Ken Wright's Blog

NEW DOLLAR GENERAL STORE COMING TO LAURAL HILL

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 07:21:10 -0700

NEW DOLLAR GENERAL STORE COMING TO LAUREL HILL ON HWY 85 The sleeping little town about 10 miles north of Crestview on Hwy 85, is opening their eyes. This is just one step in the growth from Crestview north to Laurel Hill. With the largest civilian employer located on the Northside of Crestview at the Bob Sikes Industrial Airpark, I can see the area from Crestview to Laurel Hill on Hwy 85 North growing quite rapidly as the result of the expansion of the Airpark and the Defense Contractors in the Airpark expanding their business.Dollar General coming to Laurel Hill residents Residents say it will cut down on trips to Crestview and Florala, Ala. By BRIAN HUGHES Florida Freedom Newspapers LAUREL HILL - Residents here are excited Dollar General is coming to town. Older folks still recall when Laurel Hill was a busy railroad community and boasted several stores, a bank and a movie house. Now, apart from grabbing snacks at Tom Thumb, residants grocery shop in Crestview or in Florala, Ala. "I tell you, it'll do all right here," Bessie Green said as she lunched with her friends Morris and Martha Rogers at Laurel Hill Grill, the city's only restaurant. "People are tired of driving so far to shop. If we run out of something, we can pick it up there (at Dollar General). Then we won't have to run to Crestview." The new store is planned for property just north of the former Hobo Video store on State Road 85 south of town. Laurel Hill City Clerk Harold Jones presented site plans to the city council recently that depicts a 9,014-square-foot store with 34 parking spaces. It will be the same size and layout as Dollar General built last year in Baker. The Baker store has proven very popular, said its manager, Gail Castonguay. "This is a busy store," Castonguay said. "We do really good here. I think it will do good in Laurel Hill. It is a small town like Baker." Jones said the Northwest Florida Water Management District and the state Department of Transportation are reviewing the store's applications and are expected to approve them within weeks. He expects the Laurel Hill Dollar General to rise rapidly after final approval is given. "So it looks like it'll be ready for Christmas," Councilman Johnny James said. At City Hall, water clerk Anita Miller and Assistant City Clerk Barbara Bottoms said Dollar General will be popular. "People are excited that it's coming," Bottoms said. "Laurel Hill doesn't have a grocery store." "It'll save a lot of time because I won't have to go to Crestview unless I have to," Miller added. "I go to Florala before I go to Crestview. The kids are always saying, ‘When are we going to Walmart?' I spend too much money at Walmart." Miller said Dollar General will be especially popular with families with school-age children. "My kids are constantly needing snacks and stuff for school," she said. "It's a lot more expensive to shop at Tom Thumb. I can't wait for the Dollar General to open."

EMERALD BREEZE RESORT ON OKALOOSA ISLAND MOVING FORWARD

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 07:19:05 -0700

EMERALD BREEZE RESORT ON OKALOOSA ISLAND MOVING FORWARD This unique Enhanced Use Leasing with the government has allowed for this 17-acre parcel on the Gulf of Mexico to be developed into a Resort for the public with special military discounts built in. This resort will bring a number of military personnel (Active and Retired)from around the country. There is presently only 3 similar projects for the military, which are located in Germany, Orlando, and Hawaii. Look out Fort Walton Beach, are you ready? Developer, military negotiating hotel By MONA MOORE Northwest Florida Daily News 315-4443 | mmoore@nwfdailynews.com EGLIN AFB - The Emerald Breeze Resort might be years away from booking its first guest, but the base's hotel project is closer to sealing a 50-year lease with developers. Representatives from Innisfree Development and contractor DCK Corp. have met with Eglin officials to negotiate the terms of the 50-year lease for a parcel of land on Okaloosa Island. "Which allows them to begin their design and permitting process and also to go out and start working on financing," said Glenn Wagner, Eglin's Enhanced Use Leasing program manager. The Air Force presented its Emerald Breeze Resort proposal in January 2009 as the best use for Test Site A-5 next to the Sheraton Four Points hotel. Wagner said construction of the proposed 17-acre military resort, which will also be open to the public, will begin once the lease agreement is signed. The agreement might be as long as a year away. The process was delayed by scheduling conflicts between Eglin and the developers. Also, the two parties have been treading carefully through the Enhanced Use Leasing, or EUL, process. "This is a new process, so we're going fairly deliberately and carefully as we do it," Wagner said. "Of course, the financing situation and the economy, right now, (are) not great. So it did not hurt anything that we were going a little slower." The entire EUL process involves a concept opportunity study, a business case analysis, selecting the highest-ranked offer from a commercial business, negotiating and signing a lease and then construction. In addition to negotiating the cost of leasing the land, the base included generous military discounts in the proposed agreement. Since this EUL process is at the lease negotiation stage, Wagner did not have the final price tag of the lease agreement. "They're (Innisfree and DCK) doing a lot of recalculations based on what they are going to get for financing, so it's not really set yet," he said. Under the EUL agreement, Innisfree will deposit lease payments into a third-party escrow account. Funds in the account will pay for maintenance projects on base and any expenses beyond the budget. "It's called payment in kind," Wagner said. Instead of paying Eglin cash, Innisfree will advertise for bids on the maintenance or construction projects and pay for them from the account. If previous projects are any indication, the system will provide more work to local companies. Though Emerald Breeze is Eglin's first true EUL project, the base has made similar agreements with Okaloosa County and the Mid-Bay Bridge Authority. The Northwest Florida Regional Airport expansion is one example. Had the deal involved a regular lease agreement, the money would have gone directly to the Air Force. With the EUL process, the funds stay here and benefit Eglin and the local community. "Local people gain business from this," Wagner said. "I would say, almost without exception, every time we request one of those two agencies to do some work on Eglin, that work is bid on and won by local firms right here." So far, the resort's plans have not changed. The first phase of the resort will still feature a beachfront pool, 150 rooms and two commercial spaces that will be available for lease. Future phases include at least 100 additional rooms. With 600 feet on the Gulf of Mexico, the resort will offer direct beach access. Alternative energy and other green features would be required "wherever feasible," according to the Air Force's plan. Once completed, Innisfree Hotels will manage the hotel. Innisfree owns the Holiday Inn Express and Hilton Garden Inn in Orange Beach, Ala., and the Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front and Hampton Inn on Pensacola Beach.

IMPROVEMENTS BEING MADE TO BOB SIKES AIRPORT

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 07:15:41 -0700

MORE IMPROVMENTS BEING MADE TO CRESTVIEW'S BOB SIKES AIRPORT As I have noted time and time again, the Army's 7th Special Forces is coming, however, the Crestview's Bob Sikes Airport is fast becoming a major employment center piece for Okaloosa County and it has the potential to bring as much if not more, new residents in the area as the Army. I have brief a number of folks about this economic engine for the county and the future is very bright because of the high tech and aerospace needs of our region. If you didn't know where the Airport is, it is located on the Northside of Crestview, across the street from the only High School, new Shopping Center and Cinema, and much more. Improvements planned for Bob Sikes AirportBrian Hughes/brianh@crestviewbulletin.com2010-08-31 08:52:58There should be no question that Crestview's Bob Sikes Airport is one of the community's biggest economic generators.As the county's General Aviation Airports Manager Scott Musser told members of the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce Airport Committee at an Aug. 26 meeting, the facility provides a nearly $4 million payroll and total annual economic impact of $13.8 million.With more than $23 million in recent upgrades, including improved lighting and a completed runway resurfacing over the last two years, the airport is on the cusp of even greater benefits for the area, said Okaloosa County Airports project manager Tracy Stage.And, Stage assured the packed chamber conference room, "That's not coming out of your pockets or your tax dollars." Funding comes from users of the airport and the national Aviation Trust Fund, he said.The next planned improvements will include widening taxiways up to 75 feet, which will ready the airport for FAA "Group IV" classified aircraft with wingspans between 118 and 170 feet, such as the DC-10, Boeing 757, 767-200 or Airbus A-300.The improvements will also provide an integrated storm drainage system that will include a "massive" storm water pond east of the runway."This is important for both existing tenants and companies to come," Stage said.In order to request bids for the proposed improvements, Stage and his team worked closely and at length with the Northwest Florida Water Management District, an integral partner because some of the airport property consists of wetlands.As a result, the entire airfield has been essentially pre-permitted, so any construction permits needed can be issued quickly, rather than waiting for the normal 120-day permitting process for each component of a project."A lot of work is going into that," Stage said.While Stage's department broke up the improvements into a series of components prioritized based on available funding, the hope is to be able to save money by doing the entire project at one time. A request for bids went out early this summer toward that end.The winning $10.3 million bid was returned by Anderson Columbia, an Old Town firm that has done previous projects at Bob Sikes Airport, "which is good news for us," Stage said. "They know the airport and how everything operates. It's very beneficial."With extraneous expenses, including design and engineering, the total cost will be about $11.5 million, Stage said. To obtain funding county airport authorities are actively pursuing both federal and state funds, including the FAA and the Florida Department of Transportation. Stage is optimistic they will be successful."I expect some great news about the money coming down from both the agencies that fund it," Stage said. "We're just waiting to find out what participation levels the state and the feds will be at."If successful in obtaining the funds, construction could begin as early as October, Stage said.In other airport matters: · Musser reported that 23 sets of plans for the planned Quest Aviation facility have been sent out for bids. The company buys and dismantles primarily passenger aircraft and resells the parts. · Emerald Coast Aviation, the airport's fixed base operator providing general aviation services, has submitted plans to the county for its two-story 8,000-10,000 square-foot terminal, which will include a full-service public restaurant, conference space and an outdoor terrace. Emerald Coast hopes construction can begin within six months, with completion within 18 months. · Musser reported the county airports partners, including private and county officials, will attend the National Business Aviation Association conference in Atlanta in October. "When we market the airport, it's a team effort," said county airports Director Greg Donovan. "We are constantly lobbying to bring employment and jobs to bolster the economy out here," Donovan told the audience.

OKALOOSA MILITARY PRESENCE EXPANDING EVEN MORE

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 10:21:12 -0700

OKALOOSA MILITARY PRESENCE EXPANDING EVEN MORE If you wanted to know how the military is growing now and in the future, read on. The following is a brief overview of how the military's growing. As many know, I am the Vice President of the Northwest Florida's Military Officer's Association, and how the privilege to attend a number of military briefings and have a vareity of government and military officials speak to my organization. With this said, I can assure you will extreme confidence, the military is here and continued growth is expected.Okaloosa military presence to expandBrian Hughes | brianh@crestviewbulletin.com2010-08-18 09:26:23For the last several years, the numbers have been flying about the impact of the Army's Seventh Special Forces and the Air Force's Joint Strike Fighters arrival in Okaloosa County. On Friday, Larry Sassano, president of the county's Economic Development Council, corralled some of the most current numbers and presented them at a Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce education committee lunch-and-learn midday presentation."We have one of those three-legged stools that is supporting our economy today," Sassano said. "If we didn't have [the military], we would be in a heap of trouble. We're blessed to have the military," he said, adding, "and we'll get tourism back soon."Just how dependent the county is on the military soon hit home."The military is the number one economic generator in Okaloosa County," Sassano said.The military accounts for 34 percent of the northwest Florida economy, but 70 percent of the Okaloosa County economy. The average earning per military job is $81,300, according the Haas Center for Business and Economic Development at the University of West Florida, Sassano said. Total defense spending is $2.2 billion annually in Okaloosa County, with a total impact of $6.6 billion.Sassano presented the base realignment program's impact on the Eglin Reservation and area economy via a series of charts. As each flashed on the screen at the front of the chamber's main conference room, the reality -and enormity - of the impending arrival of the Seventh Special Forces and the Joint Strike Fighters was apparent: · $770 million in infrastructure construction · 86,630 jobs · 8,646 new neighbors, including 6,067 for the Seventh Special Forces (both figures are about to be revised upward, Sassano said) · Local sales and consumption surpassing $7.1 billion · JSF economic impact of $1.5 to $1.6 million Gross Regional Product (GRP) "Even though you don't have all the planes, you have all the maintenance," Sassano reminded anyone who was disappointed that not all of the JSF aircraft will be coming to Eglin. Of the 107 expected planes, only 59 will actually be sent to Eglin."The Joint Strike Fighters will trickle in, but Seventh Special Forces, they'll be here in one group, boom!" Sassano said. "You'll have a lot of high-ranking men and women. Their income is pretty good. They are specially trained; an impressive group of men and women. They will be an asset to the community."While a conventional company of 131 soldiers includes 108 privates, specialists and sergeants, the Seventh Special Forces has just two sergeants. The 7th Special Forces also include more ranking officers, warrant officers and sergeants ranked first class or higher (86) than a conventional company (9)."They don't fall much out of line with Eglin's averages," Sassano said.According to material Sassano presented, the majority of the 7th Special Forces personnel will arrive between April and September 2011.In addition to military personnel and their families, "There are a lot of companies (military contractors) that aren't here yet that will have a presence in Okaloosa County," Sassano said.Sassano presented a map of Northwest Florida aerospace and defense industry "clusters," indicating large concentrations of military contractors in Pensacola, Panama City, Tallahassee and Crestview. The Tallahassee cluster is composed primarily of lobbyists, Sassano said, adding that an updated map currently in the works will show even more contractors in the Crestview area, which currently ranked about fifth."When we go to a trade show, their eyes just focus on Okaloosa County," Sassano said.BRAC by the numbersEconomic Development Council statisticsOKALOOSA DEFENSE SPENDING(in millions)Procurement $1,066.7Salaries 627.0Pensions.transfers 549.8TOTAL: $2,243.5OKALOOSA MILITARY ECONOMIC IMPACTEmployment 86,630 jobsSales activity $3.7 billionConsumption $3.4 billionCapital investment $613.7 millionAv. earning per military job $81,300EGLIN RESERVATION BRAC IMPACTF-35 JSF Bed-down:2,326 personnel, $400 million military constructionArmy 7th Special Forces:2,200 personnel, $332 million military constructionIntegrated Weapons Research Center:36 personnel, $2 million military constructionBRAC MILITARY PERSONNEL & FAMILIES7th Special Forces: 2,200 personnel, 1,452 spouses, 2,415 children: 6,067 total*Joint Strike Fighter: 1,563 personnel, 78 spouses, 938 children: 2,579 total** The Haas Center has been asked to re-evaluate these figures as particularly the JSF spouse and children counts appear lowECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE J.S.F.Gross Regional product: $1,537-1,668 millionPopulation: 4,064-4,432Employment: 3,559-4,104SPECIAL FORCES RANKSRank Conventional Company Special ForcesMajor 01Captain 111Lieutenant 40Warrant Officer 011Sergeant Major 01Sergeant 1st Class 351Staff Sergeant 1443Sergeant 212Private/Specialist 870

UPTOWN STATION-FORT WALTON BEACH LARGEST SHOPPING CENTER CONTINUES TO GROW

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 09:47:25 -0700

UPTOWN STATION - FORT WALTON BEACH LARGEST SHOPPING CENTER CONTINUES TO GROW Ten's of thousands of new military positions are coming to our area and they want shopping, restaurants, and things to do. This is what is being said at a number of town hall meetings with these military men and women. Guess what, some developers have heard the cause and are answering the bell. As you can see by reports, the commercial centers are filling up. Remember, these folks coming are being ORDERED here and they will be some of the highest paying folks in Okaloosa County with a lot of disposable income. By DUSTY RICKETTS Northwest Florida Daily News 315-4448 | dricketts@nwfdailynews.com FORTWALTONBEACH-Despite the still sluggish economy, leasing at Uptown Station is stronger than ever. Several new businesses will open soon, and other tenants will be announced in coming weeks. The popular chickencentric restaurant Zaxby's is going up across the street from Uptown Station's main plaza. The property is owned by Crystal Beach Development, which also owns Uptown Station. Construction started Thursday and the restaurant is expected to open early next year at the old Brewster's Ice Cream site on Eglin Parkway next to Juno's Steak and Sushi. "We're going through an amazing session of leasing right now," said Martin Owen, spokesman for Crystal Beach Development. Owen said the company is in the final stages of negotiating leases for four open units in the original section of Uptown Station. Another open space near Chan's Wine World also is close to being rented. A bidding war between two potential tenants also is under way for a vacant space next to Five Guys Burgers and Fries. "We're nearly full," Owen said. Otherbusinessesexpected to open soon include: Coffee Grounz, a specialty coffee, tea and bakery store that is expected to open in mid-September next to Verizon Wireless in the JG Plaza building. Papa Murphy's Takeand-Bake Pizza, where customers make their own pizza to take home and cook, will open a 1,200-square-foot store in early October. International Buffet, Sushi & Hibachi will open in the former Asian King Buffet building near Baskin Robbins. An opening date has not been announced yet, but Owen said he believes it should be in the next few months. The owners of Panda China Buffet on U.S. Highway 98 also own International Buffet.

MILITARY GROWTH DRIVES FASTEST RISE IN INCOME

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 09:41:05 -0700

MILITARY GROWTH DRIVES FASTEST RISE IN INCOME FACTOID: Take note to number 4 of this below illustration. If you haven't been following along with the BRAC decision of moving the 7th Special Forces Group from Fort Bragg to Eglin, you have been missing a lot. The 7th Special Forces Group (over 2000 strong have begun to take up residence in our area, with thousands more coming). As you can see they have made an economic impact on the Fort Bragg community and will be making a big impact on ours soon. Oh yea, for the ones wondering what the impact will be on Fort Bragg, NOTHING. In fact, Fort Bragg's mission is expanding with other troops. So don't think they will have any problems selling their homes in the Fort Bragg area (See the next Blog Entry).Military Growth Drives Fastest Rise in Income Incomes are growing fastest in U.S. metro areas with a military base, according to an analysis by USA Today of per-capita income rankings.After adjusting for inflation, military compensation rose 84 percent from 2000 through 2009. During that time, private sector compensation rose 9 percent and federal civil workers' compensation grew 37 percent, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.The 10 metro areas (and their military connections) that saw the biggest percentage gains in per-capita income 2000 to 2009 were:1. Jacksonville, N.C. - Camp Lejeune2. Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, La. - military shipbuilding3. Manhattan, Kan. - Fort Riley4. Fayetteville, N.C. - Fort Bragg and Pop Air Force Base5. Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood, Texas - Fort Hood6. Lawton, Okla. - Fort Sill7. Farmington, N.M. - none8. Hanford-Corcoran, Calif. - Naval Sir Station Lemoore9. Clarksville, Tenn. - Fort Campbell10. Cheyenne, Wyo. - Warren Air Force BaseSource: USA Today, David Cauchon (08/23/2010)

CONSTRUCTION ON NEW HEADQUARTERS ON FORT BRAGG MAKING PROGRESS

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 09:33:42 -0700

CONSTRUCTION ON NEW HEADQUARTERS ON FORT BRAGG MAKING PROGRESS - WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR US What does this mean for us? Well let me tell you. I have been trying to explain to the local folks in government, media, and more, this is a connect the dots kind of thing. One of the issues I have heard was, "The newly assigned 7th Special Forces Group might have trouble selling their homes before they move here. NOT. As you will read, there is going to be as many, if not more coming to Fort Bragg during the same time period. WHY? Reorganization and preparing for more troops stationed outside the United States to come stateside. Warfare is different today than it was yesterday. Rapid Deployment and high tech weapontry and other things make bringing back troops to the US possible, now more than ever. In conclusion, we are sitting pretty good for many years to come in the Panhandle of Florida and the reason why, "Our National Defense requires it", period.The five-story future home of the Army's largest command - and the symbol of Fort Bragg's BRAC growth - is progressing on schedule.Looming above the Main Post Polo Field is the centerpiece of southeastern North Carolina's hopes for an economic boost from military growth because of base realignment.Ground was broken in December 2008, and there is less than a year until the building is supposed to be finished.Construction is about 70 percent complete on the headquarters building for Forces Command and U.S. Army Reserve Command at Knox and Randolph streets.Plans call for the $297 million, 631,000-square-foot building to be ready for occupation June 21, said Dan Davis, resident engineer for the Savannah District of the Army Corps of Engineers.The 2005 BRAC law directs that the two commands relocate to Fort Bragg from Fort McPherson in south Atlanta no later than Sept. 15, 2011.That leaves little more than a year to move the four-star command that oversees the readiness of most of the Army's combat troops based in the United States and the three-star headquarters in charge of the Army Reserve.The buildingBecause of its nearness to Fort Bragg's main post historic district, the building's colors had to comply with requirements from the N.C. State Historic Preservation Office."Our roof has to match the existing roofs from the 1930s, 1940s construction," said Ted Kientz, the Forscom liaison officer team leader. "The facades are all brick to match it. It has to visually look similar."The exterior is concrete precast panels with a thin brick veneer manufactured in Oxford, Kientz said."We got a much better quality product doing it this way," he said.Three temporary external elevators, known as "material lifts," help move the ducts, wire, paint, carpet and dry wall up the five floors.Inside, there's the sound of banging and backup alarms and the whir of screwguns. The air conditioning has been going for two months.In fact, walls are going up so quickly that a person walking through the building might have to learn new ways to navigate every few days, he said.Generals and senior civilians will park and come in through the two-story-high entrances on the Knox Street side. This will be the entrance for VIPs, too. The Forces Command entrance is on the south, or Randolph Street side, near Bowley Elementary School. The U.S. Army Reserve Command entrance is on the north, or Scott Street side, near the warehouses.Most of the 2,773 employees will enter on the other side of the building, where there will be a ceremonial courtyard. As is the case with buildings on Fort Bragg nowadays, access will be tightly controlled.The building will not have a cafeteria or restaurant, which is standard for four-star headquarters, Kientz said. There will be vending machines and microwave ovens.The building has more than 800 windows and 1,000 doors.The floors are raised, with power and communication lines and cables underneath."The entire building is designed to be as flexible as possible for future reorganizations within the space of the building," Davis said.The buildersThe contractor is Hensel Phelps, which also is building the 7th Special Forces Group complex at Eglin Air Force Base near Fort Walton Beach, Fla. The 2005 BRAC law also mandates that the 7th Group move from Fort Bragg to Florida."The majority of the subcontractors on site are local subcontractors," Davis said. "Those that aren't are hiring local labor."About 375 people per day are working on the project, Davis said. In three or four months, that number will peak at about 500.No work days had been lost to accidents through July after more than 819,000 manhours on the Forscom project, Davis said.An all-veteran security guard force is protecting the building.View from the topThe fifth-floor terrace overlooks the polo field to the west.The 18th Airborne Corps helipad for visiting dignitaries is on the far side of the polo field. It's also where the fireworks are set off on the Fourth of July."On the Fourth of July, it will be the best place to watch the fireworks," Kientz said.In the distance, Womack Army Medical Center and the Soldier Support Center, the former Womack, are visible.The roofing material is recycled plastic, "another one of the green aspects of the building," Davis said.The white roof reflects heat."We have lower requirements for insulation," Davis said. "We also have lower requirements for cooling and heating." On a bright, sunny day, the glare is like a snowfield.As an energy-saving measure, lights come on and go off when people enter and leave.Longleaf pines and associated smaller plants are being incorporated into the landscaping to help restore some of the native trees that have been removed in recent years for construction projects.

FUTURE HOUSES WILL LOOK MORE LIKE A HOME

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 08:49:21 -0700

FUTURE HOUSES WILL LOOK MORE LIKE A HOME The recent economy has changed the home buying experience. As you can see below, what we thought the consumer wanted is all wrong. However, you will see smaller, better, and smarter homes are on the horizon. However, the local area may cause some variations to this trend. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - July 28, 2010 - The house of the near future could look more like, well, a home.After the economic recession and collapse of the housing market, "smaller, better, smarter" may win out over grand, oversize showpieces, said Jacksonville architect Michael Dunlap. "That's what I think they'll be." Adds Kermit Baker of the American Institute of Architects: "The era of the McMansion could well be over." Baker, chief economist for the AIA, said the recession and an interest in lowering utility costs has already changed how houses are designed and built. "As the housing boom has passed, there seems to be a renewed interest in investing in properties to make homes more livable, as opposed to real estate that can be resold quickly for a profit," he wrote in an AIA report. We interviewed architects and builders to try to figure out what new houses -- both mass-production and custom -- might look like in the next decade or so. The consensus was that they might not appear that much different, at first glance. But here's a way to picture the future home: Take a house built during the past 20 years, then start scaling back -- or just plain taking away -- some of the features. All those different roof pitches, scattered over gable after gable? That big two-story vestibule? The formal dining room? Gone. That three-story garage? Down to two. That 3,500-square-foot house? Perhaps you'll have to do with just 2,800. It's hardly deprivation though, say the experts. Instead, they say, think of it as more practical -- and perhaps even more livable. "The formal living room, the formal sitting room, the big grand open entry with huge stairwell and a 28-foot vault to the ceiling?" said Robert Leinenweber, owner of Eastern Shores Construction in Atlantic Beach. "All that's going away." Jacksonville architect Richard Skinner said changes will be dictated by a more uncertain -- and more realistic -- approach to the house in which you live. "It's the ongoing cost of a house that kills you, the mortgage and the utility payments," he said. "So if you can figure a way to cut those, you're on the way to solving the problem." Baker compiles quarterly reports on home design trends for the AIA, based on information from architectural firms. He's reluctant to predict what will be happening 10 or 15 years from now, but says you can get clues based on what's been happening in the recent past. The smaller house trend has been bubbling for some time. Factors include the influence of Sarah Susanka's "The Not So Big House" books, increasing land and utility costs, and the fact that families aren't as big as they used to be. Last year, USA Today reported that U.S. Census data shows the average size of a new house dropped for the first time in more than a decade. It went from 2,629 feet in the second quarter of the year to 2,343 in the fourth. "It was gaining some traction even before this downturn," Baker said. "We don't really need a 5,000- or 6,000-square-foot home with a big formal dining room, a big formal living room. That doesn't really reflect us." Still, that doesn't mean houses built in the next 10 or 15 years will be anything like the 1,100-square-foot houses put up after World War II. Those were considered just fine by returning G.I.s and their families, but Americans have grown to expect more. Baker said lot sizes have been shrinking for a while, but that entry-level homebuyers often want houses that are as big as they can get -- and that won't change. "I do believe that when the housing market recovers, those home sizes will begin to inch back up again," he said. But it might take a long time to get back to as big as they were in the go-go years. Andy Chambers has seen the boom and the bust. He's president of both MasterCraft Builder Group and the Northeast Florida Builders Association. "Are people going to build bigger, higher-cost houses for the most part?" he said. "I think not." Rooms that encourage just a single use -- formal living rooms and dining rooms, isolated media rooms --will be the first to go. "People are just looking more carefully at the space that's useful," said Skinner. In coming years, look for multi-use rooms of flexible design, featuring lots of open space. That central living area is more spacious, tied into a kitchen that's functional but not over-the-top. The family area will be focused even more so around the TV screen, which will be even larger, said Skinner: "The TV has taken the spotlight, and people aren't as ashamed of it as they used to be." He also expects kitchens to be more practical than extravagant. And bathrooms? They won't be the "palaces" of past years. They'll be nice, sure. But who really needs a palace for a bathroom? Skinner said there's plenty of room in the future for modern-looking houses, but he expects something of a return to a more traditional look. "I think there's this sense of what a home looks like," he said. "Proportions will become closer to something that looks classically driven; the scale of homes will be more pleasing to the eye. There's been a lot of movement in the directions of neighborhoods that are more into the Avondale, Riverside, San Marco design." For years, people have been envisioning smart "Jetsons"-style houses packed with centralized high-tech systems that will run the whole building. Those predictions were likely overblown, said Chambers, the builders association president. "The high-tech houses, quite honestly, have never taken off, and I think that's because technology has exceeded the high-tech houses, because of wireless for the most part." And the much-ballyhooed green house? People are slowly moving that way, though Leinenweber points out that most green construction methods remain too expensive for widespread use. Better insulation and more efficient windows, however, have come down in price enough to be popular. Leinenweber said he's also seeing less reliance on conventional building materials. Instead, there's more cement composite siding and recycled plastic and PVC trim. Where will the houses be? Looking at Northeast Florida, there still seems to be plenty of room and interest in development that keeps sprawling farther and farther from the city center. Jacksonville itself, though, will soon run out of room to expand. That's what William "Bill" Killingsworth, director of the city's Planning and Development Department, has said. He foresees a future in which aging areas of the city are redeveloped into new higher-density developments, ones close to shopping and public transit. Baker said different parts of the country take different approaches to where to build. But trends seem to indicate one thing. "There seems to be more interest in proximity to something else rather than splendid isolation," he said.

NEW MARQUIS 10 SCREEN CINEMA IN CRESTVIEW BRINGS NEW BUSINESS TO AREA

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 08:20:48 -0700

New 10 Screen Movie Theater and adjacent Shopping Center in Crestview taking shape. One of the long awaited commercial enterprises is up and running and doing well. But why not, prior to this opening, thousands of people were driving from Crestview to Destin to see a quality movie. Guess what, they do not now. The thousands of citizens in the Crestview now have a place to give their might dollar to, without driving at least an hour. There is a lot of pinned up money in Crestview and now they have a place to spend it. More to come. Nearby businesses benefiting from new Marquis Cinema (PHOTOS) Jul 25, 2010 Brian Hughes Florida Freedom Newspapers CRESTVIEW — As more residents discover the new Marquis Cinema, the theater’s owners aren’t the only ones benefiting. Nearby businesses have noticed an increase in customers since the cinema opened. “We’ve been swamped,” said Sherrie Stanley, a waitress at Ms. B’s Bar-B-Que, the nearest restaurant to the Marquis. “There has definitely been an increase” in customers. “It’s been great,” agreed Belinda Gibson, the owner of Ms. B’s. “We always had a good lunch crowd. We can really tell the difference with the movie theater now. Our dinner business has been much better.” The Martin family has had a produce stand at the corner of Richbourg Lane and Industrial Drive for more then 30 years. Operated now by Chris Jenkins and his family, the stand also has seen an increase in business. In fact, moviegoers have to drive right past it. “We see a lot more traffic,” Chris Jenkins said. “Just today there was a couple guys going to the movies who bought some watermelons and some boiled peanuts. They hoped they could take the peanuts into the movie.” Marquis Cinema opened in May. Wayne Harris, executive director of the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce, said it has been a boon to the area. “Anything like that has an economic impact to our community,” Harris said. Construction is expected to begin in August on the 40,000-square-foot retail section of Twin Creek Crossing adjacent to the Marquis, as well as a Johnny O’Quigley’s restaurant opposite the Jenkins’ produce market, Harris said. He said both businesses should be open in less than a year. Johnny O’Quigley’s will become the chain’s flagship restaurant, Harris added. It will be more family oriented than its Destin sports bar. Gibbons welcomes the opportunities a new neighbor will bring, saying that it will attract even more customers. “I think it’s going to bring more people to this end of town,” Gibbons said. “We have people who come in every day from the other end of town going to the movies who didn’t know we were here.”

STATE ROAD 285 TO GET A FACELIFT

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 09:01:15 -0700

STATE ROAD 285 FROM MOSSYHEAD TO NICEVILLE TO GET FACELIFT Another infrastructure project to help in the growth of the area with the thousands of new military personnel being assigned to our area and their supporting casts. With recents improvements in Mossyhead (i.e. New Golf Course Community, New School, New Parks, New Dollar General Store), this road will surely see alot of traffic in the very near future. SR285 facelift to beginBy ANGEL McCURDYNorthwest Florida Daily News 315-4432 amccurdy@nwfdailynews.com NICEVILLE - A resurfacing project for State Road 285 will be giving the roadway a facelift starting June 7. The effort, however, will take about seven months to complete. The 9-mile project will resurface the roadway from north of College Boulevard to the Walton County line, according to a Florida Department of Transportation press release. Crews from Anderson Columbia will be working on the $2.9 million project. "We're just going to resurface the existing roadway with new asphalt," said Tommie Speights, public information officer for the DOT. "Basically, we're preserving existing roadway." The construction is part of a five-year program with the DOT to work on milling damaged roadways. The week of June 7, crews will focus on clearing the right of way, drainage work and preparing the site for resurfacing, the release states. Along with resurfacing, the roadway will have guardrails replaced, drainage upgrades, minor safety improvements and placement of new signs and pavement markings within the project limits. Motorists can expect lane restrictions during construction. However, there will be no lane closures weekdays between 6 and 8 a.m. and 4 and 6 p.m. Speights said the construction will have a flagger on site for the one-lane closures. He said the DOT does not foresee extensive traffic backup based on the times crews will be working. " This road badly needed repairs to preserve the existing roadway, so that's what we'll be getting started on shortly," Speights said.

JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER PROGRAM TO GENERATE JOBS IN OKALOOSA COUNTY

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 08:57:04 -0700

JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER PROGRAM TO GENERATE 3,500 JOBS IN OKALOOSA COUNTY I hope I have been able to illustrate the growth this area is going through now. With the movement of the 7th Special Forces Group, the F-35 Training Program, the growth of the Bob Sikes Airport in Crestview, and much more, we will be needing the home/commercial building industry along with the banking industry to free up capital, so they may provide the housing and commercial needs of these folks. Take a look at the previous stories in my Blog, which has outlined just some of the positive economic news these iniatiatives are making in our area. OH YEA. The OIL SPILL does not affect this type of growth. These folks are ORDERED here because of military relignment. STUDY ASSESSES ECONOMIC IMPACT OF F-35 JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER ARRIVAL AND NEW TRAINING CENTERA recently released University of West Florida Haas Center study has determined that the arrival of the 59 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters and the development of the JSF Training Center, a new high-tech training center at Eglin Air Force Base will provide a cumulative impact of over$1.5 billion in gross regional product to the Fort Walton Beach area of Northwest Florida, with nearly $345 million sustained annually through 2017 and beyond. During the next five years, the Joint Strike Fighter program is forecast to generate 3,500 jobs and positively impact theregion's population by an increase of 4,000 individuals. The University of West Florida Haas Center study is available at www.florida-edc.org/EconomicNews.html.

MORE SERVICES NEEDED FOR OUR AREA

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 08:55:20 -0700

MUCH GROWTH AT OUR FOOTSTEPS MEANS A LOT MORE SERVICES NEEDED As the report will indicate, we are going to need a lot of essential services, as well as, other items today's family needs, such as, things for entertainment, restaurants, retail shops, and much more. This report comes on the heals of the community crying out to the private sector to build baby build. The private sector crying to the banks, lend baby lend. Hopefully, the lending institutions will be able to see the light. These people are coming soon, and some have decided to come know. If you want to ready the entire report visit http://video.onset.freedom.com/nwfdn/l2c5xo-13brac.pdfPreparing for BRAC: Report details ways area must growBy MONA MOORENorthwest Florida Daily News 315-4443 mmoore@nwfdailynews.com From emergency services to education, the population growth that will accompany the arrival of the Joint Strike Fighter and the Army 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) will affect many aspects of life on the Emerald Coast. The tri-county region is expected to gain an estimated 11,000 people by 2015. According to a recently released Tri-County Growth Management report, that population boom translates into a need for more law enforcement officers, teachers and public facilities, such as parks and libraries. The study was produced in order to ensure that communities are prepared for the impact to the population. Community leaders will be able to cite the federally funded report when requesting federal funds. It also serves as a gauge, identifying areas that might present future business opportunities, said Elliot Kampert, Okaloosa County's director of growth management. For example, areas that will have additional families will need more child care businesses. "This study is a tool. It's a community plan," Kampert said. The report said the tricounty area will need 66 to 79 new teachers by 2015. Okaloosa County schools will see the greatest influx of students. Of the estimated 2,166 school-aged students, about 1,900 students will attend an Okaloosa County school, according to the report. To prepare for the additional students, the report suggested the district hire eight additional elementary school instructors - three new instructors for middle school and four for high school by 2015. Kay McKinley, Okaloosa's deputy superintendent, said the district will not hire additional teachers based solely on the report. "We don't have any concrete numbers," she said. The report used a formula to predict the number of students, but the district will hire instructors according to the class-size guidelines of the state's constitution. McKinley met with parents at Fort Bragg. Many of the families will start moving into the area this summer. The district has prepared "not necessarily for the number of students, but the type of students," she said. Schools are preparing guidance counselors and principals for students who will deal with fathers on longer, more dangerous deployments than most of the current students. The district also has applied for a Department of Defense grant that will fund "military life education counselors." The report said the Okaloosa County library system is operating below the state's level of service standards. The standards are based on the number of square feet per population size. The county has about 90,000 square feet for a 2009 population of about 183,000 people and will need an additional 5,900 square feet because of BRAC. Most of the additional library space (4,900 square feet) will be needed in Crestview. Bob Gorin, Okaloosa County library co-op administrator, agreed with the report. "I think they (Crestview) need to expand the current library and build a branch library, be it a storefront or new building, in south Crestview," he said. The report also suggested that Fort Walton Beach continue with plans to build a branch in Kenwood. According to the report, Walton, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties will need 21 additional law enforcement officers, the majority of them (17) in Crestview. The report also suggested the area hire an additional 17 firefighters. Crestview likely will need an additional fire station and 13 of the 17 firefighters by 2015. More important than the additional personnel will be the additional training, the report states. Public safety and emergency services will see an increase in cases involving people with post traumatic stress disorders and traumatic brain injuries.

A TRIBUTE TO A FALLEN COAST GUARDSMAN

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 08:44:48 -0700

A TRIBUTE TO A FALLEN COAST GUARDSMAN COAST GUARD PETTY OFFICER LONNIE JONES MEMORIAL IS ON ITS WAY The time has come and the Petty Officer Jones Memorial is becoming a reality. This journey has been long and hard, but a journey I would make over and over again, for a fellow Coast Guard Shipmate, who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the performance of his duties. The monument is being planned to placed on the grounds of Coast Guard Station Destin. A place he left one morning, but did not return. Gulf Coast Monuments of Fort Walton Beach has ordered the monument and the expected arrival is September 20, 2010. As we get closer to the completion of this monument, final arrangements will be made to unveil this monument to the public and pay respect and tribute to Petty Officer Lonnie Jones and his family.As I have mentioned in the past, a couple of years ago, a group of Coast Guard supporters came together to have a memorial constructed for the late Petty Officer Jones, who gave his life in a Search and Rescue Mission in the early 1980's in the Destin Pass. The initial desire was to have this memorial constructed on the West Jetties of the Destin Pass. However, because of the logistics of placing this memorial at this location and the sensitive environmental area surrounding it, a decision was made to place the Petty Officer Lonnie Jones Memorial at Coast Guard Station Destin.When we formed this committee, we had three goals in mind, (1) Recognize the ultimate sacrifice that Petty Officer Lonnie Jones gave at the Destin Pass during a Search and Rescue Mission, (2) Recognize the Coast Guard for their service locally and around the world, (3) Recognizing how dangerous the Destin Pass is and hope the awareness of all of this might save future lives. With the movement of this memorial to this location, I believe we will be able to honor Petty Officer Jones and his family appropriately; and the thousands, who visit Coast Guard Station Destin, will understand the Coast Guard more and the sacrifices they make every day.The memorial will be constructed of Black Granite and will sit on a 20" X 20" base and stand approximately 6' high, with 34" of it being a Coast Guard Lighthouse. The cost of this endeavor will be approximately $4,500.00, which will pay for the monument, maintenance, and travel funds for his family to attend the unveiling of the monument. A capital campaign has been started and over a 1/3 amount has been collected as of this date. It is anticipated the monument will be unveiled to the public in late August/early September 2010. The local community has been very supportive of this initiative and I feel we will be able to reach our goal very quickly. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please don't hesitate to give me a call. Also, please don't hesitate to forward this information to supporters wishing to donate to the worthwhile cause.Monetary support for this cause can be done by mailing a check payable to H&S Title and Escrow, Attn: Petty Officer Lonnie Jones Memorial, at 151 Regions Way, Suite 1-ADestin, FL 32541. They also can be contacted 850-650-6621 with any questions.Ken Wright, USCG, RetiredVice President of Northwest FloridaMilitary Officer's Association850-582-6442

BEST HIGH SCHOOL LISTS

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 08:42:01 -0700

FOUR OKALOOSA HIGH SCHOOLS MAKES NEWSWEEK MAGAZINE BEST HIGH SCHOOLS LIST The area schools of Okaloosa County make the grade once again. This, along with many other factors, makes this one of the best areas to live and encourages both the military and private sector to move there businesses to our area. By KATIE TAMMENNorthwest Florida Daily News 315-4440 ktammen@nwfdailynews.com ]Four Okaloosa County schools made Newsweek's list of America's Best High Schools. N i c e v i l l e , C h o c tawhatchee, Crestview and Fort Walton Beach high schools were all named in the annual ranking. Only the top 6 percent of all public high schools in the country made the list, which ranks schools based on the prevalence of college preparatory courses - Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Cambridge AICE. "This particular study, it is saying that we have opened up access; that more courses at higher levels are being offered," said Niceville High School Principal Linda Smith. "And more students are taking advantage of the higherlevel courses." Niceville was listed highest in the list at number 131. Choctaw came next at 268, then Crestview at 315, and Fort Walton Beach rounded out the group at 401. No school in Walton or Santa Rosa counties made the list. "I am very proud of them," said Okaloosa Superintendent Alexis Tibbetts. "I know they work very hard ... . We are making big inroads in closing the gap and getting even more kids in those programs." Niceville High School has moved rapidly up in the rankings in the past couple of years to land in their current position. Just two years ago, the high school was ranked at 764, Smith said. But by the next school year, they had added a number of AP and AICE courses and jumped to 332 in the list. The school does not have an IB program. Choctaw is the only high school in the district with the IB program. Smith said Niceville might not make as big a leap in the rankings next year but said they are adding several new courses, including an AP psychology course. The best part of the college preparatory courses as a whole, she said, is how helpful they are for students once they reach college. "What I hear when they come back from the universities is, ‘I was so prepared ... because I was accustomed to having to work hard for all seven periods,' " she said. This particular ranking, however, is only one piece of the puzzle. Smith said the most important element in all of this is how many of the students successfully pass the advanced courses. "It's not just putting them in the course, it's that they're successful in the course," she said. For the last two years, the school has held a 60 percent pass rate, and she has hopes they will meet or surpass that level when the information is available later this summer.

GOING GREEN WITH BUILDING

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 08:26:28 -0700

IT'S COOL GOING GREEN IN AREA'S HOME BUILDING Area homes going greenBy SHARON DOOLEYDaily News Contributing Writer By all outward appearances, Todd Stephens' new home in Crestview looks like an ordinary house that could be found anywhere in Northwest Florida. Beneath the bricks and siding, however, is an ecologically green house, perhaps the first National Association of Home Builders gold-level certified green home in Okaloosa County. "You don't go down the road and say ‘Oh, that's a green house because look how odd it is,'" said Stephens, who is president of the Destin-based Southern American Homes. Stephens also serves as a member of the Building Industry Association of Okaloosa and Walton Counties green committee. The BIA's green committee is dedicated to educating members and consumers about green and sustainable products in the building industry, and about how those products can be used in new and existing structures. "I'm not a tree hugger. I'm not an environmentalist, but some of this makes sense," Stephens said about the green practices implemented into the construction of his home, which is near completion in Camellia Cove off Airport Road in the northeastern section of Crestview. To obtain gold level status for the home, Stephens had to incorporate green and sustainable factors into the entire construction process, beginning with the home concept and concluding with the actual home performance. "Technically it's all about points," he said. The point system developed by the NAHB requires builders seeking level certification of structures to follow an accumulation of green factors. These range from leaving indigenous vegetation on the lot to installing efficient appliances. It's more than just choosing an eco-friendly floor product such as bamboo or cork. "They give you all different avenues to get the points," Stephens said. "Which do you prefer?" For a gold scoring status, the NAHB requires an accumulation of 395 points, and with this house, Stephens has reached 460 points. Many of the practices that he used are commonly used by builders and developers who aren't necessarily going for green but are going for sensible products and procedures. But some of the more unusual, although easily accomplished, steps have included separating recyclable materials. Stephens placed two waste dumpsters on the property and marked them for specific items. Workers also placed plastic water and soda bottles in boxes, separating them from other trash items. A walkway was designated for the workers, as well, so that they would inflect the least amount of damage to any vegetation on the property, thus cutting erosion and runoff of topsoil. "Everybody knows this is green, and they're all excited about it," Stephens said of the crews doing the work on the house. "So everybody is good about staying on the path or putting paper in the right bin." As construction began, Stephens chose Bora-Care as a termite pretreatment method as opposed to a soil-saturation method. He also grouped utility lines together, having them run along the worker path, so fewer trees were removed from the property. Low-E windows have been installed, providing a high-performance in sunlight entering the home. High efficiency lighting and appliances will be installed, and the exterior siding contains some recycled materials. The insulation of the house, however, will give Stephens a return on his investment within a few years. "Batt insulation is the status quo for building," he said of the pre-cut panels that are usually pink in color. Stephens opted to use a hybrid form of insulation, applying open-cell foam in some sections such as the ceiling and rafter areas. The foam is made of castor beans, a fast-growing crop. Batt insulation filled in other areas of the house. The up-front cost of the hybrid system is more, but Stephens expects the savings to come later through lower heating and cooling costs. For his 2,995 square-foot home, a batts-only system would cost about $3,500. The hybrid system costs about $8,000. "In less than five years, you've paid for that. Probably four years," he said. The insulation alone won't give Stephens the savings. He and his crew sealed the house. "We caulked every crack in this house before drywall," he said, noting that it took 16 cases of caulk to accomplish the job. Other measures to accomplish the gold status include installation of an efficient on-demand hot water heating system, a cistern to collect rainwater for irrigation, use of indigenous and drought-resistant plants in the landscaping, and much more. So far, this particular house in Camellia Cove is the only with the gold rating, but Stephens has incorporated green practices in the other houses he has built in the 48-lot development. Selective clearing has been used on lots that have undergone development, and of the completed homes by Southern American Homes, paints low in volatile organic compounds and green-friendly termite treatments have been incorporated. One home in the development that is complete is a Southern American Homes entry in the 2010 Parade of Homes. The 1,820 square-feet home is listed at $189,900. The Parade home demonstrates something that Stephens says is easily achievable. It might not be a completely green house, but it features some green elements. "Green is feasible for anything you build," Stephens said. "The big secret is you don't have to go totally green to do some green. It's not all or nothing. "The key is helping the customer understand which are the high-value green practices that they can incorporate in their home that's going to pay them back over time," he continued, but he also applied a bit of philosophy to the green idea. "There're two types of people that green building appeals to: The people that want a payback. They want to know if they're going to invest in green, then what's the payback?" he said. "And then you've got the people that have a conviction. The cost is secondary to the purpose of going green."

FAMU TAKES POSSESSION OF NEW CRESTVIEW PROPERTY FOR NEW CAMPUS

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 08:24:19 -0700

FAMU TAKES POSSESSION OF NEW CRESTVIEW PROPERTY FOR NEW CAMPUS Crestview is fast becoming a center of influence for higher education. Some of the reasons are, (1) A lot of folks are moving to this location and most of them are military personnel. (2) With the military personnel, they receive a lot of money for higher education thru 100% tuition assisitance while on active duty, and the varius GI Bill education programs after they retire and separate from the service, (3) the location of the Crestview on the I-10 cooridor make it assessible to folks in surrounding cities and town. Keep you eye on this, there will be more coming and don't think the other local colleges (Troy University, NWF State University, University of West Florida) are sitting on their heals through all this. Not only will this town be a military town, it will be a college town, as well. By MICHAEL STEWART Florida Freedom NewspapersCRESTVIEW - A ceremony to turn the historic Alatex building over to officials with Florida A&M University took place Saturday, almost three years to the day after efforts first began to bring a pharmacy to downtown Crestview. Crestview Mayor David Cadle and City Clerk Janice Young signed a deed transferring title to Tallahasseebased FAMU in front of the Alatex building on Woodruff Avenue. "Today, with this ceremony, we are making one of the dreams of reaching beyond our main campus to help educate and build other communities in the Panhandle a reality," FAMU President James Ammons said. Ammons was joined by Henry Lewis, the dean of the university's College of Pharmacy, along with members of the school's famed Marching 100 band, which performed at one point under the direction of Cadle, a former band director at Crestview High School. Cadle called the event a "momentous occasion." "This building will once again regain its rightful place as the leading economic center of our downtown area, and its presence will be honored and preserved." Opened in 1937 as a garment factory that was once the major employer in Okaloosa County, the Alatex building struggled for years to find purpose despite its placement on the National Register of Historic Places. Now, it will serve as the newest satellite campus for FAMU. There, FAMU will offer students a PharmD degree, which leads to a pharmacy license. Future plans call for additional courses that will lead to masters and doctorate degrees in public health and health care management, as well as health administration, occupational therapy and physical therapy. A contract to renovate the building should be let in September, with the first 40 pharmacy students arriving by August 2011, Lewis said. The program is expected to expand. "At build-out, we will have about 160 pharmacy students," Lewis said. Donald Palm, FAMU assistant vice president of academic affairs, said preliminary plans also call for the addition of a dental school by 2014. "Our program will deal with pediatrics and general dentistry," Palm said. "We will be taking in classes of about 75 students per year." A school of nursing could also be opened in the 40,000-square-foot building. Lewis said a study by the Florida Workforce Development Agency estimates the school will jump about $9.2 million annually into Crestview's economy and will lead to the creation of about 95 new jobs. Ammons credited state Sen. Durell Peaden, R-Crestview, who first approached him about a FAMU campus in Crestview, with helping push the project through the Legislature. "This is a big day for Crestview," Peaden said. Crestview resident Claudis Dale agreed. "Crestview is stepping up," Dale said.

Don't forget to Visit Ken Wright's Blog

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