for not enough playtime. I was spoiled with the sometimes seemingly endless downhill bouts riding fresh powder. I gave it another chance when my wife, who is an avid surfer, convinced me. Same results. I did however find a new comprimise to my longing for the snow – wakeboarding. Yet, I’ve only been once. That day will always linger in my head when I got “up” after the third try and rode for hours. Everything about the control of the board was familiar – I loved it. Too bad that was almost three summers ago, and I haven’t gone since.

Fast forward again, to today. A new double Flowrider is coming to Panama City Beach, and it will be indoor. Talking to Jeremy, who’s working on the development and operational side of this new attraction, he said, “the best way I can describe it is a jet engine shooting water up a ramp so fast you can surf it.” The title on the main page of the Flowrider website describes it as “sheetwave attractions.” They vary in size and even in wave dynamics, but they all provide healthy doses of fun. If you’ve ever been on a Royal Caribbean’s cruise, chances are you’ve run into one.

Driving down Middle Beach Road, right across from Wal-Mart and where Tony Roma’s used to be, you’ve probably seen a video sign that says Shubee Flowrider. That’s it. Right there in Miracle Strip Loop will be where all the indoor surfing action can be found starting sometime early summer. “If everything works out right, we’ll be open sometime in June,” said Jeremy.

Prices haven’t been set yet, but they are estimating the cost to be around $20 per session. Each session could last for up to 1 hour. Inside, there will be observation areasall around the attraction, two party rooms and a retail area including gear and apparell.

Welcome to Panama City Beach, Jeremy!

New Waterpark in Panama City Beach – Plans

Well, thanks to some good friends is high places, I was able to get my grubby little hands on the plans for the new waterpark that is coming to Panama City Beach. From the looks of it, the new park seems to have all the necesary features to add quite nicely to the things to do in Panama City Beach.

Some of the items of attraction include a wave pool, activity pool, interactive play structure (envision a three story jungle-gym that pumps water through it in ways even the imagination cannot fully predict), lazy river, inner-tube slides, a family raft ride, and a whole “zone” for surfing.

Enough talk! Here’s the plans.

Edit 3/23/09:

I’d like to apologize for not being clear as to where this was. I had specified that in my other post on this, but I should have specified that on this as well. sorry! I’d also like to apologize for the delay in response to this.

Below is a map of where it will be located. The new park will be on the east side of Clara Avenue in between Middle Beach and Front Beach Road. The entire property is around 30 acres, although half of that will be parking. In the plans is a Flow-Rider surfing feature – more info on that soon!

New Airport Aerial Pictures and Update

Contract 1: Heavy Civil and Airfield Lighting
Approximately 80% of the contract work is complete with only 55.8% of the contract time used.

Underground utilities are being installed in the General Aviation area.
Fine grading along the runway is continuing.
Seeding is ongoing in the North section of the site.
Installation of the centerline lighting cans is approximately 75% complete.

Approximately 115 pieces of heavy equipment are in operation at any one time with approximately 160 personnel on site for the heavy civil (contract 1) and utilities (contract 3) contracts.

Contract 2: Terminal Building, ATCT and Support Buildings
Approximately 18% of contract work is complete with 25% of contract time utilized.

Terminal:
All shoring has been removed from Area A.
Installation of re-steel on Level 2 of Area B is complete.
Beginning to prep the slab on grade between areas B and C.

Air Traffic Control Tower:
Pile cap complete using approximately 350 cubic yards of concrete.
Beginning to form up the 1st level.

Air Maintenance Facility:
Backfilling of maintenance pit is complete. Preparing for slab on grade.

Air Cargo Facility:
Installation of pre-engineered metal building is ongoing.

Public Safety Building:
Completed concrete pour of perimeter footings/elevator footing.

Rental Car Facility:
Completing installation of underground utilites.

The average manpower on site for Contract 2 per day is 105 people based on a five day work week. Manpower on Saturdays is approximately 31 people.

Contract 3: Utility Contract
Approximately 18% of contract work is complete with 15% of contract time utilized.

Main Access Road:
3W2” Power Distribution Duct Bank: 53% complete.
Street light duct work: 65% complete.

Joyner Road:
24” water main: 90% complete.

GA Access Road:
30” water main: 45% complete.

Lift Station:
30% complete.

CR-388 & Main Entrance:
8” Directional Drill is complete.

Source: newpcairport.com

New Waterpark to Come to Panama City Beach

Well, this isn’t exactly breaking news, but I read the other day that a new waterpark may be coming to Panama City Beach. WMBB broke the story day before yesterday.

At the intersection of Clara and Front Beach Road, a new waterpark is being planned. The owners, Sterling, purchased the property in 2005.

The original article can be found here.

I was talking to a friend over lunch yesterday who had heard some “back-door” meetings and said that it will be more of an water-attraction, rather than a water-park. It is unclear at this point whether this new attraction will be real competition to the Shipwreck Island Waterpark just a half mile away.

Although I love Shipwreck Island, it will be very nice to see another attraction come into the area, this is sorely needed to supliment what we have. Nothing breeds advancement like alittle competition.

Airport Update – Pictures of the Terminal Progress

The terminal at the new Panama City Airport located in West Bay in Bay County is moving along at a swift pace. The percentage complete is just under 20% with all the pilings in place and the second floor structure being formed right now.

Construction of the terminal will last for the duration of the project.

Source: newpcairport.com