The prime business topics across Northwest Florida all involve building -- whether the issue is workforce housing, beachfront condos or pioneering New Urbanist-style developments.

New companies are helping to fill voids. The Eagle Group of Atlanta is putting most of its new projects in Northwest Florida, says principal partner Hal Hayes, who moved to St. Joe's WaterColor in Walton County from Savannah, Ga. Among Eagle's current plans: 2,700-acre NewHaven in fast-growing Santa Rosa County and 1,400-acre Pickett's Crossing at DeFuniak Springs in Walton County. Nearly one-third of initial buyer interest at NewHaven comes from outside the state.

"The Panhandle is new and exciting and accessible," says waterfront developer Jimmy Lewis, who's building the Majestic Beach Towers Resort in Panama City Beach. Higher construction costs could slow condo development in the next few years, Lewis says.

Escalating costs and high demand for service workers along the Gulf are pushing housing development northward in the region. In 6,000-population DeFuniak Springs, the city recently approved development plans for 300 residential lots and is reviewing proposals for about 1,000 condominium units and single-family homes. Assessed property values in Walton County are up more than 50%. But a decline in some areas in recent home sales -- Santa Rosa County's January single-family sales were down 19% -- could put the brakes on development.

Waterfront growth, spurred in part by St. Joe Co.'s 7,000 acres of current regional development and widespread marketing, is attracting higher-income buyers. "People want to invest in Florida, and the Panhandle is new and exciting and accessible,'' says Gulf-front condominium developer Jimmy Lewis of Birmingham, Ala., who recently completed the first phase of his 23-story Majestic Beach Towers Resort at Panama City Beach. New condominium construction could slow in the next few years, however, Lewis predicts. "Cost of construction has gotten out of sight -- even before the hurricanes, which made it worse.''

Key Newcomer

? Former Georgian Gary Pruitt calls Milton and himself "a perfect match.'' Since moving to the Santa Rosa County seat last October, the developer has bought several downtown lots and announced plans to open five restaurants, five retail shops and a bed-and-breakfast. Blackwater River and its waterfront at Milton were the main attraction, says Pruitt, 39, who wants to add a marina and make the waterfront more accessible. Also: "I like authenticity, the Southern draw of the town.''

New Companies

? Birmingham, Ala., sports medicine specialist Dr. James Andrews teamed with Baptist Health Care to build the $30-million Andrews Institute for Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine in Gulf Breeze. The institute opens this year with 150 employees.

? Fort Worth-based D.R. Horton is launching Panhandle projects, operating from a division office in Pensacola and building initially in five Florida counties, Escambia through Bay.

? Lowe's opened regional offices in Pensacola to support a growing five-state store base; company and staff contributed money and manpower for post-hurricane rebuilding efforts.

? Vienna, Va.-based Navy Federal Credit Union's 3-year-old Heritage Oaks Call Center in Pensacola employs 700; current expansion could add 400 more.

Pensacola/Escambia County

Pensacola's back-to-the-city movement reverses a decades-long flight to suburbia. Eleven residential projects offering 402 units are proposed, with at least six to start this year. "Over the next five years, we want to generate 2,000 new residential units to replace Hurricane Ivan losses and while doing that improve the quality of housing stock,'' says Community Redevelopment Agency Director David Bailey. Some 30% of buyer interest is from outside the region. ... Among those touting downtown's advantages is downtown-dwelling architect Brian Spencer, a partner in two New Urbanism projects at the city's center -- a $30-million condominium and an office-residence conversion from a circa-1890s warehouse. "It eliminates the dreaded auto commute and rewards the buyer with a walkable neighborhood.'' ... County economic developers, meanwhile, are revamping their recruitment strategy, targeting the healthcare sector and entrepreneurs.

Key Newcomers

? Franklin D. (Kim) Kimbrough brought 20 years' experience in downtown revitalization to the executive director's post of Pensacola's Downtown Improvement Board. He spearheaded the first annual Sunday afternoon trolley tour of downtown residential possibilities, to help persuade residents to move downtown.

? Kyle Marrero plays a dual role advancing arts and cultural offerings of community and campus. He commuted for five years from Baton Rouge, La., as artistic director of the Pensacola Opera. Last year he moved in and also became chair of the University of West Florida music department.

Panama City/Bay County

Hurricane Katrina prompted an estimated 7,000 evacuees to seek shelter in Bay County, with several hundred believed to be putting down roots. The storm also channeled new business. Cargo diverted to the Panama City port created first-time regular container trade with the Yucatan and helped boost shipments above a record 1 million tons in 2005, with 1.6 million tons projected for this year. ... Panama City Beach continues its conversion from "mom-and-pop'' vernacular to cosmopolitan high-rise; developers added 1,600 condo units and hotel rooms last year and are building another 5,000 to open this year. Future Bay County growth seems assured: Groundbreaking for the new airport at West Bay could come this year, plus St. Joe Co. has some 10,000 acres in the county in construction or predevelopment stages, not figuring in airport-perimeter plans.

Key Newcomers

? County manager since October, Ed Smith stresses the need for more roads, more strategic planning and improved highway efficiency.

? Ripley's Believe It or Not museum is scheduled to open next month. A partnership of former Visit Florida Chairman Bill Sims and Panama City Beach's Gary Walsingham, the museum will resemble a vintage cruise liner run aground.

Fort Walton/Okaloosa County

Business and government are gearing up to meet major housing, transportation, education and healthcare needs in connection with an influx of 12,000 residents, including dependents, beginning in 2010, the result of an expansion at Eglin Air Force Base ordered by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission. ... Today's workforce housing shortages are prompting innovative solutions: Worker dormitories at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort and soon faculty housing at Okaloosa-Walton College. Says OWC Vice President David Goetsch: "We've had six faculty positions we couldn't fill because people came and looked at housing and said they couldn't afford it.'' ... At nearby Destin, construction is under way on Peter Bos' 14-story, $200-million Emerald Grande resort, the first phase of his HarborWalk downtown revitalization plan.

Apalachicola/Franklin County

The Allen Boyd-Franklin County Oyster Industry Laboratory started its testing operations in April to validate post-harvest oyster-processing methods.

Holmes, Washington Counties

Greenhorne & O'Mara, a Maryland-based engineering firm with offices in Tallahassee, is expanding to oversee Panhandle projects from facilities in Milton and now Bonifay. "We want to be in the middle of the action,'' area engineer Eric Rosenstein says.

Jackson, Calhoun, Liberty Counties

Reston, Va.-based Advanced Training Services has established its primary training facility near Altha in Calhoun County, attracted by varied terrain and manpower resources, including retired military. The company provides training, operational support, logistics and intelligence services to a variety of clients from government and industry.

Walton County

Atlanta's PEC Development Group plans to build about 700 residential units, most of it workforce-priced, on 292 acres at DeFuniak Springs, its first Panhandle project. ... Robert Smith takes over as director of the Walton County Economic Development Council, succeeding Tom Powell, who resigned last summer. Smith was previously with the Alabama Development Office.

Santa Rosa County

Pioneer Aerospace, a unit of Paris-based Zodiac Group specializing in aircraft aero-safety and parachute systems, is the new parent company of 20-employee Airlift Technologies International. ATI, an air drop systems manufacturer, was founded by Bryon Woram, who continues as ATI president.

Gulf County

Sacred Heart Health System has site and layout plans for a $24-million hospital at Port St. Joe, in partnership with St. Joe Co. and with support of a half-cent sales tax from local government for indigent care.

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