Apartments likely to replace former GlenCove site

Jan. 29--PANAMA CITY -- A former local nursing home will likely be converted into an apartment complex.

At Tuesday's meeting, Panama City commissioners approved the final reading of an ordinance that will convert GlenCove Health and Rehabilitation Center to a multifamily residential property.

RELATED: Hurricane forces hospital, nursing home evacuations

"Anytime that you supplant something that's blown up with something that's brand new -- that's going to help," said Mayor Greg Brudnicki. "I am really glad that they are going to move forward, that someone has the wherewithal to ... put something there that's going to put residents there in the area and clean that up."

RELATED (2016) -- PHOTOS: Bras over the dock

Mark Murphy Holdings LLC is the owner and applicant.

The roughly 4.5-acre property will be zoned to General Commercial-2, allowing its use to be apartments or condominiums.

"It drives the value up, drives the tax base up, gives us more money for quality of life -- to do things for the city -- rather than having a dilapidated building there, which probably took a severe hit as far as what kind of property tax it generates," Brudnicki said. "It's a big deal."

GlenCove was one of 14 local nursing homes that was evacuated during Hurricane Michael. Due to damages, residents were relocated and the facility did not reopen.

Despite about 10% of the parcels across the northern boundary being classified as being in wetlands and in the coastal high hazard area, Director of Planning and Economic Development Mike Lane said Florida has some of the most stringent land development codes and does not view the future of the site as being particularly vulnerable to flooding or damaging winds.

Per code, the structure will require hurricane straps and clips and be able to sustain 175-mph winds.

City Manager Mark McQueen said he believes the development is a sign of the growing interest in the county's opportunity zones -- zones designated by the federal government which provide tax breaks to private businesses looking to move into economically challenged areas.

The former GlenCove site lies within the Millville Community Redevelopment Area. It's one of a handful of projects recently introduced in the city's four CRA districts.

"It's another gateway, a hallmark activity right there at the (Millville) bridge," McQueen said, adding moments later that the CRA generates revenue through projects like this one.

"It's just all the things you hoped for are now starting to come into fruition, which I think is a great thing for our city and is indicative of other opportunities across our city," he said.

Details about the project, including a timeline, capital investment and number of units, were unavailable Tuesday.

frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen>

___

(c)2020 The News Herald (Panama City, Fla.)

Visit The News Herald (Panama City, Fla.) at www.newsherald.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.