Tag: panama city beach information

Will Disney and Universal be coming here afterall?

This past week I was sent a document presentation of our area and the future planned growth that we will see in the coming years. It was put together by Accrue Planning. I couldn’t find anything about them on the web, but I decided to post it anyway. There is some good information, but there is also other information that I’m not sure how accurate it is. When I say I couldn’t find any information on the web, I should have been more specific in that I couldn’t find a website.

The document cites that there are no inventory, franchise, or state-level property taxes in our area and that our area remains to be attractive for businesses. Discussed in the 78,000 acre, master-planned West Bay Sector Plan by St. Joe and the new airport. Also discussed is the possibility of FedEx and UPS relocating their international operations centers here. Please correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think that has been confirmed.

The Gulf Coast Parkway will stretch from 231 to 98, just west of Mexico Beach and will improve hurricane evacuation, open up more development opportunities and reduce traffic through Tyndall Air Force Base. The Gulf Coast Parkway is also expected to open up travel corridors from the East Bay area to the new Airport.

Currently, Highway 79 is undergoing a transformation to a four-lane highway up to I-10 and there are plans to widen highway 77 up to I-10 as well. Actually, this could have already happened or begun already. My travels do not take me up that road.

Also in the document in information about Disney and Universal Studios coming to our area. I know nothing of the validity of this information, but they are claiming that 55,000 acres known as “Moody Pastures” is under contract and that Disney has spent money on the site. Also discussed is the possibility of Universal coming to the East Bay area.

Once gain, I feel it necessary to note that I was unable to find information on the publisher of this document and I do not endorse the validity of the information it contains.

Here is the link to the document: Northwest Florida Future Development

TDC Meeting Notes – Possible Bed Tax Increase

Notes from the TDC Bed Tax Committee Meeting on Wednesday 12/5/2007.

4 of the 7 committee members were present. Absent were Mike Nelson, Andy Phillips, and Russ Smith.

State of Panama City Beach: President Dan Rowe made a short presentation on the state of our tourism industry. This included the changing destination, the airport relocation, the changing customer base and other challenges facing the industry. He believes that both new and existing resources must be used to both retain and enhance occupancy and rate integrity during this dynamic time.

Tie-In between the Bed Tax Discussion and the Strategic Plan Framework: President Rowe discussed the Strategic Plan Retreat that is scheduled for January. The plan is designed to answer: 1. Where we want to go as a destination in the next 3-5 years? and 2. How do we get there?. Rowe suggested that the committee defer further discussion about a possible bed tax increase until the strategic plan was complete. He suggested that the committee instead concentrate on bed tax compliance and reporting in the near term. Rowe suggested that the board encourage the accommodations industry to work with Smith Travel Research so that more accurate rate and occupancy data would be available. He explained that Smith protects the confidentiality of all reported data and would only report composite data. The committee also discussed the problems with the current rate and occupancy data being compiled by the HAAS Center due to the small number of participating parties. The President advised that Smith could make a presentation to the industry about their services to help alleviate concerns about providing proprietary occupancy and rate data.

2005 Bed Tax Collectors Survey: Rowe suggested that the committee delay distributing the 2005 Bed Tax Collectors Survey at least until after the Strategic Plan Framework is complete. No objections were voiced to Rowe’s suggestion.

Meeting notes are courtesy of Bryan J. Durta. Thanks Bryan.

Panama City Beach TDC Meeting Notes from Tuesday's Meeting

Notes from the November 27, 2007 Combined Board Meeting of the Bay County TDC and the PCB CVB

Eight of the nine board members were present with Buddy Wilkes absent.

The board voted unanimously to approve the 9/30/07 financial statements.

2008 Spring Break Program Update:  President Dan Rowe advised the board that commitments totaling $84,500 have been received from co-op participants.  No lottery was required as the available packages exceeded those requested by local businesses.  He also explained that additional co-op opportunities remain available, but that the CVB would not be actively marketing them.  However, he encouraged the current participants and the Marketing Committee to seek additional participants.  Rowe also reported that the agreement with MTV had not yet been signed, but that he expected it to be soon.

Sea Turtle Draft Lighting Ordinance Update:  The President reported that the community workshop would probably take place during the 3rd week of December.  [Subsequent to the meeting, the TDC announced that the community workshop has been scheduled for December 19th, 2007 at 9:00 AM at the PCB City Hall.]  Rowe also reported that staff would be meeting with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department to gauge their response to the draft ordinance.

FSU Flying High Circus Update:  Rowe advised that everything was proceeding well with the circus scheduled for next summer.  He also reported that a press conference was scheduled for December 5th concerning the event.

Indian Summer Festival Update:  The President reported that staff had terminated the contract with Sound Associates as directed by the board.  He also explained that he planned on discussing the 2008 festival with the Marketing Committee at their next meeting.

December Marketing Committee Meeting:  President Rowe advised that the December Marketing Committee meeting has been rescheduled for December 12th at 9:00 AM.

Sports Marketing Activities Update:  Director of Sports Marketing Richard Sanders made an extensive report to the board concerning his department’s current activities.  He reported that future bookings are very strong, but advised that the board should be mindful about competing destinations that are engaging in expansion plans that may be attractive to event organizers.  He also advised that planning for the facility expansion feasibility study was proceeding on schedule.  He expected the study to commence after the holidays and that the report can be expected about 90 days after commencement.  Chairman Phillips reported that Director Sanders will be inducted into the National Softball Association Hall of Fame at their 2008 annual meeting.

Strategic Plan Framework:  The President reported that he is planning a board workshop during late January 2008.  The purpose will be to develop a 3-5 year strategic plan for the CVB.  He also advised that he expected to hire an outside facilitator to assist with the workshop.

CVB/TDC Media Policy:  Rowe advised that he as in the process of developing a draft Media Policy in conjunction with the CVB’s agency, Y Partnership.  The purpose of the policy will be to formally answer the question of how the CVB/TDC should speak as a body to the media.

President Rowe also reported that he would be meeting with Y Partnership on November 29th at their Orlando offices.  He planned to meet with both their public relations department and their advertising department to better understand their work on the CVB’s account.

Rowe also reported that the search process for the current staff vacancies would begin within the next couple of weeks.

Meeting notes courtesy of Bryan J Durta. Thanks Bryan.

50,000 Residential Units in Panama City Beach

In working on a market study locally, a buddy of mine came across some information on the Panama City Beach Chamber web site (www.pcbeach.org). According to this information, Panama City Beach is expected to have an additional 8,500 residental units open in the next 5 years with an additional 15,000+ to be announced at a later date. 5,800 opened this year including The Shores of Panama, The Towne of Seahaven, Nautilus Cove, Grand Residences by Marriott, and Aqua just to name a few. There were some that I know are on hold for now and of course market conditions will determine what comes online in the future, but still I thought this was very interesting information. There are currently almost 21,000 condos, hotel rooms, and townhouses in Panama City Beach.

Some of the big ones include Breakfast Point at 3,100 total units expected to be open in 2012, Grand Panama with 795 total units, Laketown Wharf with 735 units open this year, Miracles (on the old Miracle Strip Park site) with 700 units open in 2012, and Solimar Resort and Spa with 812 units open in 2010.

New Developments

This week in Pier Park

Happy Thanksgiving! A day late, but you didn’t actually expect me to post yesterday, did you? Actually I had planned on it, but it just didn’t happen. We had a great Thanksgiving spending time with family, I hope you had a great Thanksgiving as well.

I meant to take pictures this week of Pier Park, but that didn’t happen either. There is a lot of activity there, I’ll get photos next week. In the mean time, here is the latest press release:

For Further Information, Please Contact:
Les Morris, Simon Property Group
(317) 263-7711
E-mail: lmorris@simon.com

MORE CHOICES COMING TO PIER PARK

– Stores, Restaurants and Massage Services on Tap at Panama City Beach Community Destination –

PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL (November 20, 2007) – Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE:SPG), the country’s largest owner, developer and manager of high quality retail real estate, announced another wave of enviable retailers and restaurants coming to Pier Park, a 900,000 square foot retail and entertainment complex located on 93 acres that covers land from Front Beach Road (at the City Pier) to the heavily-traveled Highway 98 (Back Beach Road).

“We’re very pleased to announce these new stores coming to Pier Park,” said Paul Ajdaharian, regional vice president at Simon. “I think the breadth of the stores and restaurants that we’re announcing here speaks to the great variety that shoppers will find when they come to Pier Park.”

Fish Tales, owned and operated by glass artist Cindy Stephens and her husband Buddy, is a whimsical, unique art gallery representing the finest local art on the Gulf Coast. Fish Tales has two stores in Grayton Beach and Apalachicola and is relocating its Grayton Beach location to Pier Park.

Stephens has been creating, designing and exhibiting her work for over a decade. She is currently a full-time studio artist and creates commissioned glasswork for a variety of community and commercial projects. She works with many different forms of glass – stained, leaded, beveled, etched, slumped and fused.

Fish Tales will feature Stephens’s unique art glass work including her signature fish mobiles, along with mirrors, mosaics, glass tile, lamps and furniture. Among her most popular pieces are her hand-carved tables with glass inlays.

“We are very delighted to be at Pier Park which is the greatest thing to happen to the Florida Panhandle,” said Cindy Stephens. “It has been very exciting to watch the project develop over the past months and there is no question that for Fish Tales, this is the place to be.”

Hofbrau Beer Garden is modeled on the famous beer gardens of Munich, Germany. The restaurant at Pier Park will have 233 seats in three distinct sections – a beer hall and bar (85 seats), a beer garden (80 seats) and a café. Five Hofbrau beers will be available on tap.

In addition to beer, Hofbrau will have an authentic German food menu with a delicious assortment of appetizers and nightly entertainment featuring live bands including some from Germany.

Bootleg Barbeque’s feel is “More Rockabilly Than Hillbilly,” as they serve the best pulled pork, slow smoked ribs and chicken on the Panhandle for lunch and dinner seven days a week. Bootleg Barbeque, a full service restaurant, will be located in the heart of Pier Park directly across from The Grand movie theater.

Bootleg Barbeque, owned and operated by families of the Emerald Coast, are ready to provide for your party of 10 to 210 with many take-home feasts from which to choose.

Massage Envy is a bold concept in therapeutic massage. Massage Envy offers a variety of massages – from Swedish and deep tissue to sports, reflexology, pregnancy and trigger point massages. The company was created in 2002 on the premise that massages should be relaxing, but also affordable and convenient. Massage Envy makes this possible through a monthly membership plan that enables customers to enjoy massages on a regular basis.

For a monthly fee, members enjoy: one massage, plus additional massages at a discounted cost; family add-on and guest pass opportunities; on-site corporate and in-home massage services; retail and gift certificate discounts; access to 4,000 appointment spots; and portability of membership at Massage Envy clinics nationwide.

With the new location at Pier Park, Massage Envy has 300 open clinics operating in 38 states with an additional 390 clinics sold and in development.

Tilly’s offers the largest selection and assortment of leading brands in the surf, skate, motocross, and California lifestyle to the retail industry. Operating 74 stores throughout California, Arizona, Colorado, Florida and Nevada, the company excels in customer service and appeals to youth, teens and adults alike. Tilly’s motto really explains it all – at Tilly’s “If its not here…its not happening.” For more information, please visit its website at www.tillys.com.

These stores join Target, The Grand 16-Plex Theatres, Panera Bread and Longhorn Steakhouse which are already open at Pier Park.

Simon Property Group, Inc. is an S&P 500 company and the largest public U.S. real estate company. Simon is a fully integrated real estate company, which operates from five retail real estate platforms: regional malls, Premium Outlet Centers®, The Mills®, community/lifestyle centers and international properties. It currently owns or has an interest in 379 properties comprising 256 million square feet of gross leasable area in North America, Europe and Asia. The Company is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana and employs more than 5,000 people worldwide. Simon Property Group, Inc. is publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol SPG. For further information, visit the Company’s Web site at http://www.simon.com.

Also, a total list of announced stores coming to Pier Park:

Dillard’s (126,000 sq ft), JCPenney (83,692 sq ft), Target (opened 10/06, 137,000 sq ft), Borders Books and Music, The Grand Movie Theatre (opened 5/07), Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville (only five in the US), The Fresh Market, Old Navy, Long Horn Steakhouse (opened 4/07), Panera Bread (opened 5/07), ULTA Cosmetics  Aeropostale, American Eagle, Ann Taylor Loft, Alltel Wireless, Back Porch Seafood House, Bath and Body Works, Beach Scene Bebo’z Gift & Home Collectables, Bootleg BBQ, Brookstone, Buffalo Wild Wings, Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe, Candymaker Candy Stores, Carlyle & Co., Chico’s,  Claire’s, Del Sol, Emerald Coast Photography, Fish Tales, Five Guy’s Famous Burgers and Fries, Fresh Produce, GNC, Guglielmo’s Italian Grill, Hofbrau Beer Garden, Irene and Co., Resort Wear and Boutique, Jake at the Beach, Jos. A Bank, Journey’s, Justice  Kilwin’s Chocolate, Lane Bryant/Cacique, Lid’s, Marble Slab Creamery, Massage Envy, Merle Norman Cosmetics, New York & Company, No Regrets Stationery and Gift Boutique, Payless Shoes, Perfumania, Quizno’s, Rack Room Shoes, Red Brick Pizza, Reggae J’s, Island Grill, Ron Jon Surf Shop, Smoothie King, Solace Day Spa Salon, Southern Water Outfitters, Starbucks, Sunglass World, SUNSIGHTS by Solstice, Tatoe Tots Children’s Boutique, The Walking Co., Tilly’s, Trader Tom’s Shells and Gifts, Victoria’s Secret, Yankee Candle, Zales Jewelers