The NEW Bay County International Airport Groundbreaking!
November 1, 2007 was considered a "red letter" day in Panama City Beach, Florida. The big deal was the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Bay County International Airport ... the beginning of the construction phase for the newest ‘state-of-the-art' international airport in the U.S.
It's hard for locals to believe that this event has much interest beyond the bays of our area. It's been the subject of conversation and controversy, hopes, plans, schemes, and dreams for the past few years. Many, many locals have said, "It'll never happen." And many others have said, "Say it isn't so." While many of us in the real estate industry have said, "Could it really happen here?"
The airport is planned to occupy a 75,000-acre area sector of West Bay, which is part of Panama City Beach. It's off Hwy 388 which is located at the big bridge on Hwy 79 that you cross when you're between Ebro and "the beach." The site is 1,300 acres of a 4,000-acre parcel that was donated by The St. Joe Company to the Bay County Airport Authority.
The current Bay County Airport is located in what has grown to be a dense residential area in the middle of "town." Actually, the town grew towards the airport over the past 20 years as businesses opened on 23rd Street. Not only has the area become overcrowded in terms of traffic, stores, and subdivisions, but also the airport has outgrown itself. According to the airport authority, there are "significant deficiencies" with the current airport including the insufficient length of the runways for newer larger airliners. There was a short-lived idea that the runways could be extended into an adjacent bayou, but the FL DEP (Dept of Environmental Protection) and environmental groups objected.
The new West Bay location will also benefit from the efforts of environmentalists with great efforts going to the development of an unprecedented preservation area named The West Bay Preservation Area. This area of Panama City Beach may be the best-kept secret in the state of Florida. It's virtually an untouched area of pristine bays, creeks, and plush green acreage. The purpose of the preservation project is to keep these waters as the healthy and safe habitat that it has been for centuries.
The new airport is slated to open in the year 2010 according to the plans disclosed by the Airport Authority. The next couple of years promise UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH IN BAY COUNTY, FLORIDA!
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