Tag: panama city beach

Edgewater Beach Resort Earns Top Industry Professional Designation

Edgewater Beach Resort Management, Inc., the management company for The Resort Collection of Panama City Beach, recently joined the elite group of community association management companies who have earned the Accredited Association Management Company (AAMC) designation from the Community Associations Institute (CAI). Edgewater Beach Resort Management, Inc., is one of only 140 management companies nationwide who have earned the highest level of professional recognition in the community association field.

Edgewater Beach Resort Management, Inc., manages a total of 1664 condominium units, including 53 commercial units. The accreditation process took more than two months to complete. “This was a great exercise for our staff; the accreditation process is indepth and challenges you to look at the way you operate,” said Mike Wray, vice president of association management.

CAI is a national organization dedicated to fostering vibrant, responsive, competent community associations. Some 57 million Americans live in the nation’s estimated 286,000 association-governed communities.

To earn the AAMC distinction, management companies need three years of experience in community association management and at least 50 percent of their managers must have earned professional designations. Edgewater Management has over 25 years of experience and has two Professional Community Association Managers (PCAMs) on staff. The PCAM credential is the highest CAI designation that can be earned by an individual manager.

Professional managers provide administrative, operational, and managerial counsel to community association boards. They typically are responsible for managing budgets and contractors, directing association personnel, and overseeing compliance with association covenants and restrictions.

CAI has more than 55 state, regional, and local chapters and more than 28,000 members, which include community association volunteer leaders, community managers, management companies, and businesses that provide products and services to communities.

2008 HOLLY FAIR RAISES $197,000: 2009 Looking Good Too

The Junior Service League of Panama City has announced that the 20th Annual Holly Fair event held from November 6th through 9th, 2008 at Boardwalk Beach Resort & Conference Center has raised $197,000 for local service projects.

Funds raised from Holly Fair, which this past season boasted over 75 merchants from around the United States, are used to support local programs and many Bay County organizations.

“Each year, the Bay County community and every Junior Service League member is committed to making our annual Holly Fair an exceptional event and this year, with economic conditions as they are, it was wonderful to be able to exceed our goal from last year,” said Event Co-Chair Lacey Obos.

The Junior Service League depends on the success of Holly Fair to support its mission of promoting volunteerism and improving the community. Through Holly Fair funds, the Junior Service League has become the primary source of clothing for deserving children in Bay District Schools providing over 2000 children in 2008 alone with new outfits for both school and play. In addition to supporting educational and charitable programs including elderly outreach, the Junior Service League also contributes to other local agencies. Past recipients have included the Children’s Home Society, Life Management Center & St. Andrew’s Bay Center.

“On behalf of the over 90 volunteers who make up the Junior Service League, I am grateful to each sponsor, each merchant, each business & media partner and the over 12,000 people who embraced and supported the 20th Annual Holly Fair,” added Tracy Rudder, Event Co-Chair.

The 2009 Holly Fair is scheduled for November 5th through 8th at Boardwalk Beach Resort. For more information, contact (850)785-7870 or visit http://www.jslpanamacity.org.

The Magic of Inlet Beach

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Tucked quietly just west of Panama City Beach, not even quite to Highway 30A, Inlet Beach is well known as the quiet beach.  Talking to a friend recently (keeping all confidentiality) she subtly disclosed that this was were the nudists once frequented.  No naked people today.

Just a few short weeks ago we featured a what-would-seem-to-be boring little house.  But it wasn’t the house that sells the area.  What sells the area is the quaintness (is that a word?).  The charm is all the undeveloped county-owned land that is well preserved, the raw dunes, the rough walk-overs, the unbelievable views over the towering dunes.

The real estate market has held over fairly well.  Property values haven’t dipped much, although demand has waned considerably.  Close to Highway 98 a series of dilapidated homes pepper the area missing the Tyvek wrapping on the first floor.  The homes were started a few years back but never finished.

– Jason

Visit seepcb.com/30a for Inlet Beach SeePCB-style

57 Reasons the New South Thomas Drive will Rock

The Front Beach Road CRA in Panama City Beach is set to change the face of the beach and reset the perception of all those that visit our beautiful area. Right now, driving up and down our main travel corridors is non-to-pleasing to the eye, what with the towering out of the ground utilities and lack of proper sidewalks and landscaping. BUT, that’s all in the process of change. Change is good, right?

Yesterday evening a community workshop was held at the CRA office to show off what’s in store for the next phase of the CRA (community redevelopment area), including South Thomas Drive, a section of Front Beach Road and the intersection of Front Beach Road, Middle Beach Road and North Thomas Drive.

Tip: You can learn more about the CRA, or you can read below for more details on this portion.

I’m going to warn you, what you are about to read will be long, but super rich with multimedia. Hopefully you’ll have a great idea as to what this portion of the cra will actually involve.

This roadways covered in this portion of the CRA form a loop, if you will around Laketown Wharf and a portion of the Signal Hill Golf course. The road runs right by Boardwalk Beach Resort, then passes by Pineapple Willies, through condo canyon (Laketown Wharf/Shores of Panama), goes right carrying you right past Wal-Mart and through the intersection just a little where Walgreen’s, Ripley’s and Backyard Burger rest. Included also is a little bit of the roadway called North Thomas Drive that would lead you down to the camp ground across from Club La Vela.

Here are the 57 Reasons the New South Thomas Drive will Rock

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Front Beach, Middle Beach, North Thomas Drive Intersection

  • This is the intersection described above that plays home to Ripley’s Believe it or Not!
  • They will completely redo the whole intersection, traffic lights and all
  • The new intersection will have an emphasis on pedestrian friendliness
    • Currently it is difficult for peds to cross because of the wide road ways
    • They will redo some of the existing pedestrian islands
    • Also, an additional pedestrian island will be added by Backyard Burger
    • Existing ped islands will be beautified
  • The famous dedicated right turn lane from west-bound Front Beach Road that turns onto Middle Beach will be done away with, median curb and all
    • But, that lane will still be a turn only lane, just not dedicated
    • Actually, they will ad an additional right turn lane making the total number of right turn lanes from Front Beach to Middle Beach TWO
  • Right smack dab in the middle of the intersection will be a huge decorative paver insignia of the Panama City Beach logo surely marketing the busiest intersection on Panama City Beach. Could Wal-mart have anything to do with that? hmmm
  • The right turn from North Thomas Drive onto Front Beach Road (by the Ripley’s museum) will be pulled back to make it a larger radius. You may have noticed their new sign and how it has recently moved back. They were getting it out of the way!
  • Pedestrian walkways will be very clearly marked
  • My favorite: all those ugly utility lines (power, phone and the like) will be moved UNDERGROUND!
  • Sidewalks will be installed
  • Cool street lamps will be installed
  • Lovely landscaping that will hopefully be taken good care of.

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The Circle K Intersection of Front Beach Road

  • This area covers the “curve” by Laketown Wharf and the entrance of Shores of Panama.
  • This area is well known for its traffic during peak seasons
  • Many in attendance were not happy with the plans as they did not seem to address the current problems
    • I talked with the owner of Pineapple Willies who was telling me that teh traffic problems there greatly effect his business every year
    • Many property owners there expressed their concern that during peak seasons it was very difficult for them to come and go from their residences
    • Some of the suggestions included widening the turn so that there would be two dedicated turn lanes because all of the traffic is broken up to turn right or left at the Circle K
  • The plans include a dedicated Tram lane for the multi-model transportation device
    • Many suggested to do away with this all together, but this route of the Tram service is integral in the Tram “looping” back to return to the west end of Panama City Beach
    • The goal of the Tram is to get people to park their cars and ride mass transportation systems, this could work great, if done correctly.
    • I think cars would be able to travel in this Tram lane, so they could use the Tram lane to turn right, right?
  • Of course, all utilities will be moved underground
  • Sidewalks will be installed
  • Landscaping will be installed
  • There will be clearly marked crossing areas with pedestrian medians
  • There will be periodic cut-outs for the Tram loading and unloading stops

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South Thomas Drive, North Thomas Drive Intersection

  • Located right by Alvin’s Island
  • They actually (they, as in The City of Panama City Beach) bought a huge chunk of land between Alvin’s Island and Signal Hill Golf Course
  • This land will be used to build a retention pond and a cut through roadway
  • The retention pond will be designed to be a beautiful amenity
    • Sidewalks all around with sitting areas
    • Landscaped and lighted
    • It looks as thought there may be a little roadside parking for those that may want to enjoy
  • The roadway cut through will be charged with the goal of easing traffic into North Thomas Drive
    • Intersection will be “signalized”
    • Right now, the turn just sort of “juts” out, giving more bias to turning right then left, and is actually quite dangerous if you’re not paying attention.
    • The new intersection will have pedestrian walkways clearly marked
    • There will be a little right off-shoot to cover access still to boardwalk and thee other “local” businesses.
    • This will alleviate some of the traffic pressure during peak seasons and times of high traffic *cough* little wayner
  • Alvin’s Island will actually be a little “island”

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Huge Retention Pond in Place of Old Homeless Camp

  • This retention pond will actually be behind McDonalds in front of the Wal-Mart parking lot (bet you were always wondering what was behind all those shrubs at the end of the Wal-Mart parking lot, weren’t you?)
  • Right now there is a fence along the McDonald’s parking lot
    • I was told that this lot was the former site of a homeless camp, even though it is right in the middle of the action, it was actually well secluded. That is before the city came in and ruined the fun and cleared it all out.
    • I was also told that McD’s is anxious for this as when it is build, they will tear down their fence and open it up for their customers to use
  • This retention pond will be quite large and will feature landscaping and sidewalks all around
  • A “viewing” platform will be built with seating areas so that people can enjoy the view of the retention pond
  • Lighting, landscaping and sidewalks all around (did I say that already?)
  • The public will have access to the amenity from both Middle Beach and Front Beach Roads

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Below are some high-resolution renderings of the different aspects of the project.

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Help the Miracle League by Riding the Carousel

On Saturday September 12th, the Miracle Strip Carousel at Pier Park will be hosting a fund-raiser for the Miracle League of the Emerald Coast. Miracle League is a baseball league for children with disabilities. 100% of the proceeds from all ticket sales between 12-4pm will be donated to the Miracle League to help defray the costs of uniforms, bats, balls and other supplies needed by the league. Single tickets are $3 per ride or $5 for an all day pass.

Join us to help a great cause.

Teddy & Jenny Meeks
Miracle Strip Carousel

History of the Miracle League of the Emerald Coast:

After realizing there are 5,000+ children in Bay County between the ages of 3 and 19 who are unable to participate in conventional baseball leagues due to physical or mental disabilities the Rotary of Panama City Beach decided to spearhead the development of a local Miracle League.

The Panama City Beach Rotary Club, a small club of 55 members and a lot of heart, approached the City of Panama City Beach for assistance. The Panama City Beach City Council seeing the need for “an adaptive recreational facility open to children of all ages and abilities where no child is turned away” unanimously voted to designate an area of Frank Brown Park for the development of a facility that would accommodate Miracle League players. The sportsplex could not have been a more perfect location as the entire infrastructure is in place.

The City agreed to assume responsibility for scheduling, maintaining and operating all programs provided the Panama City Beach Rotary Club along with the Miracle League of the Emerald Coast assumes the task of organizing the new league and generating funding for the fields construction.

Oaseas Resorts says hello the fall season by celebrating a “Sensational September”?

Hello Autumn…

Oaseas Resorts says hello to September and the fall season by celebrating a “Sensational September” with three fantastic events with great rates to match. Enjoy beaches that are less crowded but still warmed by the sun and rates that, like the crowd level, drop significantly. Pay just $99 per night at Cabana Cay during Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 4-7. Book a Gulf-front condo for as low as $99 a night during the 20th Annual Lobster Festival, Sept. 17-20. “Buy 3/Get Your 4th Night Free” during Thunder Beach, Sept. 24-27, or pay just $99 per night during this motorcycle weekend. Due to popularity, you must call 1-877-808-4323 to get these rates or visit www.oaseasresorts.com.

Fun events, fine resorts
With Oaseas Resorts “Sensational September,” visitors can enjoy on-the-beach events, including a Labor Day Weekend of fun and fireworks, with the pyrotechnics set for Sunday, Sept. 6, following a pool deck luau at Shores of Panama. They’ll have enough sparkle and boom to be seen and heard from Grandview as well. Dig in at the bib-worthy Lobster Festival with fresh local lobster served grilled, fried, steamed and chilled. And have a rumbling good rally during Thunder Beach, which features some of the best motorcycle builders, parts manufacturers and distributors, biker wear and accessories – plus plenty of entertainment.

Sink into affordable luxury at an Oaseas Resort: Cabana Cay, a resort with expansive pool deck surrounding a huge free-form pool in a tropical setting; Ocean Ritz with oversized balconies and some of the only four-bedroom four bath units on the beach; Grandview with spacious units of no less than 1490-sq. ft. all with jetted tubs in master bath; amenity laden Watercrest offers Gulf-front units and all the items needed for a great getaway; the luxurious 4 star Shores of Panama, a Gulf-front resort where the amenities—and the view—are unparalleled; Emerald Isle, whose pool pavilion with stainless steel barbecues/grills make for fun gatherings; and the Village of South Walton Beach, with its Old World charm and tucked within the upscale shopping enclave of Towne Centre.

For the military
During its month-long “Sensational September” celebration, Oaseas Resorts is also saluting the men and women of the military. Members of the military – both retired and active, along with Department of Defense Employees, will get 25 percent off rates at all Oaseas Resorts properties during this month. The gesture is in keeping with the outreach philosophy of the condominium and rental management company.

“The staff and management at Oaseas Resorts would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to those who serve, and have served, our country,” says Annie Holcombe, vice president of business development and marketing for Oaseas Resorts. “We appreciate everything our Armed Forces do for all of us to provide our freedom, and especially for making our nation – and world – a better place to live.”

Sunny, less crowded, great rates
Book a sensational stay in September with Oaseas Resorts and enjoy fantastic events and great rates during Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 4-7; the 20th Annual Lobster Festival, Sept. 17-20; and Thunder Beach, Sept. 24-27. September in Panama City Beach? Still sunny, less crowded, great rates – in a word, sensational. Contact reservations at 1-877-808-4323 or click here for more information: www.oaseasresorts.com/beach-vacation-specials.html

CRA Kick-off Party for South Thomas Drive Construction

Charged with literally changing the face of Panama City Beach, the CRA is on the move again.  The next project on the table is the reconstruction of the South Thomas Drive corridor and tonight is the kick-off party for the public to come in and see what’s going to take place over the next 2 years or so.

The CRA, or community redevelopment area has swept through the area over the last few years completely changing the Churchwell Drive and R Jackson Blvd (formerly Beckrich) corridors with not only entirely new roads, but new infrastructures.  These projects included moving utilities underground and adding beautification accents such as sidewalks, landscaping and street lights – something our area has been badly in need of for years.

Churchwell Drive is the road that travels in between Middle Beach and Front Beach Road that plays home to the Beach post office.  Included in the project was a new bridge that required most of the budget and time, but the result was a beautiful 4 lane road with a center turn lane, sidewalks and these cool street lamps that make you want to walk everywhere just so you can look at them.

R Jackson Blvd, formerly known as Beckrich Road underwent an entire transformation expanding it from a two lane, heavily traversed, dangerous main corridor to a lovely, wide, beautiful road that enjoys pedestrians all the time.  If you haven’t driven down it lately, you should.  I experience that euphoria as often as possible, and sometimes even pull over just to walk it.

I remember the ground-breaking like it was yesterday, thinking to myself, “2 year? Man, that’s a long time for a road to be under construction.”  But man, did the time fly.  Fully opened in April of this year, it has serviced the area well and opened up a quick way to get from Back Beach to Front Beach Road.

Take a look at the progress over the last couple years:

———————————————————So, what’s happening tonight?  There will be a public event that will explain to the public just what will be happening over the next 18 to 24 months in the South Thomas Drive area.  The South Thomas Drive corridor is the area that is in between the Circle K (by Shores of Panama and Laketown Wharf) and Club La Vela.  If you’ve traveled down that road, you know that it is a poor excuse for a patch of pavement, much less an actual road and is badly in need of a complete overhaul.

The new South Thomas Drive will include (I beleive) four lanes with a center turn lane, sidewalks, landscaping, those cool street lamps and all the utilities moved underground.  This will be huge not only for the area but also for Panama City Beach as this is a heavily traveled area.  The unfortunate part is having to endure the construction along the way; but there’s nothing we can do about that and it will be very much worth the trouble.

You can bet you can count on us to keep you all abreast of every new little detail that emerges with this in addition to construction update photos and the like.  Stay tuned for an update about how tonight went.

By the way, the event is at the CRA office from 5 to 7 pm.  The CRA office is located in the old St. Joe building next to the Nextel call center on R Jackson BLVD.  Click here for a map.

Labor Day Weekend: Last of the Summer Wine?

Recession considered, Panama City Beach has seen quite a summer. While the rest of the country has spent the summer struggling to turn water into wine, Panama City Beach, again, was blessed to drink from the ever-replinishing bottle that southern summers seem to always produce. Labor Day Weekend represents the end of summer for most businesses and the last hoorah before the season begins its decline. Just the same, tourists are gearing up to head to the beach for one last summer outing. The TDC and CVB are working hard to encourage Labor Day vacationers, more now than ever, to return to Panama City Beach for the fall. The question remains: is this really the end of the season?

For the most part, Panama City Beach businesses have remained in the black ink. In fact, year to date bed tax numbers from January through June 2008 are currently up 1.6 percent, or $4,158,268 to $4,091,591.

The TDC efforts have enjoyed considerable success, but it isn’t yet clear if that success will translate to the fall/winter season. This time last year, Panama City Beach was not as focused and organized as it is today; nor was it thinking as opportunistically as it is by way of the new airport’s buzz. Nonetheless, Panama City Beach is on the cusp. In fact, Panama City Beach, to date, has never had access to the type of database it has currently, never had targeted running advertisements in place, and has never been more ready to turn the fall season up a notch moving ever closer to the “mythical” year-round destination. Panama City Beach has a critical opportunity to turn a new leaf and it starts this weekend.

With several fall events lined up ranging from Thunder Beach, Taste of the Beach and the signature Seafood Wine and Music Festival, as well as an “Endless Summer” theme ripe for businesses to possess, everything is in place.

My opinion on the matter is that business, yes you businesses and business owners who’ve done well in the recession season, don’t fall victim to the past. Don’t stop advertising, don’t stop communicating with your clientele–don’t allow the summer wine to stop flowing. It isn’t up to the TDC or the CVB or anyone else. The plan is in place, the opportunity is available and people, believe or not, are traveling to places like Panama City Beach. Keep the wine flowing by staying up to date on the events and using them as a spring board to draw business your way. Think of it as a dress rehearsal for next fall when the airport is in place and Labor Day doesn’t have the stigma it has now. I can assure you, if you do what you do every season and withdraw your staff, stop advertising and close your doors you’ll be missing out on an opportunity you’ll be complaining about next year.

You’ve had a great summer. You can have a great fall/winter too.

It’s up to you.

Is the New PCB Airport Still on Schedule?

Panama City-Bay County International Airport is still on time to meet its completion date. Taken from a recent article on the NEW-PFN website, here is an updated rundown of construction on the new site.

Contract 1: Heavy Civil and Airfield Lighting
Approximately 91% of contract is complete with 80% of contract time used.

Pond C grading is 99% complete.
Installing Airfield Edge Lighting Conduit and Plazas
Continuing installation of Airside underdrain pipe
Terminal Apron concrete pad is complete
Morrell and Kelly Branch restoration continues

Contract 2: Terminal Building, ATCT and Support Buildings
Approximately 47% of contract is complete with 52% of contract time used.

Terminal:

In the utility area completed form work and compaction and preparing for concrete pour.
Continuing metal framing on 1st and 2nd levels.
In the baggage handling area continuing exterior CMU walls. Work is 60% complete.

Air Traffic Control Tower:

Preparing for concrete pour of stairs and deck Levels 2,3 and 4.
Installing decking and metal stairs floors 5-9.

Terminal Support Facilities:

Air Maintenance Facility – continuing electrical rough-in walls at maintenance office and bays.
Air Cargo Facility – continuing with the installation of MR gypsum wall board.

Rental Car Facility:

Beginning the erection of the pre-engineered metal building.

Public Safety Building:

Continuing block installation at 2nd level administration area.

Manpower:

An average of 155 personnel are on site Monday through Friday and approximately three workers are on site on Saturday.

Contract 3: Utility Contract
Approximately 57% of contract work is complete with 54% of contract time used.

3W2? Power Distribution Duct Bank is 95% complete; installation of wiring by Gulf Power is ongoing.
Street Light Duct Work is 98% complete; light poles being installed (approx. 6-8 per day).
6W4? Power Distribution Duct Bank is 100% complete.
Jack and boring on Main Access Road for fire hydrant installation.
24? Water Main is 98% complete.
12? water main is 99% complete.
30? water main is 90% complete; installation continuing on the utility road.

Lift Station:

Lift Station is 50% complete; plumbing is being installed.

Fuel Farm:

Fuel Farm is 25% complete; electrical work is in progress.

Booster Station:

Booster Station is 40% complete; concrete roofs are poured.

Triturator:

Triturator is 10% complete; vault installation is underway.

Contract 4: Landscape/Hardscape Contract
Approximately 7% of the work is complete with 11% of the contract time used.

Construction is underway on overflow weirs on Main Access Road
Performing soil preparation on Main Access Road.
Hydro seeding of Main Access Road is underway.
Installing aquatic plants at main entrance.