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tivoli

Beach Lover
Wall Street Journal this morning - Marketplace Section
Front Page - Nice photograph of the Watercolor Inn -

"If we build a new airport, our region's economic future looks
bright," says Glen McDonald, chairman of the Bay County
Chamber of Commerce. "It would help us attract technology
companies and educated workers who can do the high-paying
jobs of the future. Without a new airport, our region's economic
future is in doubt." "If we had a new airport with good service,
we'd see more people coming," from other parts of the country,
he said.

Opening the region up to newcomers would stir demand for hotels,
restaurants and retail shops, all of which would lift the region's
economy, which traditionally has been poorer and more sluggish
than the overall state economy.
 
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6thGen

Beach Fanatic
Aug 22, 2005
1,491
152
Much of the bump we'll see from the airport is already priced into the market.
 

Babyblue

Beach Fanatic
Mar 1, 2006
525
6
Seagrove Beach
Wall Street Journal this morning - Marketplace Section
Front Page - Nice photograph of the Watercolor Inn -

"If we build a new airport, our region's economic future looks
bright," says Glen McDonald, chairman of the Bay County
Chamber of Commerce. "It would help us attract technology
companies and educated workers who can do the high-paying
jobs of the future. Without a new airport, our region's economic
future is in doubt." "If we had a new airport with good service,
we'd see more people coming," from other parts of the country,
he said.

Opening the region up to newcomers would stir demand for hotels,
restaurants and retail shops, all of which would lift the region's
economy, which traditionally has been poorer and more sluggish
than the overall state economy.

So very true!
 

jpreus

Beach Lover
Aug 5, 2005
96
0
SoWal native in transition
As a SoWal native living in other parts of the country for the last couple of decades, I always thought SoWal was the best kept secret on the planet. We have lived on both coasts and have always been underwhelmed with the beaches...largely because we have experienced SoWal.

We live in New England now and few people here have ever heard of Seaside, Watercolor, or Grayton. ( A few people have heard of Rosemary Beach because of some local advertising, but they don't know exactly where it is.) The reason being, you can't get there from here. We visit SoWal as often as we can and it seems that most of the folks who own second homes there, and people who vacation there, are from the southern states...generally places you can drive from. I know there are small airports in Panama City and Fort Walton but I thought I heard that building had commenced on a larger, regional or possibly international airport in Bay County; an airport with the potential of attracting major airlines that would enable travel from other parts of the country as well as Europe in a much more timely and direct fashion. It seems to me that, should that happen, any decline in property values would be reversed in a relative short period of time.

Any suggestions as to where to look for information on the proposed airport in Bay County? Is it connected to St Joe? Would appreciate any information.:dunno:
Thanks
 

Mango

SoWal Insider
Apr 7, 2006
9,699
1,368
New York/ Santa Rosa Beach
As a SoWal native living in other parts of the country for the last couple of decades, I always thought SoWal was the best kept secret on the planet. We have lived on both coasts and have always been underwhelmed with the beaches...largely because we have experienced SoWal.

We live in New England now and few people here have ever heard of Seaside, Watercolor, or Grayton. ( A few people have heard of Rosemary Beach because of some local advertising, but they don't know exactly where it is.) The reason being, you can't get there from here. We visit SoWal as often as we can and it seems that most of the folks who own second homes there, and people who vacation there, are from the southern states...generally places you can drive from. I know there are small airports in Panama City and Fort Walton but I thought I heard that building had commenced on a larger, regional or possibly international airport in Bay County; an airport with the potential of attracting major airlines that would enable travel from other parts of the country as well as Europe in a much more timely and direct fashion. It seems to me that, should that happen, any decline in property values would be reversed in a relative short period of time.

Any suggestions as to where to look for information on the proposed airport in Bay County? Is it connected to St Joe? Would appreciate any information.:dunno:
Thanks

Hi JPreus. Enjoyed our whale watch again, but didn't see any baby whales this time because Capt. red spent so much time on a finback.
There have been many past threads on the new airport, but here is a link
http://pcairport.bechtel.com/
it discusses the status of the airport.

I agree with you. Here in New York, no one has ever heard of Seaside, or Walton County, not even Destin. They do know PCB though because of press about spring break. Hopefully when the new airport is operational, Walton County TDC will make efforts to advertise the area for tourism in the Northeast. I think some people might frown on that, but the fact of the matter is it would bring affluent people worldwide as second home or retirement home buyers.

We have to fly through Atlanta and take a shuttle plane to either FWB/VPS or Pensacola. Total round trip for me is 8 hrs door to door. I have even flown into New Orleans and driven down through Jet Blue when they run specials.

Direct domestic flights into PCB and international flights would really open up tourism to the area and further investment in the area. I do not think it is priced in at all right now. The new airport is years from completion. I certainly did not buy because of it, I found out about it later.

I do think the Cape Cod beaches are some of the prettiest in the world as well as SoWal. The dune system especially in the upper cape is magnificient. Now swimming in the water is a different matter. It's soooo cold, but it is utterly spectacular to view. ;-)
 

jpreus

Beach Lover
Aug 5, 2005
96
0
SoWal native in transition
Hi, Mango.......glad you enjoyed your visit to the Cape. Sorry you didn't get to see the whale babies...Great video clip though.......

I agree with you about the upper Cape Cod beaches...the national seashore is beautiful any time of the year. We love to go there in the fall.

I plan to go back to SoWal in November for my high school reunion ( I want say which one) and am dreading the trip because of the plane changes necessary. Unfortunately it is a quick visit and driving is out of the question. I am also terrified of flying out of Logan in Boston and now we have the issue of the problems in the Ted Williams Tunnel (2-ton panels falling off the ceiling...built by Bechtel by the way). That being the only way to Logan, I will be trying to fly out of Providence, RI, which will make connections even more difficult. If I can just get to Atlanta, I can rent a car and drive if I have to........Looks like for the forseeable future, will be driving down in the winter..........
 
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