American businesswoman, political activist and self-made billionaire Diane Marie Hendricks has joined Inspired Communities of Florida and EJ Smith Enterprises as co-owner and co-developer of the $200-million Reverb Hard Rock Hotel complex in downtown Pensacola's Community Maritime Park.
The proposed project, now under the name of ICF-Smith, will include a 15-story apartment building and a 10-story, 125-room Hard Rock Hotel overlooking the Pensacola Bay waterfront and Blue Wahoos Stadium. “This redevelopment is about creating a destination that truly strengthens and serves the Pensacola community, now and for generations to come,” Hendricks says.
Tamara Bowens, president and COO of The Dawson Co., parent company of Inspired Communities of Florida, says Hendricks’ business acumen and proven ability to deliver impactful projects makes her company, Corporate Contractors, an ideal partner to help develop Maritime Park.
“This partnership represents the alignment of vision, values and execution,” Bowens says. “By joining forces with CCI, we’re ensuring that the future of Maritime Park is not only architecturally and culturally significant, but also economically transformative for Pensacola."
Growing Engineers
The University of West Florida has launched a civil engineering degree program to help address the growing need for civil engineers in Northwest Florida. UWF plans to offer flexible course options and access to state-of-the-art facilities at both its Pensacola campus and its Emerald Coast campus in Fort Walton Beach.
The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree will be housed within the newly established Department of Civil Engineering and Construction Management. Its curriculum was formed with input from local companies, many of whom also endorsed the program’s creation through letters of support.
“The creation of the civil engineering (program) is truly in direct response to both students and local companies who’ve been asking now for a long time for the creation of such a program,” says Mohamed Khabou, dean of the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering.
CONSTRUCTION
- Construction has begun on a build-to-rent townhome community called The Cottages at Capital Circle in Tallahassee. The community will feature more than 200 townhomes with various floor plans and amenities like a clubhouse and garages. It’s expected to be completed by July 2026.
ENERGY
- The city of Gulf Breeze has finished a long-sought, $18-million first-phase project of moving a significant number of overhead utility lines underground. Mayor JB Schluter says residents have been asking for the upgrade since 2006. Now the city is moving ahead with phase two of the underground power line project. “I’ve lived in Gulf Breeze since 1970 and been through many, many hurricanes, including Ivan in 2004 when we lost lots of power lines and our residents were without power for almost a month,” says Schluter.
ENVIRONMENT
- Gov. Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 1143, known as the “Kill the Drill” bill, into law in June. The law primarily protects Florida’s coastal environments from the potential harms of oil and gas drilling, particularly in the vicinity of sensitive areas, which include the broad Apalachicola Bay area where out-of-state oil and gas companies recently have sought controversial drilling permits.
HEALTH CARE
- After a nearly half-century partnership, Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare and Advanced Urology Institute parted ways in June. In a letter to patients, AUI indicated it would no longer provide services at TMH or any TMHaffiliated emergency rooms and would treat patients at HCA Florida Capital Hospital. Stephanie Derzypolski, vice president and chief communications officer at TMH, says the hospital didn’t initiate the discontinuance of services and added that TMH received “very short notice” regarding the change.
MANUFACTURING
- Eastern Shipbuilding in Panama City has secured a $714.5-million contract to build three hybrid-electric ferries for Washington State Ferries. The contract was announced by Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson, who noted that Eastern’s bid was 6% lower than original estimates. The ferries will each carry 160 vehicles and contribute to restoring domestic ferry service to prepandemic levels. The contract announcement comes just a few weeks after Eastern learned the Department of Defense partially terminated a contract for two of the four offshore U.S. Coast Guard patrol cutters called for in its contract with the DOD.
- Global Impact Products is establishing a $14.5-million window and door manufacturing operation in Bay County. The Pompano Beach-based company specializes in the design, fabrication and installation of architectural glass, windows, curtain walls, storefronts and railings. The company says the project will produce 150 jobs over time and is expected to increase activity at Port Panama City. Global Impact Products currently imports glass from Merida, in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, through the port.
TRANSPORTATION
- American Airlines will offer daily nonstop flights between Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) and Miami International Airport (MIA) starting Dec. 19. Service from VPS to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) will be expanded from seasonal to year-round.
Erasing an Eyesore
The developer of the failed Washington Square project and Leon County have reached an agreement to restore the property that has become a major eyesore in downtown Tallahassee.
The 66-page agreement, recently approved by county commissioners, gives developer Ken McDermott, who owns the 1.33-acre downtown site, 60 days to complete restoration work, with a possible 45-day extension. Failure to meet the prescribed deadlines will result in a $1,000-per-day fine.
McDermott’s Washington Square project originally was to include a large mixed-use, office and retail development that included a 19-story Loews Hotel. However, construction ground to an abrupt halt in May 2020.
Michael Dalby, former president of the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce, has been selected as the president and CEO of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce. He succeeds Sue Dick, who is retiring in December after 25 years as the Tallahassee Chamber’s president and CEO. Dalby most recently worked at the University of Texas at El Paso.
Diane Marie Hendricks is now involved in the development of a 10-story Hard Rock Hotel in Pensacola.