Northwest Florida Real Estate Agent Blog
Study Military's impact strong and growing - 03/05/2008
Press release came across my mailbox today.
Who do you turn to for economic security along the Emerald Coast when the bottom drops from the real estate market?
The military.
A study released by Enterprise Florida concluded that military spending remains one of the state's leading growth industries.
DOCUMENTS:
Read the entire Florida Defense Factbook
Read the economic impact analysis: Volume 1 , Volume 2 and Volume 3
It's particularly valuable to Northwest Florida, where defense-related spending accounts for 35 percent of gross regional product.
According to the "Florida Defense Industry Economic Impact Analysis" completed by the University of West Florida's Haas Center for Business Research and Economic Development, between Oct. 1, 2004, and Sept. 30, 2005, in Okaloosa County:
l Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field generated $2.2 billion in defense spending.
l Countywide, the economic impact of the military was $6.6 billion.
l The average annual earnings per military job is approximately $81,300, or 199 percent more than the area's other jobs in industries such as farming, retail and construction.
The air bases are "incredibly important for all the obvious reasons," said Jim Breitenfeld of the Okaloosa County Economic Development Council. "The high wages. The total spending."
Though the report attributes 73 percent of economic activity in Okaloosa to defense-related spending, Breitenfeld said he wasn't alarmed because the bases are stable employers.
"I don't know if we're dependent (on the military), but it would be a heck of a withdrawal if it disappears tomorrow," he said.
Breitenfeld would like to see Northwest Florida diversify economically in areas where it has competitive advantage such as aviation and high-technology information processing.
In Santa Rosa County, Naval Air Station Whiting Field contributed some $857 million to the economy. Its average annual military wage in fiscal year 2005 was $99,800.
Overall, the military presence in Florida promises only to grow, the Haas report continued. By 2010, military spending statewide might have an impact of $59.5 billion, which would be $7.5 billion more than in 2005.
"While Florida's economy has faced challenges during the past few quarters, particularly in areas hardest hit by the real estate slowdown, high-wage, defense-related jobs are somewhat immune to downturns in the business cycle," said Enterprise Florida president John Adams in a news release.
"They provide strength in Florida's economy even in difficult times."
Daily News Staff Writer Mladen Rudman
Kohls Fort Walton Beach coming soon - 03/05/2008
FORT WALTON BEACH - Although its corporate office still will not confirm it, Kohl's is coming.
The Okaloosa County Commission unanimously approved site plans for a new Kohl's department store to be located near the intersection of Beal Parkway and Hurlburt Road in Fort Walton Beach.
With Tuesday's approval, construction is expected to start early next month, said John Kramp, site development manager for Kohl's. He said they hope to have the store open by the end of the year.
"It's going to be a fairly long road (before the store opens)," Kramp said. "The timetable is up in the air."
The first phase will be the demolition of the Bay Furniture building.
The new 103,990-square-foot department store will replace the old Bay Furniture next to Winn-Dixie.
The only question commissioners had about the project before its approval was about its storm-water retention. Storm-water guidelines are stricter now than when the furniture store was built, and Kohl's will have to upgrade the retention ponds.
The Daily News contacted Kohl's corporate office Tuesday afternoon for additional information on the new store. Despite its impending approval, Kohl's would not confirm the store.
"At this time, we've not announced any plans to open a new store in the Fort Walton Beach community," Kohl's spokeswoman Courtney K. Rogaczewski responded in an e-mail. "Kohl's has an ongoing real estate assessment process. At any given time, Kohl's is reviewing sites in communities nationwide. We do not comment on real estate speculation. When we have firm details, we are happy to share it at that time."
That is the same response Rogaczewski sent to the Daily News last month.
Article by
Dusty Ricketts
I was really happy to see this I would always find myself going to the Kohls in Ohio for this and that and its about time we got one of these.
Mossy head blackstone development - 03/05/2008
Mossy Head is a peaceful, sleepy community
Also in the future of Mossy Head is the
Blackstone Development, a 1,300 acre major
project that will provide a balanced mix of residences,
shops, services, civic building and recreational
facilities. There will be approximately
3,300 dwellings (2,200 single-family and 1,100
multi-family units), 140,00 square feet of retail
and service, 37,500 square feet of office space,
day care and an 18 hole golf course. Phase I may
begin as early as 2006 with an anticipated buildout
date of 2015-2020.
The size of these developments will call for
infrastructure needs, most importantly water and
sewer. Tom Terrell, President of Mossy Head
Waterworks, is working closely with the Walton
County Board of Commissioners to explore
options to provide the necessary services. District
3 Commissioner Larry Jones, who represents the
area, agrees that there is going to be a pressing
need in the not-so distant future. Details, costs
and a timeframe are still being looked at, but
Jones wants the county to move quickly so that
sewer service is available at the industrial park by
the time the new school opens.
The Mossy Head Elementary School, to be
located on a 20 acre site was donated from the
Board of County Commissioners to the School
Board, is anticipated to be open for the 2008
school year. The School Board is actively looking
for locations to build a Junior and High School.
Commissioner Larry Jones has worked hard
to obtain a grant for a community park and the
efforts paid off when Walton County was awarded
a grant in the amount of $200,000 from DEP
through the Florida Recreation Development
Assistance Program (FRDAP). The park site is
located at 13170 US Highway 90, just behind the
Mossy Head EMS Station. Walton received a
waiver of any matching requirements through the
REDI (Rural Economic Development Initiative).
The park will have a pavilion, playground with
splash pad, swing sets, an exercise trail, picnic
facilities, benches, restrooms, fencing, and parking
area.
Welcome to the future Mossy Head!
Mossy Head economic development - 03/05/2008
Mossy Head is a peaceful, sleepy community nestled on high ground in Northwest Walton County. What makes this area so attractive for economic development? Several factors are involved, including but not limited to:
easy Interstate 10 access, railroad facilities, proximity to Eglin Air Force Base, reasonable housing costs, Walton County Industrial Park, Blackstone Development of Regional Impact (DRI), newschool and $200,000 grant for a community park .The area knows it is about to experience a tremendous growth spurt and long-time pillars ofthe community want to make sure that proper planning procedures are in place to ensure 'smartgrowth' so they can maintain the rural county atmosphere while at the same time becoming an economic force in the county.
The Walton County Industrial Park, which encompasses approximately 333 acres, has been in the planning stages for many years. A master plan for the project was submitted on behalf of the Walton County Board of Commissioners to the Planning and Development Services Department in July 2006. The plan calls for 40%manufacturing, 40% warehouse and 20% of office space. Creating a master plan will encourage businesses to move into the park because it will facilitate obtaining a development order, which in turn means being able to start-up more quickly and begin the process of hiring new employees. The park is also part of an enterprise zone which provides incentives for businesses to locate there.
Green Building grants - 03/05/2008
Grant Funds up to $50,000 per Project
Now Available for Developers Committed to Providing Green* Affordable Housing
Applications must be received online by April 11
Awards are expected to be made by the last week of June
Grant guidelines and application available at www.greencommunitiesonline.org
*Please note that Enterprise and its partners have updated the Green Communities Criteria. Before starting the application please make sure to request the new Criteria at: https://www.greencommunitiesonline.org/tools/criteria/request.asp
My mobile text address - 03/05/2008
My mobile text address 8507581236@txt.att.net
St. Joe Results to previous blog entry - 03/05/2008
I ran across an article I posted on my previous blog that I wanted to check out how things went now almost a year later here are the results.
Haven Custom Homes Press Release
Feburary 13, 2008
EMBARGOED: FOR RELEASE FEBRUARY 13, 2008
For further information contact:
John Ragland
Executive Vice President,
Land Acquisitions and Marketing
Haven Custom Homes
Phone: (410) 694-0094
https://www.havenhome.com/ /
TUCKER BAYOU, SOUTHERN LIVING IDEA HOUSE, WINS HOME OF THE YEAR AWARD AT BEST IN AMERICAN LIVING AWARDS CEREMONY
ORLANDO, Florida -Tucker Bayou, a 2007 Southern Living Idea House, was awarded the prestigious Home of the Year during the Best In American Living Awards (BALA) ceremony in Orlando. The innovative home was a result of strategic partnerships among Looney Ricks Kiss Architects, The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE), Haven Custom Homes and Southern Living magazine. Founding Principal J. Carson Looney, FAIA, of Memphis, Tenn.-based Looney Ricks Kiss Architects accepted the award.
"Tucker Bayou is an example of how strong partnerships can work together to create innovative concepts in new home design and produce a home that is widely acclaimed by the marketplace," Looney said. "A collaboration such as the one we have created with Haven Custom Homes, The St. Joe Company and Southern Living will change the way people look at design and modular construction and will ultimately improve the future of neighborhood developments."
Tucker Bayou was chosen as Home of the Year based on its architectural design by Looney Ricks Kiss Architects, site and landscaping by JOE, quality craftsmanship and architectural detail by Haven Custom Homes and interior design by Looney Ricks Kiss Interiors Group.
Located in The St. Joe Company's WaterSound community in South Walton County in Northwest Florida, the home is a 3,544 square-foot, shingle-sided, tin-roofed Southern cottage that combines the comfort of an empty nester vacation home with features that suit the versatile lifestyles - both social and private - of today's families. Haven Custom Homes utilized modular construction for Tucker Bayou, resulting in a home that was substantially complete upon arrival to the site and assembled in a matter of days. Site and landscaping details were then completed by St. Joe and the home's interior design was created by Ann Parker with Looney Ricks Kiss Interiors group, working with the Southern Living design team.
"Every partner contributed their expertise, from the initial design to the interior details, to create Tucker Bayou," said John Ragland, executive vice president, Land Acquisitions and Marketing for Haven Custom Homes. "We were privileged to work with such esteemed partners on this project and look forward to creating more innovative, award-winning homes in the future."
"With this project, we have advanced the art and science of homebuilding in Northwest Florida," said Jerry M. Ray, The St. Joe Company's Senior Vice President for Strategic Alliances. "Ultimately, this award demonstrates that a group of best-in-class strategic partners can effectively deliver an extraordinary product for homeowners. We look forward to this award-winning approach to homebuilding in all of JOE's Florida markets."
The St. Joe Company, one of Florida's largest real estate development companies, and Haven Custom Homes, one of the nation's leaders in the construction of modular homes, formed a strategic alliance in 2007 to bring state-of-the-art building techniques to JOE's communities in Northwest Florida and JOE's RiverTown near Jacksonville, Fla. Haven Custom Homes also has a strategic partnership with Looney Ricks Kiss Architects to create modular homes rich in architectural detail and design.
For more than 30 years, Haven Custom Homes has provided a unique approach to off-site construction. Partnering with local builders, Haven Custom Homes has delivered more than 350 quality homes each year to discerning buyers with homes prices ranging from $300,000 to $2.5 million. Haven Custom Homes was acquired by Wind River Holdings in late 2005, a private holding company out of King of Prussia, PA, and is poised to make significant expansion in the homebuilding business. Haven Custom Homes currently operates environmentally protected home building centers in Pennsylvania and South Carolina, with future expansion into other regions to meet the growing demand of its quality homes. For more information about Haven Custom Homes, visit www.HavenHomes.com or call (410) 694-0098.
Founded in 1983, Looney Ricks Kiss is an architecture, planning and interiors firm with offices in Memphis, Celebration, Rosemary Beach, Jacksonville, Nashville, Dallas, Baton Rouge, La., Boulder, CO and Princeton, N.J. The firm has been commended by developers across the nation for its success in the planning and implementation of mixed-use developments, urban infill projects, downtown revitalization and traditional neighborhood developments. To date, the firm has received more than 450 awards of recognition for design at local, state, regional and national levels. For more information about Looney Ricks Kiss, visit the company website at https://www.lrk.com/.
The St. Joe Company, a publicly held company based in Jacksonville, is one of Florida's largest real estate developing companies. The company is primarily engaged in real estate development and sales, with significant interests in timber. Its mission is to create places that inspire people and make JOE's Florida a better play to live, work and play.
Sponsored by Professional Builder magazine and the National Association of Home Builders, the BALA program showcases homes that illustrate design quality, succeed in the marketplace and exemplify the "Best in American Living." To qualify, homes must have been completed or communities opened between May 1, 2005, and July 12, 2006. A total of 106 award winners in 41 categories were chosen from more than 559 entries. The 2006 BALA competition's panel of 12 judges was composed of builders, marketing experts, architects, land planners, developers, design professionals, interior designers and Professional Builder editor.
Photography:
1.) Tucker Bayou - © 2007 Photography courtesy of Southern Living, Inc Magazine
ST. JOE Innovations - 03/05/2008
I ran across an article below that is turning a year old and I wanted to check on each project and see how things are going.
St . Joe Innovations
Among this year's out-of-the-ordinary from landowner St. Joe Co.:
» A prebuilt house assembled in a day. The home, constructed at WaterSound in Walton County, is a Haven Homes off-site built model using factory-made components. It will be a featured Idea House in Southern Living magazine.
» A fast-round golf course with six holes and three sets of tees. The course, designed by professional player Davis Love III , will open at WaterSound this spring.
» A town center design with interpretations by six architects. Six buildings, representing individual takes on the region's indigenous architecture, will begin opening this summer at WindMark Beach in Gulf County.
» A restoration project returning woods to the way Hernando DeSoto found them in 1539. St. Joe is converting industrial pine forest to the region's original forestlands at a 7,000-acre site at Breakfast Point in Bay County, where the National Audubon Society is partnering with St. Joe to build a state-of-the-art nature center
Natural Springs Private Lake Estate - 01/08/2008
MLS #:
482878
$2,600,000
Active
BAKER, FL
County:
OKALOOSA
1
25 Crestview Area
1988
10 BAKER & MILLIGAN
70.00
17-3N-24-0000-0004-0000
Land/Acreage
From 85 & 90 in Crestview head 90 west to Hwy 4 Take Hwy 4 north for two miles to just before the ball park, left takes you to Hilton this acreage is located at the end of the private drive.
NW1/4 EX PART NE OF ST RD & EX PART SE OF CO RD & SW1/4 LYING NW OF CO RD
Some of the area that I cover - 01/08/2008
Beaches of South Walton South Walton Real Estate North Walton Real Estate 30-A Real Estate Freeport Florida Real Estate Inlet Beach Real Estate Dune Allen Real Estate Miramar Beach Real Estate Santa Rosa Beach Real Estate Seacrest Real Estate Watersound Real Estate Watercolor Real Estate Blue Mountain Beach Real Estate Rosemary Beach Real Estate Grayton Beach Real Estate SanDestin Real Estate Seagrove Real Estate Seaside Real Estate Sandestin Resort Real Estate Destin Condos Resources Destin Condos Destin Beaches Destin Homes For Sale Okaloosa Island Real Estate Fort Walton Beach Real Estate Mary Esther Real Estate Shalimar Real Estate Niceville Valparaiso Real Estate Bluewater Bay Real Estate Navarre Beach Real Estate Navarre Real Estate Holly By The Sea Real Estate Gulf Breeze Real Estate
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