"Historic St. Andrews, a village by the bay where cultural attractions, entertainment, and commerce thrive."
The Panama City Commission recognized the need and potential to revitalize the St. Andrews community and in 1989, designated St. Andrews as a Community Redevelopment Area. In 1997, to aid in the revitalization and redevelopment of this quaint coastal community, St. Andrews applied for and received inaugural designation as a Waterfronts Florida Partnership Community under the state's Waterfronts Florida Program. Through its Waterfronts Florida Partnership Program, the Department of Community Affairs designates communities to receive intensive technical assistance, training and education, and limited financial support to help implement community-designed vision plans for their waterfront area.
Vision for St. Andrews
Under the Waterfronts Florida Program, St. Andrews developed a community-designed vision plan to revitalize their working waterfront and help make St. Andrews a better place to live and work.
Through this process the community developed their vision, "Historic St. Andrews, a village by the bay where cultural attractions, entertainment, and commerce thrive" and have since worked hard to make it a reality.
Key Community's Goals:
- Increase visitation to St. Andrews.
- Assist current businesses.
- Attract new businesses and developments in keeping with community vision.
- Employ traditional town planning approach compatible with vision of St.Andrews as a historic village.
- Promote St. Andrews' environmental quality and provide for public access and enjoyment of natural resources; promote a clean, green appearance.
- Develop a regular calendar of festivals and events to attract people to St.Andrews; find individuals and organizations to carry out these events.
- Carry out joint advertisting campaigns through various media.
- Form a partnership consisting of key stakeholders in St. Andrews who will see revitalization through.
- Form a citizens' group to aid in grassroots efforts to strengthen St.Andrews' central business district and neighborhoods, and help with fundraising for revitalization.
- Promote awareness of St. Andrews' history.
- Find ways the past can catalyze revitalization.
St. Andrews Waterfronts Partnership Board 2010
Christine Godwin, President
Al Kidd, Vice President and Design & Planning Committee Chairman
Lorne Brooks Brumm, Treasurer
Katie Cherry, History Committee Chairman
Juli Hudson, Economic Development Committee Chairman
John Chambers
Charlotte Smith
Erin Pigneri
Lena Powell
Commissioner Nancy Wengel
Phoebe Masker, Architectural Review Committee Representative
Shawna Beji, Program Manager
Volunteer Partnership Committees
The St. Andrews Waterfront Partnership encourages volunteers to get involved with one of these committees: History, Design & Planning, or Economic Development. The work being accomplished by these committees helps to make St. Andrews a better place to live and work. There are a variety of other ways to be involved such as office work, outdoor projects, and attending periodic workshops. Membership forms and Partnership by-laws can be found online on our Documents & Maps page. For more information please contact Shawna Beji at 850-872-7208 or by email at sbeji@pcgov.orgMonthly Partnership Meetings:
All meetings are held at the Panama City Publishing Building (St. Andrews Revitalization office) at 1134 Beck Avenue, Panama City, FL 32401
- St. Andrews Waterfront Partnership Board - 1st Tuesday 7 AM
- Design & Planning Committee - 2nd &/or 4th Thursday 6 PM
- Economic Development Committee - 4th Monday 5:30 PM
- History Committee - 3rd Wednesday 5:45PM
Current Projects:
- Bayview Streetscape: The Partnership is working with Panama City and Gulf Power to renovate Bayview with underground utilities, sidewalks, lighting and landscaping; the St. Andrews Marina will also get a face lift to its entrance and parking area.
- Historic Villa Gateway & Fountain: The Partnership is working with the Department of Leisure Services to complete two historic projects. Dr. and Mrs. Tim Smith donated the historic Villa Gateway for relocation to the public access area at the West End of 12th Street. The gateway has been installed and will be cleaned, painted, and the area between the gate and the bay will be landscaped and irrigated. Dr. Smith’s father built the gate and fence, around what had been the Villa Hotel, in about 1940. The hotel had housed people during the famous "Cincinnati Land Boom" of the 1880’s. The Partnership’s History Committee identified the gate and fence as a feature to enhance the public waterfront area and to build on the historic theme of the St. Andrews revitalization effort. A second project came from the St. Andrew Methodist Church. The church purchased property behind their main building. The property fronting West 10th Street included a historic fountain the church donated to the City for relocation to Oaks by the Bay Park. The fountain possibly was originally at the Pines Hotel, and moved to the Manghum property on West 10th Street in the 1920’s. The fountain will be converted into a planter with landscaping, pavers, and lighting to highlight the four decorative lions that serve as the base. Upon completion of these projects later in summer 2010, the Partnership will host ribbon-cutting ceremonies.
- The Panama City Publishing Building: The Partnership is continually working on projects to improve and market its Publishing Museum downtown. The Partnership provides tours to visitors, helps develop new displays and is even working to develop an audio/visual center in the museum to showcase historical documents and videos. Each month the Publishing Building also showcases new local artist exhibits for all to enjoy.
Join our Partnership and Help Make A Difference in St. Andrews!
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