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THE RISE OF GREEN ENERGY
THE RISE OF GREEN ENERGY by Gina Castro
Although the state of Florida has little to no laws regarding solar panels, recent laws and damage from hurricanes have increased the price of electricity, which has made solar panels a favorable alternative to electricity. When Hurricane Michael hit, dozens of Florida cities were left without power, so the Senate passed bill 797 which allows utility companies to charge customers for any and all storm protection projects. Although this law will better prepare utility companies for storms, the House estimated the long term costs of storm-hardening could be as high as $30 billion.
Florida’s utility regulator approved rate increases for Gulf Power customers to reimburse the company for its power restoration efforts. Gulf Power, which has some 460,000 customers across eight Northwest Florida counties, increased consumer’s monthly bills by $8 per thousand kilowatt hours.
As discussions about climate change and environmental stability have become more and more prevalent, some states are establishing laws to help create a more environmentally conscientious society. California made solar panels mandatory for new homes built after 2020, and New York City requires any roofs undergoing major construction to be covered in solar panels or a green roof system. Solar panels create clean, renewable power without the use of fossil fuels or release of greenhouse gasses like carbon dioxide.
28 | Business Climate | 2020 / 2021 Annual Real Estate “On top of that, we’re seeing a national inflation rate of about three to four percent on a United States scale,” Meraki Regional Manager Robert Reid said. “Most recently, rates went up about nine percent due to hurricane Michael— $342 million rate hike over the next five years. Although Gulf Power is reliable, the cost that they have to toss onto us— no fault to Gulf Power they are a business— is too costly. At the end of the day, there are alternative ways to produce the same amount of energy but at a cheaper cost.”
Pensacola is a prime area for solar panels not only because Pensacola is a city within the sunshine state but also because of Gulf Power’s increasing electricity rates. The majority of the solar companies in the area, if not all, offer zero down. Adam Najar, the owner of Suncor Solar, said that because electricity is more costly in the area, companies like his are able to make the payments for solar equipment less than the majority of their customers’ electric bills.
rate hikes, you can go solar. The sun comes up everyday,” Reid said. “You’re just putting in a locked-in rate toward your equipment and not worried about rate hikes.”
If you were to pay in full to install solar panels on your home, you would completely remove the cost of your electricity bill because your solar panels would be generating all of your home’s energy. However, you would still have to pay the monthly $17-$21 connection fee to Gulf Power, which is included in all electric bills. The extra electricity that your panels produce that your home doesn’t need will then be sold back to the electric company, as part of Florida’s net metering law. So if you are able to pay for your panels in full, you eliminate your electric bill and can even make money off of them.
“Solar is an investment. You’re investing in the ability to generate energy, and electricity is a commodity with a dollar value, so essentially the best return on your investment is 100 percent offset of your consumption,” Sunfarm Energy Owner Doug Herrick said. “The net metering law in the state of Florida requires the utility to pay you retail rate for the energy that you sell back, and they do that in the form of a credit.”
If you can’t purchase the panels in full, you can also get them financed and still save money. In this situation, your monthly electric bill will be replaced with your monthly payment for the solar panels until you pay them off. Because electricity in this area is higher than most areas, these solar companies are able to make the monthly payment for the equipment lower than your electric bill.
“The more expensive electricity is, the better it is for people to go solar,” Najar said. “That’s why solar in California took off because electricity over there is twice as expensive as it is here, so everyone has solar over there. In Orlando and Tampa, the electricity is so cheap, so it’s super
photos provided by Meraki Solar hard as a solar company to compete with that electric company. ” Now that we’ve broken down that part, what’s the process? No matter what company you choose to work with or whether your property is commercial or residential, the first thing the solar company has to do is check if the property is eligible. Herrick said that locations with southerly facing roofs and limited shading are ideal. The company will do an energy analysis to gage your consumption of electricity, which will help them determine the number of solar panels you’ll need for the property. As part of the analysis, the company will collect your electric bills from the past 12 months. Once the analysis is complete, the company will then determine if there is enough room on your roof to place the number of panels your property needs to produce the same amount of energy you require. If the number of panels needed doesn’t match the allotted roof space, there are options to do partial electrical and partial solar, or you could install the panels on the ground, garage or shed, but those options are not ideal.
This issue of limited space is predominantly an issue with commercial properties. “The other thing that comes into commercial is the space,” Najar said. “I have a couple of clients who are very interested in going solar, but the space that they have versus the amount
of power they use doesn’t add up. You could produce 20 percent with solar, and the rest is going to have to come from the power company. That’s not every case, but you will see that more often with commercial.” The process to get solar panels approved for residential properties can happen as early as the same day or as long as a couple of weeks. Once approved, the installation can take between two to three months. However, the process for commercial properties can take months or even years.
Najar said that even though the process for commercial is lengthier, commercial deals are the ones who see the biggest return because they qualify for a tax credit, can write it off as an expense, since it is a utility bill, and since it is such a large project, they can get a little bit of a discount on the panels, too.
Residential properties can also benefit from the federal solar tax credit, or investment tax credit (ITC). ITC allows both residential and commercial owners to deduct 26 percent of the cost of installing a solar energy system from their federal taxes with no cap, but the ITC is set to expire in 2020. The ITC was originally made to be part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which was set to expire in 2007, but extensions throughout the years have kept it from expiring. Herrick, Najar and Reid all said that they are hoping for the tax credit to be renewed once more.
Common concerns about investing in solar panels are roof damage due to panel installation, maintenance and potential damage from storms. Solar panels are installed to the roof either through a ballasted racking system or a roof clamp system, and neither require drilling holes in the roof. Herrick confirmed that every solar system is required to have a structural engineering permit and are designed to meet wind codes. Some home insurance includes solar in their plans. As for panel maintenance, companies suggest cleaning them once a year. “Mother nature does a very good job keeping the modules clean,” Herrick said. “We do recommend getting the modules be cleaned maybe once a year, but beyond that, these systems are designed with a 25 year plus life span.”
Herrick explained that the panels are made from silica, the second most abundant element on the planet. The silica is melted to the point that a crystal is formed. The crystal is then cut extremely thin and the conductors are wafered in between the crystal sheets. It’s a well-known fact that Pensacola has hurricanes, and hail and excessive wind and rain can wear down roofs, but the solar panels can function as a roadblock between the severe weather and the roof. Herrick said that Sunfarm Energy prefers to install solar systems on the conditioned spaces, such as your home’s roof, because the panels add additional shading and protection for the roof. “In recent experience with hurricane Micheal, the solar panels protected the roof,” Herrick said. “Shingles were torn off only in areas where the solar panels were not at.” The University of California San Diego conducted a study on solar panels and found that panels help reduce the temperature inside the home up to 35 percent. “The southerly facing areas of the home get the most beating from the UV rays, which really damages the roof
30 | Business Climate | 2020 / 2021 Annual Real Estate over time,” Herrick said. “That’s where we install the systems, so the roof gets additional protection from the panels.”
The United States’ residential solar market is at an all time high. The U.S Solar Market Report, from Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), stated that in the third quarter of 2019, 712 megawatts of solar were installed, which broke the 2016 national record by 25 megawatts. The Florida panhandle has also seen a spike in the solar panel market. Pensacola’s Naval Air Station is home to Florida’s largest solar energy project. The three largest combined solar facilities on Department of Defense property are located here on the panhandle: the Eglin Air Force Base, NAS and Whiting Field’s (NOLF) Holley Field. All three combined have approximately 1.5 million solar panels, which are capable of generating up to 120 megawatts of electricity. Whether you are interested in investing in solar or are still on the fence about it, the first thing you need to do is research.
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M I X I N G U P D O W N T O W N PENSACOLA
LOCAL BROTHERS OPEN MIXEDUSE DEVELOPMENT IMPERIUM by Gina Castro
Mixed-use developments are on the rise in downtown Pensacola. A mixeduse development is a combination of residential and non-residential buildings, such as commercial or industrial buildings. This type of development infuses commercial and industrial with residential living to offer a variety of benefits.
Studer Properties was one of the first to invest in mixed-use developments. The company spent a whopping $50 million to build Southtowne, a 258-unit apartment complex that opened in 2018. The bottom floor of the property is commercial with restaurants such as SaBai Thai on Jefferson and retail stores such as Bodacious Bookstore and Café and Posh Baby. Studer Properties sold this mixed-use development to Stone Point Capital LLC, a Greenwich, Connecticut company, for $60.63 million in December 2019.
Although East Garden District (EGD) has not begun construction yet, they too are investing in mixed-use developments. EGD plans to build a retail and residential property on Jefferson Street. The ground floor will be retail and two-story townhomes will be built above. Mixed-use developments was one of Mayor Grover Robinson’s major talking points during the Pensacola Association of Realtors Commercial Forum in January.
“I think mixed use is a great thing. For the most part, commercial and residential uses are very symbiotic,” Robinson said. “The commercial use provides a service that most people living in the residences need and then the residents provide business for the commercial property. There is a symbiotic relationship that I think can be very good when done the right way.”
Brothers and Gulf Breeze natives Paul and Steve Grimes are the developers behind the latest mixed-use development to enter the downtown Pensacola scene. The Imperium is a threefloor building located at 120
32 | Business Climate | 2020 / 2021 Annual Real Estate West Government St. Steve moved to California for a career with software sales. Paul made a life for himself in East Hill, where he has been a successful appraiser for the last 20 years. Paul and Steve spent a lot of time in Pensacola growing up, and even after moving from the area, Steve visited Pensacola often. During one of Steve’s visits, the brothers got to talking about finding a vacation home in downtown for Steve. Steve wanted a condominium above a commercial space, but they couldn’t find a property for sale that fit his needs. “We are both big believers in the downtown. We wanted to be a part of it,” Paul said. “But, nothing was for sale, so we thought why don’t we just build something and do it ourselves that way we can have brand new units and add something nice to downtown.”
So, the brothers began looking for empty lots in the heart of downtown. Eventually, they found a parking lot across from the Escambia County Courthouse and began building the Imperium. The architect of the project is Pensacola native Brian Spencer. Spencer believes mixed-use properties are on the rise because of their efficiency.
“Mixed-use buildings have been the rule vs. the exception for centuries. Prior to the advent of automobiles and the associated construction of high-speed highways and interstates, the mixture and close proximity of commerce and dwellings provided an efficient use of real estate,” Spencer said. “This efficiency is becoming increasingly desirable today, as people realize the benefit of eliminating the less productive time that is spent commuting in a vehicle.”
Spencer decided to approach the design of Imperium from a brutalist architectural angle to match the design of the courthouse. “Brian calls that block “brutalistic” because the
that are each 2,677 square feet and priced at $1,245,900. The ceilings range from 10 to 22 feet in height. There are two and three-bedroom floor plans and 3.5 bath layouts. The townhome also comes with a large two-car garage and a private elevator to all three levels. Paul said that the garages were designed to fit two cars and a golf cart. The amenities within the home are a kitchen with built-in high-quality appliances, luxury bathrooms, oversize closets, soaring ceilings in the living room and a private balcony overlooking Government Street.
courthouse is a kind of modern with sharp edges, and it’s not an old style- historic design,” Paul said. “He thought we should be more consistent with that building because it includes the whole block.” The Grimes brothers wanted a very modern, minimalist look, which fit the brutalist style. The face of Imperium is primarily glass windows, and the structure of the building and patios is block-like with sharp edges. The ground floor has three commercial units that are each 685 square feet and priced at $274,000. The professional office space has a single open work area with 12 inch ceilings, built-in kitchenette and a glass storefront, which can be an ideal space for a studio or a gallery. There is also reserved parking for the commercial units and a gated entrance to the building.
Above the commercial units are three two-floor townhomes The Grimes brothers plan on keeping a stack, a townhouse and commercial condo, for themselves. Paul said that they haven’t sold any of the commercial condos, but they have had several bites, including a hair salon, Papa Murphy’s and a juice bar. However, they did sell a townhouse to a couple from Indiana, which leaves the middle townhome and two commercial condo still available.
Paul said that Imperium was just the property the Indiana couple was looking for. The couple wanted a brand new, modern building that is fewer
than a two block walk from Palafox. One of the major selling points of mixed-use properties is that they are located in the inner city where there is more walkability. The National Association of Realtors 2017 Community and Transportation Preferences Survey, which surveyed 3,000 adult Americans living in the 50 largest metropolitan areas, found that more now than ever before. The survey also found that 48 percent of respondents said that they would rather live in a home with a smaller yard in a community that is within walking distance of retail stores, work and nightlife than any other type of home and community combination.
Anna DeSimone, author of Housing Finance 2020 and a housing advocate, told Forbes Magazine that millennials prefer properties that suit their lifestyle, so they prefer to live in walkable cities or near public transportation. If you are interested in learning more about Imperium, go to the website imperiumpensacola.com.
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by Gina Castro, Josh McGovern and Sean Michael WHAT’S NEW IN DEVELOPMENT?
If you were to drive around downtown, you would see construction on just about every other street. There is so much growth and change headed to downtown from the rise of the East Garden District, to the Spring Street street diet and to the advancing of the West Main Master plan. Pensacola’s growth used to be determined by how many new businesses or buildings were added downtown. However, today, you can track Pensacola’s growth all throughout the city.
The area surrounding the University of West Florida and West Nine Mile Road continues to expand. In just 2019, Burger King, Krispy Kreme, Ever’man Cooperative Grocery and Cafe and a fourth Jersey Mikes were all added to West Nine Mile Road. Since UWF took home the NCAA Division II Football Championship this past year, you can expect to see even more growth in that part of town.
Beulah, an area just up Nine Mile, is experiencing tremendous growth as well. Ever since Navy Federal Credit Union began constructing its two six-story office buildings, more companies and developers are choosing to build new projects in Beulah. Navy Federal recently purchased several acres from Escambia County’s 636 acre OLF-8 land. Navy Federal plans to construct recreational spaces there for the Beulah community. Publix and other shopping centers are also investing in the Beulah area.
Davis Highway has moved on from Sears closing down. Several retail spaces are planned to take over its location, including BJ’s Wholesale Club which will open this upcoming March. As you travel closer to downtown Pensacola, there seems to be an increase in residential developments. Townhomes are being built throughout Scenic Highway and into East Hill.
The downtown area is seeing an increase in luxury and mixed-use properties. Several new apartment complexes offer luxury amenities such as saltwater pools and large New Orlean style balconies as well as a complete ground floor dedicated to commercial properties such as fine dining restaurants and retail stores. One of the most recent mixed-use developments is Imperium, which offers million dollar townhomes on West Government Street.
New developments are bountiful in Pensacola, so we collected a wide-ranging list of developing properties.
The German discount supermarket chain Aldi plans to open two locations in Pensacola. The supermarket has more than 10,000 stores in 20 countries, but as part of Aldi’s five-year $5.3 billion U.S. growth plan, Aldi plans to build 800 new stores in only the U.S. by 2022 to compete with popular U.S. grocery chains like Target and Wal-Mart. Aldi bought a 2.15 acre lot, located at 4830 Mobile Highway in West Pensacola, from Terra Pensacola LLC back in January 2019. Aldi’s developers are in the process of building a 20,500-square-foot grocery store at the Mobile Highway location. In recent news, Aldi has plans to build a second store at the intersection of Pine Forest Road and Longleaf Drive. The address will be 10290 Blue Angel Parkway. This location will be a 20,244-square-foot building with a parking lot. Aldi did not respond to Business Climate’s request for estimations on the construction or completion of the two locations. Aldi is also building a location in Navarre. Navarre 19 LLC bought a 19 acre parcel at the corner of U.S. Highway 98 and Ortega street alongside Culvers for $3.29 million in June 2018. The preliminary site plans show the grocery store at the front left corner of the property with 95 parking spaces. Construction for the Navarre location began in January 2020. Aldi 4830 Mobile Highway & 10290 Blue Angel Parkway
Ascension Sacred Heart in Pensacola, Florida, plans to build a new emergency center for adults and children at the intersection of Nine Mile Road and Stefani Road. Construction on the 14,700 square-foot facility will begin in February 2020 and the facility’s opening is planned for late 2020. The project is expected to cost approximately $11 million. The emergency center will include 13 treatment rooms and two trauma rooms staffed by emergency medicine physicians, nurses and respiratory therapists. The facility will also include a lab, pharmacy, CT scanner and X-ray imaging. The new ER will be located within a mile of the new Ascension Sacred Heart Health Center at Milestone, an outpatient medical facility that opened in March 2019. It will be supported by Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital Pensacola, which provides the region’s only trauma center to treat both adults and children. Sacred Heart’s expansion of outpatient facilities in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties began in 2017 when it opened a new medical park east of Gulf Breeze, a similar medical facility off Sorrento Road near Perdido Bay, and an outpatient pediatrics center in Gulf Breeze. Ascension Sacred Heart Emergency Room Nine Mile Road
It has been a long road for the Bayview Community Center project. The original community center was razed back in 2015 because of flood damage from 2014 storms and lingering asbestos problems. The new center has been in the works since 2017. Flash forward three years, the center is expected to be completed by this summer. This new facility will be a total of 18,000 square feet and is budgeted for $8.25 million. This center will have three community meeting rooms, two small event spaces for up to 120 people each, a large exercise room, staff offices and a catering kitchen. The outside space will have indoor and outdoor access to restrooms, covered outdoor deck, terraces and drop-off and 5,000 square feet will be alloted to the boathouse, which is where the kayak, stand-up paddle boarding and rowing shells will be stored. Caldwell Associates Architects, the architects for this project, and the City agreed to build the new center in approximately the same location as the old community center to take advantage of the existing infrastructure and adjacencies to the park amenities— especially the waterfront. In order to protect the building from flooding, the center will be constructed eight feet higher than the previous facility. For more information about this project, visit cityofpensacola.com Bayview Community Center 2001 East Lloyd Street
The wait is over. The fast casual Mexican food chain Chipotle is building two locations in Pensacola. Chipotle is doing its best to be discreet about where it plans to build the locations. So, Chipotle refused to comment, but it did say that the locations will be open by fall 2020. This California based restaurant has 173 locations in Florida. Chipotle Membership-only warehouse club chain BJ’s Wholesale is opening a location on North Davis Highway, which is where Sears once was before it closed in July 2019. Seritage Growth Properties, the owner of the University Town Plaza at 7171 North Davis Highway, plans to build a strip with additional retail stores and restaurants, but Seritage Growth Properties did not respond to our inquires about the development. However, BJ’s Wholesale provided information about its new location. This BJ’s will feature an extensive selection of fresh foods, a full-service deli and household essentials like paper products, cleaning products, diapers, pet supplies and more. Plus, the club will offer the treasure-hunt experience that BJ’s members love with an exciting assortment of fashion for the family, seasonal items, toys, hot tech and a selection of local products. The company said that this location will have a liquor store and a gas station. This will be the company’s 33rd location in Florida and is expected to be 98,883 square feet. The club estimates it will bring about 140 jobs to the market. BJ’s is expected to open early 2020. BJ’s Wholesale Club 7005 North Davis Highway
East Hill Viviendo Corner of 14th Street & Blount Street
With the prestigious popularity of Pensacola’s East Hill neighborhood come a number of new realty construction projects. Kuhn Realty is bringing customer choice to its upcoming East Hill Viviendo townhomes on the corner of 14th Avenue and Blount Street by offering a variety of floor plans and home designs for potential buyers. Starting at $650,000 and capping at $700,000, these homes range in size from 2,200 square feet to 2,600 square feet and bring new construction to an old neighborhood. Larry Kuhn of Kuhn Realty explains that what sets East Hill Viviendo apart is its “array of floor plans from Charleston to New Orleans” and buried utilities that keep the property clean and uncluttered.
Being in the heart of East Hill, East Hill Viviendo offers its residents both the comfort of a beautiful neighborhood and the nearness of Pensacola’s downtown, but it is just one of at least 30 new properties that Kuhn Realty is representing in East Hill, among other such projects by fellow realtors. With Kuhn Realty reporting that they have already sold 10 of the 17 available townhomes, the demand for new construction is clear. Construction begins soon and is planned to be completed by the end of 2020. For more information on these and other new homes in East Hill, contact Kuhn Realty at kuhnrealty.com or call (850)384-9707.
Escambia County Jail
The new 720-bed Escambia County Correctional Facility will be located near the southeast corner of North Pace Boulevard and West Fairfield Drive on property the commission voted to purchase in July 2016. It will be constructed west of the existing jail structure located along “L” Street.
Additional improvements to the property include construction of stormwater management systems, utility service connections, parking areas and new driveway connections to North Pace Boulevard, West Fairfield Drive and St. Mary Avenue. The total project area is approximately 19 acres. The new structure will connect to the existing facility by means of a new connecting corridor which runs east-west between the buildings. Parking for the public and staff is provided in various locations around the facility. A new loading dock area will be constructed on the east side of the new facility.
On Aug. 17, 2017, the county commission unanimously supported Whitsell-Green/Caddell to act as the design-build entity for the new correctional facility. The board also voted to authorize staff and the selected design-build entity to utilize Owner Direct Purchases. This is a method whereby the county acts as the pass-through agency for a contractor on subcontracts or other agreements to purchase material. This will allow the county to purchase items associated with this project tax-free at an estimated $2 million to $3 million in savings.
EAA Site Contractors of Pensacola has recently finished the initial preparation of the building pad area for the installation of the pilings. Soon they will be moving on to the demolition of the existing asphalt parking lot in order to start the retention pond excavation as well as the construction of the new parking lot for the Juvenile Justice Center.
Currently, it is anticipated that the project will be complete in early spring 2020, with inmates being housed as soon as the summer of 2020. Garden West Street is growing from the ground up in the quiet neighborhoods beside the ocean. Originally, the property belonged to the Escambia County School District and USO buildings, which have been vacant for some time. This property plans to bring the street to the modern age. Passersby may recognize the iconic brick arches of the former USO building. Gone now is that building, but the arches remain intact after a recent demolition project making way for 200 Garden West’s development. In the spirit of good news, plans include preserving the historic Escambia County School District building on the same property. There has been some speculation throughout the years that 200 Garden West could become affordable student housing in partnership with the University of West Florida. The development puts 200 Garden West in close proximity to Tin Cow, Escape Room on Palafox and much more to come. The USO building housed sailors and veterans in a bustling beehive during World War II. Energy was hot and the district was lively. Ed Carson, the developer of 200 Garden West, hopes to return the site to its former glory. Restaurants and shops will most likely open on the ground floor. Former School Board Building 200 West Garden Street
Girard Place is coming to Romana Street. The new townhomes will border Pensacola’s historic downtown area. Residents will find themselves within walking distance of a cultural hub. Since it’s only a three block walk to Blue Wahoos stadium, you’ll be wanting to catch every game. Find yourself on the private walking path to Ever’man Grocery and Cafe to pick up some dinner. Feeling like a night out? Right down the street are lively restaurants, bars, shops and more. There are several notable gastropubs within the area: Union Public House to the south, Urban Swinery to the Northeast, and O’Reilly’s Irish Pub to the Southeast to name a few. The luxury townhomes will be equipped with the latest smart technology. You control the room temperature, lights and be able to lock and unlock your door all with the push of a button while away from home. Girard Place also features an indoor workout facility and an outdoor pool along with many other luxury amenities. Each 2,152-squarefoot unit is expected to have a starting price of about $600,000. Girard Place is set to finish construction between Feb. 15 and March 31. For more information on Girard Place, contact them (850)-858-0300 or at contact@girardplace.net. Girard Place 302 West Romana Street
The Hawkshaw site will be a $30M development comprised of three buildings separated by landscaped parking areas and tree-lined auto courts. There will be a total of 55 condominium units ranging in size from 775 square feet to 1,805 square feet. The residence types include eight studio-loft units, four one-bedroom units, and 43 twobedroom units. In addition to the residential component, the project includes 23,000 square feet of restaurant, retail and fitness space. Site work for the project began Sept. 30, 2019. Project features include covered parking, floor to ceiling window walls, expansive covered balconies, and unobstructed views of Pensacola Bay. Amenities include the nearby walkable neighborhood of Aragon, Veteran’s Memorial Park, and the pedestrian and dog friendly Admiral Mason Park. This property will be located across from Veteran’s Memorial Park on East Romana Street with property’s west end on South 9th Avenue. This property is estimated to be complete in the summer of 2021. Hawkshaw Property East Romana Street
Harmony Park was recently added to Englewood Park. The once quiet park will be booming with music on beautiful days outside the Boys and Girls Clubs of Emerald Coast. As part of the non-profit project Keep Pensacola Beautiful (KPB), Harmony Park came into being in a tightly-knit community with a grand opening ceremony on Jan. 17. Escambia County District Commissioner Lumon May was in attendance as well as KPB Executive Director Sigrid Solgard. KPB encourages the importance of being outside in our communities. Harmony Park features three large musical structures and benches. The park is currently open to those of all ages and abilities. The Englewood Park location at 2751 North H Street is currently the only Harmony Park open, but KPB aims to develop more Harmony Park
Englewood Park, 2751 North H Street
Just outside of Pensacola, Beulah continues to come into its own alongside its expanding retail space. Leasing agent Beck Partners and property developer Blackwater Resource are working together to soon begin construction on a new Publix grocery store and general retail space. Combined together, the Publix and retail shopping center will open access to a variety of shopping and entertainment spaces. The shopping center will offer 11 retail spaces, which Beck Partners hopes will attract local and national retailers. This shopping center will be more than a grocery stop as Beck Partners plans for the retail space to be open for any number of food, fitness, and family fun opportunities, a business need that Beck Partners believes is in high demand in the Beulah area. Highway 90 Publix in Beulah
With no immediate end to Beulah’s growth in sight, Beck Partners anticipates continual retail growth like this shopping center in the next few years, a feat they attribute to companies like Navy Federal for taking a chance on business growth in the Pensacola region. Beulah has plenty of potential that is sure to draw in more developers in the future. Construction will begin at a Highway 90 location and is expected to be completed in spring 2021.
parks like it in the county and install similar musical equipment for children and adults to enjoy without prior musical training. KPB is involved with numerous community parks in the county. Their goal is to maintain clean and safe environments for communities in Pensacola. For more information on KPB, be sure to contact the KPB office at (850)-438-1178 or visit their website KeepPensacolaBeautiful.org.
Beulah Road Congested roadways often run concurrently to the increase of developing properties. Nine Mile Road has witnessed a wealth of development including the expansion of the Navy Federal Main Campus. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) released plans to fix the roadway congestion on both Beulah Road and Nine Mile Road in early 2019. FDOT initiated the plans with a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) study to analyze the existing characteristics, evaluate the community needs and develop proposed conceptual improvements. The PD&E study is set to wrap up in 2021. While the timeline is still tertiary and subject to change, the right-of-way is expected around 2025 with construction on the interchange starting in 2026. Stretching 2,000 miles of roadway, the proposed plans outlined by FDOT are described as, “The intent of the project is to widen Beulah Road from W. Nine Mile Road to Isaacs Lane; construct a new alignment from Isaacs Lane to W. Kingsfield Road; construct a new interchange at I-10; and widen I-10 from the state line to the Pensacola Weigh Station.” Once complete, the I-10 interchange and road widening will help thousands commuting through the currently congested area. The next public hearing before the PD&E study wraps up is set for summer 2020. I-10 Interchange Welcome I-10 at Beulah Road Interchange Project Public Meeting Meeting Date: October 22, 2019 Location: Beulah Senior Center | 7425 Woodside Road, Pensacola Public Meeting | October 22, 2019
Pace Center For Girls
1028 Underwood Ave in Pensacola
After one year since its conception in 1994, the Escambia-Santa Rosa county Pace Center For Girls grew
from a small building behind University Mall to a larger facility on the Pensacola State College campus.
In 2013, the Pace Center For Girls’ operation sprouted again into its largest facility yet in Escambia
County. Adding to their success, just recently, the Escambia-Santa
Rosa county Pace Center For Girls hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony
for their recently completed building at 1028 Underwood Ave in
Pensacola. The addition is 2,076 square feet with several amenities,
including classrooms and offices. Classrooms are designated for the
Girls Earning Diplomas program offered by Pace Center For Girls.
There is also designated space for their program Ready, Set, WORK!
which aims to prepare young girls for the workforce. Offices are
intended for their growing Reach Program and Transition Services.
This Pensacola center is believed to have helped and aided over
Financial Project Identification Numbers: 433113-1-22-01, 433113-2-22-01 & 433113-3-22-01 10 at Beulah Road Interchange Escambia County, Florida 4,000 girls and young women in its span of 25 years since 1994. The Pace Center For Girls is currently open to serve young women with
Welcome 10 at Beulah Road Interchange Project Public Meeting programs, resources and services aimed at guiding them through high school and post-secondary education, as well as helping navigate employment with a steady, livable wage.
October 22, 2019 Time: 4:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. CST Beulah Senior Center | 7425 Woodside Road, Pensacola
Public Meeting | October 22, 2019
DeVilliers Square will expand as construction begins soon on a new apartment complex complete with residential and retail space. Sitting at the corner of Wright Street and DeVilliers Street, Savoy Place will fit six retail or restaurant spaces on its first floor with the rest of its space fitting 24 apartment units. With the relatively small size of the planned construction site, Studer Properties aims to maximize Savoy Place’s use of space by ensuring enough space for adequate parking and outdoor amenities, including a courtyard and patio area, while preserving the street-side aesthetic that DeVilliers Square is known for. Savoy Place will offer one and two-bedroom apartments with rent starting at $985 and $1395, respectively. Savoy Place
Corner of Wright & DeVillers Streets
Studer Properties is hoping to expand Pensacola’s unique downtown lifestyle to the Belmont DeVilliers neighborhood by reinvigorating once-empty lots with
housing and retail. As with Southtowne’s integration in downtown Pensacola, Savoy Place is primed to please both its residential and retail tenants. Its outdoor space will include grilling stations, a fire pit, gaming areas for cornhole and table tennis, an outdoor fitness area and more that residents will enjoy. While Studer Properties doesn’t have any current retail tenants, they are working hard to find retailers that will provide a unique flair to DeVilliers Square that both residents and visitors will enjoy. Studer Properties is anticipating construction to be completed in fall 2020. For more information, visit studerproperties.com or call (850)-696-2414.
This three-building project offers a refreshing break from the typical downtown home. The duplexes are where modern meets contemporary European design, and they are also surrounded by historical live oaks. The front of the duplexes will have a modern material such as wood planks or brick wall. There are two small balconies at the front of the duplex and two large balconies in the back. For privacy, there are two entrances at the front and two entrances at the back, and there is plenty of parking. This development is at the corner of West Zarragossa Street and South Clubbs Street and is just a short walk from Corinne Jones Park and only five minutes away from Palafox Street. Each duplex is a total of 2,500 square feet. This property, which is being built by Pro Development, is ideal for short term rentals. Glib Kazak, the owner of Pro Development and Kazak Realty, said that the price for a duplex is $649,000. Two out of the three duplexes are under contract—leaving one duplex available. Kazak estimates that this project will be complete in March 2020. If you would like to learn more about this development, reach out to Kazak Realty’s exclusive broker Maria Kazak at mariakazak14@gmail.com. Unique Residences 359,369,379 Clubbs Street
East Hill isn’t the only neighborhood seeing new developments. East Pensacola Heights is an area that realtor John O’Donnell of Key Impressions Realty believes to be a cheaper, more accessible alternative to East Hill. Key Impressions Realty is finishing up construction of four new houses just off of Scenic Highway on East Brainerd Street with more on the way on the cornering Van Kirk Avenue. These houses average at 1,500 to 2,000 square feet, each being priced around $340,000. Of the four houses built, three have been sold and have had their construction completed, leaving one house, 3350 East Brainerd Street, still available for purchase. 3350 East Brainerd Street boasts a two-story open floor design with available custom features like granite countertops or wood flooring. Like its neighboring houses, 3350 East Brainerd Street offers its own parking space, fenced-in backyard and easy access to Scenic Highway. 3350 East Brainerd Street will finish construction in spring 2020. Townhomes off of Scenic Highway 3350 East Brainerd Street
O’Donnell says that East Pensacola Heights is seeing an influx of new residents from across Pensacola and beyond. East Pensacola Heights provides the perfect location for potential buyers looking for access to downtown Pensacola at an affordable price. For more information, contact Key Impressions Realty at www. mykeytohome.com or by calling (850)-776-4580.
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