Partnership aims to revitalize Panama City's downtown breezeway
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) – Panama City's rebuild after Hurricane Michael has proven to be a massive undertaking. To accomplish their vision, Panama City officials are working to maximize space downtown.
As part of the initiative, the Downtown Breezeway may soon feature a few more amenities.
On Tuesday, commissioners entered negotiations for a public-private partnership with a developer with retail plans for the breezeway.
The preliminary design plans show the developer will maintain a walkway on the property with access from the parking lot on Grace Avenue to the heart of downtown on Harrison Avenue.
'It's pedestrian friendly, kind of referred to as a third space, a place where people can hang out, will have seating and also some retail and food and beverage concepts,' Virtuous Cycle LLC's Grey Dodge said.
Officials hope to lease the space to food and beverage vendors or artisan retailers. And they hope to install public restrooms, a long-awaited amenity in the area.
'The first public restroom opened downtown in McKenzie Park, and now this would cover the northern part of downtown on Harrison Avenue, having some public restrooms there as well. So good benefit to the public while still keeping the ability for small retail spaces. Obviously, downtown is thriving, and we think there's a real need and real desire for more tenants to have small space downtown,' Dodge added.
Officials believe the potential project sets an example for the future of downtown development.
'These infill projects are just a telltale sign that you are having authentic revitalization going on downtown. So we already know it. We see it. To have people to be able to come in and have that creative vision, to be able to work with this in an old historic space, a challenging space at that. It's just a heartwarming sign of what's happening downtown,' Panama City Commissioner Jenna Haligas said.
The project is in its early stages. The commissioner will have final approval of the developer's designs.
If this development doesn't complete the project, the property will revert back to the city.
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