History In The Remaking…
Downtown Panama City & St. Andrews Bay
By Joni Williams, Condo Owner Magazine, Volume 19, Issue 2
When you hear “Panama City,” what comes to mind? Chances are good the name of Northwest Florida’s long-revered hotspot conjures images of fun-seeking students on spring break, towering condos, rambling shopping centers and, of course, gorgeous white sandy beaches.
But as with so many other Panhandle areas, Panama City has begun honing something truly unique, something that cannot be bought or built — its history. Now, after taking a backseat to the beach’s rampant, modern redevelopment of recent decades, the historical St. Andrews area, along with the nearby, longtime established downtown Panama City area, are finally getting their due.
Though you won’t find any gulf front beaches here, these scenic areas border St. Andrews Bay, offering two well-known marinas that are only about three miles apart. Unlike the beach, condo developments here are sparse, though the area is home to two waterfront developments, the Cove Condominium in Panama City and Harbour Village in St. Andrews.
Even though they may be in short supply, the condos that are here offer plenty of appeal, not only in their design but because of the area’s long list of area activities, attractions and venues. So much so, in fact, at least one recent buyer was prompted to sell his Panama Beach house and become a condo owner instead.
“We were looking for a place where we could stroll to restaurants and shops – we didn’t want to drive to those places,” said David Southall who, along with his partner, recently bought a condo in St. Andrews’ Harbour Village. Living on the water was also a compelling lure for Southall, who previously owned what he described as a “large house in a generic (Panama City Beach) neighborhood” that necessitated a lot of driving.
“Here, you can go out your back door and enjoy paddle boarding, kayaking, and swimming,” Southall said of his new digs, expressing that this ease of access helped sway his decision when contemplating where to buy.
Since moving to the historical area, he has embraced all that the community has to offer, such as the weekly Farmer’s Market, held every Saturday in St. Andrews. In addition to local art, produce, honey and other commodities, the market also routinely serves up live music, making for a festive atmosphere.
“We can get our fresh vegetables and fish and enjoy the music, all without leaving our neighborhood,” Southall said. Additionally, the area offers a highly rated state park, free historical walking tours and a growing list of shops and restaurants – all where Southall and his partner have become familiar faces. “We have so many options we can choose from,” Southall enthused, “it’s great.”
And those options are no accident. Rather they are the result of diligence shown by government entities, such as the St. Andrews Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and the City of Panama City, to attract businesses into the areas bordering St. Andrews Bay.
“The CRA is responsible for business recruitment,” said its director, Rob Rosner. As an incentive to improve appearance as well as attract business, grant programs are available for sprucing up the area, offering assistance with improving façades and vacant lots, as well as the complete “tear-down” of blighted structures that are beyond restoration.
The result is that the area is now home to a cornucopia of restaurants such as the Shrimpboat, Four Winds, Hunt’s Oyster Bar and the St. Andrews Coffee House. One of Panama City’s eateries, Los Antojitos, which was forced to close its former Hwy. 98 location due to an overpass’ construction, is slated to re-open its doors in its new St. Andrews location in early 2016.
Still, it’s history that keeps folks coming back, Rosner said. “A lot of people are looking for that old Florida ‘feel’ and that’s one thing St. Andrews has to offer.” He noted that the area is home to what is believed to be Florida’s only four-headed palm, which has proven to be an attraction in itself.
And then there’s the marina that some would say is the heart of the neighborhood. In addition to charter boat trips, modern conveniences like restroom facilities complete with showers and a shop stocked with drinks, snacks and fishing supplies can be found here.
About three miles away is another marina aptly named the Panama City Marina, particularly since it was recently turned over from the state to the city. And City Manager Jeff Brown said the mayor has been actively seeking to capitalize on this asset ever since by attracting new development to the area.
Exactly what that development will entail, though, has yet to be decided. “As opposed to saying we want to build x,y, and z on the site, the (city) commission became open to proposals,” Brown explained. To that end, he said, several detailed plans submitted by major development firms have been whittled down to two, which are under review by city officials. At the same time, Brown said, these same officials are continuously mulling the “best use” of the land.
“Come June, we’ll — along with a consultant — make a definitive decision,” Brown said, adding that he expected to see “shovels in the ground” in about a year. Until then, nothing is set in stone. While the original plan was merely to add three commercial venues with one being a restaurant, developers upped the ante in their presentation by proposing a hotel, an apartment complex and a brewery. Moving city hall has also been a popular notion.
Regardless of future development, the marina remains the star of the area, continuing to draw scores of people and packing the parking lot. “You can’t find a parking spot behind the (neighboring) Civic Center on the weekend,” Brown said, referring to overflow parking. But despite the robust crowds flocking to the marina, the city’s objective is to expand and diversify the patronage to the area just the same. “We have a natural draw for people,” he said, alluding to the marina, “but how do we bring others here who aren’t boaters or fishermen?”
The answer, of course, remains to be seen. In the meantime, both St. Andrews and downtown Panama City is brimming with activities and rife with history – a rare find in this part of Florida. “It’s this historical perspective,” Brown said, “that’s what makes the downtown
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