Latest news with #JoshStreet
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Panama City officials approve additional funding for Drummond Park infrastructure project
PANAMA CITY, Fla (WMBB) – Residents in the Drummond Park area have been dealing with problems caused by some of the oldest infrastructure in Panama City. The large-scale infrastructure project, deemed Project Restore A-2, broke ground almost 10 months ago. It is funded by $21 million in grants. However, on Tuesday, Panama City officials approved another $2 million, reallocating $1.8 million in grants and $200,000 from infrastructure surtax funds. Panama City officials hope to improve pedestrian safety with potential trail system It will pay for additional work involving water lines and sidewalks. 'It's really important for us to replace these because once you replace a road, it doesn't really make sense to go right back two or five years from now, and replace a water line to tear up the road again. So it's really important that we do it now. This is the most cost-effective time to do it,' Panama City Commissioner Josh Street said. The new sidewalk will run along West 21st Street and Mound Avenue from Michigan Avenue to West 20th Street. It will also serve as a connector sidewalk in another one of the city's latest projects Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Panama City officials hope to improve pedestrian safety with potential trail system
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) – The stretch of Highway 98 from the Hathaway Bridge to Lisenby Avenue is one of the deadliest roadways in the state. Multiple pedestrian deaths have occurred this year alone. Now, Panama City officials are moving forward with a project that would improve walkability and pedestrian safety in the area. Tuesday, commissioners matched a $405,000 FDOT grant to fund planning of the Panama City Rails with Trails program. 'It's part of an overall over 18 miles worth of trails that we're doing within the city. And we're so excited to have a partnership with everybody and funding a portion of that project. And so the first phase is coming from Gulf Coast State College to Michigan Avenue, following just north of the railroad tracks,' Panama City Commissioner Josh Street said. Panama City issues boil water notice due to main break The trail system would establish routes serving the Port facility, FSU Panama City, Gulf Coast State College, schools, parks, businesses, and a variety of neighborhoods. By using land adjacent to railroads, officials hope it will minimize the need to cross busy streets and improve pedestrian safety. 'By focusing our efforts and creating sidewalks on other streets, as well as making improvements to that roadway, it makes us a safer place to live. Because the reality is as expenses increase, people are making decisions to walk or bike to work, or to get groceries, or to do those things. And we want to encourage that because it's part of a healthy lifestyle. But it's also a way that you can, you know, participate in the economy in a different way,' Street said. The project is over three years in the making, and is still at least a couple of years away from groundbreaking. Officials say as long as state-funded grants for the project keep coming in, they'll keep making progress on the project. They say the funds approved Tuesday will get the designs for multiple phases to 60 percent completion. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Turtle Town' coming to Saint Andrews
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – The old Copa Cabana Motel property in St. Andrews has been vacant for almost five years. But not for much longer. Salty Saint Andrews will be the new home of 'Turtle Town.' Turtle Town will be a unique new retail development with something for everyone. The tentative blueprint shows a bar under a pole barn as the centerpiece, near Beck Avenue. It will be surrounded by spaces for food trucks. Then, at the back of the lot by the lake, there will be about 20 retail vendor spaces. All of this will be spread out in an open courtyard. New must-visit Downtown Panama City businesses City officials are hoping the variety of outdoor storefronts will promote micro-entrepreneurs starting a business and family-friendly fun. 'It's actually the same group that did the water park downtown. They're actually coming here, and you're talking about experience retail. So, there may be a shop that's just all Legos. You may see a shop that sells t-shirts. You may see a variety of things that really micro-entrepreneurs can start and be a part of beginning a business, but also providing something that we all want to see and enjoy,' City Commissioner Josh Street said. Owner Caleb Price says they are currently in the process of getting AI renderings of the layout. Groundbreaking could take place sometime this summer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Renovation of historic St. Andrews School starts with roof repairs
ST. ANDREWS, Fla. (WMBB) – The first phase in the resurrection of the old St. Andrews School is now official. BMR Roofing has signed a contract to begin roof repairs on what used to be St. Andrews School. 'It's been a long time since the hurricane that the school's been in disrepair,' said Destination Panama City President & CEO Jennifer Vigil. 'Working with the Historic Preservation Department and going through a grant process any time takes a little bit of time.' The school first opened its doors to students in 1926. Salty Dog Day fundraiser in Panama City aids local organizations After Hurricane Michael, students and faculty moved over to the old Oakland Terrace School and took the name with them. Since it's now St. Andrews School, the original needed a new name. The Historic St. Andrews Waterfront Partnership came up with 'Drews Hall'. It will be transformed into an arts, culture, and events venue. City leaders say it's the best way to show off the rich history and culture of the area. 'It was the longest operating school for a while in the state of Florida,' said Panama City Ward IV Commissioner Josh Street. 'So for the residents that live here, it's a huge part, but also for people that come to visit. It's a way for us to showcase who we are, what we've been, what we've lived through and what we're continuing to do as a community.' The resurrection project will benefit residents, visitors, and St. Andrews businesses. 'Having something that's a community hub this close to our Historic District of St Andrews, which is in St. Andrews, is just going to be a big boost for every business that's here and to come,' said Sunjammers Owner Brad Stephens. Local agencies know that by going through with this project, they will be preserving a big part of St. Andrews' history. Thrilling cowboy action awaits at Westonwood Ranch Rodeo 'One of the things that we have to do is lead with vision, but collaborate with heart. This building itself holds a lot of emotion and a lot of memories for a lot of our locals,' Vigil added. 'It's ingrained into the roots of their families, and it's important to them that we preserve their history while we're telling the story of the culture and character of this community.' The next phase of the resurrection project will include adding additional architectural designs, then getting the project out to bid. City staff hope to have the building complete by the fall of next year in time for the center's centennial celebration. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Panama City officials hold first Strategic Priorities Workshop
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) – Over the past few months, Panama City Clerk Jan Smith has warned commissioners about their spending habits. The reserve fund, also known as the city's savings account, is on track to be dangerously low by the end of this fiscal year. Now they're searching for solutions and officials are turning to citizens for guidance. Thursday night Panama City officials held their first-ever strategic priorities workshop. It provided residents with a new way to submit feedback. Suggestions from the workshop will be considered for next fiscal year's budget. City of Lynn Haven hosts 6th Annual Health Fair 'Ultimately, we're trying to create a citizens' living budgeting process, and that starts with events like today where department heads and citizens can interact together to both understand the services, they provide to the city but also understand the importance of the services that they provide,' Panama City Commissioner Josh Street said. Officials say the workshop provides more transparency with residents. But it also shows areas where the city could cut spending. 'It's a matter of prioritizing where with that feedback where we want to focus the resources that we have you know, there are some services that we are required to provide. And, you know, people want us to continue to work to recover our city from Hurricane Michael and Hurricane Sally, as well as continuing to do the regular operations and day-to-day things that we have a duty to perform and provide this local government,' Panama City City Manager Jonathan Hayes said. Residents were able to rank issues they wanted to see addressed. Get ready for a splash; first-ever water park coming to Panama City 'Infrastructure is still top of mind awareness for people and so that's a lot of what the conversations have been about. But public safety is important. They want to see a well-funded PD, they want to see a well-funded fire department, they want to see better safety and security, and they want to see better parks. And so, all of these pieces come together and try to create a budget that ultimately our citizens can support and feel like they're getting a good value for the taxpayer dollars,' Street said. If you missed Thursday night's event you can still provide feedback. There will be comment cards available for the next 10 days at city hall where you can write suggestions to help shape the city's spending. Officials said they're working on establishing a budget workshop where commissioners will work on allocating funds with the feedback they received tonight. It's projected to be sometime next month but there is not a set date yet. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
