PANAMA CITY — While developers agree the Panama City Marina project could be lucrative, they are hesitant to commit, citing a lack of information and direction from city officials.
Still, several developers have indicated they plan to submit a bid and plan by the July 1 deadline.
John Darrah, the owner of PC Development Group, said he was representing a large group of developers, including those with international experience, at the May 20 pre-brief meeting. He declined to clarify the type of projects the group previously had completed.
“We’re going to provide the city with an entire game-changing type of proposal that will result in a significant draw of additional people,” Darrah said.
The predevelopment drawings Panama City had provided feature a civic center, four different restaurant plots, a lighthouse, marina park, and large space for parking, retail, hotel or office structure.
Darrah said the plan his group will submit at the deadline will be much different from that setup.
Panama City Community Redevelopment Association Director William Whitson expects to receive between two and four bids for the project by the deadline. Written questions are due Tuesday.
Ron Thomasson, with the Wicker Group, was representing a group of developers at the meeting, as well.
“Our group is extraordinarily skilled, perhaps the most skilled to put in an appearance,” he said.
One of those team members included Kerry Blind, an Atlanta-based designer specializing in landscape architecture and urban design. He called in to the meeting and participated over the phone.
Thomasson is concerned with how little information was relayed by city officials.
“I believe they made the statement that they did not know what they did not know,” he said. “As a citizen, that concerns me.”
Robbie Hughes, with Counts Real Estate, was representing an unnamed developer at the meeting. He shared Thomasson’s anxiety over the amount of information from the city.
“For everybody there, that was a fact-finding mission,” Hughes said. “That’s not what I was expecting. This is a huge undertaking. We’re talking about a public/private partnership that no city here has ever seen. You have to approach it in a very prudent manner.”
Whitson stressed that although there are substantial risks, the rewards of the project would be equally substantial.
“We would like to see a developer make money,” he said. “If the project will be a success, the developer, community and city will be a success. We’re trying to make that a win-win.”
Allan Parauka of Royal American, a local construction company and developer, attended for informational purposes. He said the company is keeping its options open and could be a developer or a contractor. Royal American has experience with several utility and sewer projects in Northwest Florida, as well as construction of affordable housing and smaller commercial buildings like banks and restaurants.
Alfredo Sanchez represented Bermello Ajamil & Partners Inc. He said he also is operating with a group, which he wouldn’t name, that is very interested in the development. He was excited the city was open to different ideas and creativity. Bermello Ajamil & Partners is based in Miami and has experience working on projects in Coral Gables, New York City, Dubai, Egypt and Australia.
“We’ve worked on marinas all over the world,” Sanchez said. “We’ve done projects with public entities.”
Whitson said there also has been interest from a developer in the Tampa area.
“We’re interested in local, but there’s no exception for anyone to step forward who has the right experience and the right plans.”
In its solicitation for development proposals, Panama City states it will consider tax-increment financing, concessions for impact fees, funding for infrastructure improvements like sewers and roads, and even direct loans to fund the project. Whitson said the city has yet to commit to any of these measures.
Also in attendance at the meeting were several contractors and engineers looking for potential work.
Martin Gawromski is with Ecological Resource Consultants. He specializes in permitting for marina projects. He has worked on the St. Andrews Marina, Bay Point and a large marina in Fort Walton Beach.
“Generally you have to demonstrate, if proposing a new structure, to state and federal agencies that the project will not impair water quality, endangered species and shallow water habitats,” he said. “It’s complicated and quite a bit of work.”
Reliant South Vice President Dalton Parker represented the construction contractor at the meeting. Reliant’s local projects include Rutherford and Bay High Schools, Bay Haven Charter Academy, Gulf Coast State College Advanced Technology Center and the Bay County Emergency Operations Center.
“Our office being close to there, I’d like to see the area grow,” Parker said. “I’m pulling for it.”
Engineer Jonathan Sklarski, with Preble-Rish, worked on the site development for the current marina project. However, he is waiting like everyone else for a developer to emerge. He also is working on the SweetBay project at the former Panama City airport site.
Pat Sabiston and PC Lighthouse Inc. are wondering if they will be left out of the project. Sabiston said her group has been working to bring a lighthouse to Panama City for a decade. She believes a large lighthouse can be a tourist draw and potential icon for the city. She said her group already has raised $250,000.
“Until I’m told different, the lighthouse is still a part of the project,” she said.
Whitson said the city has done its part in securing all of the property for the project.
“We’re waiting for the private sector for responses,” he said.
May 20 pre-brief meeting attendees:
- Colin McCarville – Panama City CRA
- Dalton Parker – Reliant South
- Thomas Hachmeister – GAC Contractors
- Chris Hine – Bluewater Development
- Jonathan Sklarski – Preble-Rish
- Allan Parauka – Royal American
- John Darrah – PC Development Group
- Ron Thomasson – Wicker Group
- Will Cantrell – Nova Engineering
- Dexter Gurtemoller – Grutemoller Engineering
- Marin Gawromski – ERC
- Robbie Hughes – Counts Real Estate
- Jason Oaks – Counts Real Estate (also representing a developer)
- Mike Duncan – Harrison, Rivard, Duncan & Buzzett
- William Harrison – Harrison, Rivard, Duncan & Buzzett
- Pat Sabiston – PC Lighthouse Inc.
- David Scruggs – Strategic Development Advisors
- Dwight Hicks – Hicks Real Estate
- Alfredo Sanchez – Bermello Ajamil & Partners Inc. (over the phone)
- Stephen Grimme – Smith Equity (over the phone)
- Kerry Blind – Kerry Blind Design (over the phone)