Personally, I like the new idea of the condo's being built Granted, the college crowd will not like the idea, but business wise I think it makes sense. I am sure Panama City makes more money from the family orientated crowd. Sure, the alcohol sales are greater from the college crowd, but they do not spend the money at the restaurants and shopping. Alcohol sales for a 2 month period can not sustain PC. Do not get me wrong, I see the college or partiers view, because I would have thought the same thing. More condos bring more families who bring more money then what the "partiers" can bring. Hopefully, for the fun of "Spring Break" they will keep coming. I would think a group could afford the condo's. Granted, I thought losing the Amusement Park was not good, but overall, I think it is good business for PC. Would love to hear differing opinions. My mind could be changed.

I guess I'm a moderate on this issue. I'm the cliché college spring break lover and the last thing I wanna see is beautiful women getting replaced by old people. I remember about 5 years ago, you could see the beach almost all the way down thomas drive and front beach road - now there aren't that many places to see it from the road, and the beach is a big part of what makes Panama City, Panama City. The truth is that old people will spend a lot more money down here than kids will during Spring Break, so put yourself in a city official's shoes. If it'll lead to four-laning highway 98, 23rd street, the bridge, and highway 231, I'm all for the condos cuz I have to deal with traffic every day. Of course it's nothing like Atlanta or New York, but it's bad enough to get me frustrated. If college kids can afford hotels like the chateau, the boardwalk, the summit, the holiday inn, the sandpiper, etc, then they can also afford a condo for a week. Sure it'll be a little more expensive, but the rooms will be a lot nicer. Where's your college spirit - just say 2 people want to rent it for the week, then get like 10 people to stay there and split the cost. Last condo I rented was $200 a night and it had 3 double beds, so we got 8 people to stay each night (2 on the couches), so BAM 25 bucks a pop per night. La Vela's property got bought by a condo, but they are relocating down Front Beach road, so it's not like the world's largest nightclub will be gone forever. They HAVE considered making it smaller, but I'm sure it'll stay popular. It's kinda depressing riding down the strip in the middle of the afternoon in darkness because the condos block the sun, though. Instead of seeing girls in bikini's, I see sweaty fat construction workers, which personally isn't my thing. This town was a lot less populated before those condos started going up, and the last thing we need is a bigger population. I grew up here, when it was a small city - hell, it still is, but it's growing rapidly and just something about it lost its magic. Same idea with losing Miracle Strip Amusement Park. Unfortunately, nothing can be done to change the past, so we might as well look at the positive aspects of what's to come.

The same spring breakers complaining that PCB is being "wrecked" by all the new development will be the very same people looking for a family-friendly, upscale vacation destination to take their family to in 15-20 years. One where they won't have to deal with 24/7 drunk spring breakers, LOL! Note: I'm 39 but I'm single, no kids (by choice, my time and money are mine) and I've been known to party with the best of them. So I'm not taking the sides. Just commenting.

Past that, it is really a simple matter of economics: Let's say you are in collage and looking to take a summer job. Your collage buddy has a lawn mowing service. He's not getting rich (he's as broke as you), but he has extra work and tells you he can pay you $8 an hour to mow the extra lawns.

However, your dad knows a rich guy with who lives on a huge estate and needs an extra hand during the summer and he's paying $12 an hour for basic labor (like mowing lawns, etc). You going to work for your buddy at $8 an hour or your dad's friend at $12 since it boils down to the same kind of work?

Beach businesses are no different. They want to cater to the people who will put the most profit in their pocket.

You'll see another amusement park (probably combined with a water park) built in the next decade. Bigger and better than anything that was there before to cater to the new, upscale family crowd. Probably inland up 79 somewhere so people drive by it on the way in from the new airport.

Bay County ... welcome to the big time. Even you locals that hate the changes will love the opportunity ($$$) you'll be seeing in the next 10-20 years. Life is about connections (who you know) and you'll have the jump on opportunity. Look at all the newcomers as big, giant, blank checks. They have money ... figure out what they need and put that money in your pocket.

As for the spring break crowd, there will aways be somewhere with the welcome mat out. It just might not be Bay County for much longer.

ted, i applaud your analogy.

I love it.. but that is the "real estate sales associate" side of me talking..

chickmagnet ... when you start to push 40, your brain actually starts thinking in "big picture" but you wish you knew everything you know now 20 years ago, LOL! Thanks for the kind words.

Kasket ... I know a few bartenders here in Las Vegas who have been bartenders in the tourism areas for quite some time. They could quit, but that is how they get half their leads! Scam your way into some cushy 3-4 day a week evening bartending gig somewhere upscale with good traffic and you'll never have to advertise for buyers.

Bartending in Vegas would be awesome.. I am going to be in Vegas this summer for a 6day period

Actually, my post should have read "I know bartenders who are real estate brokers." They have worked into some nice shifts at Strip resorts and have people that come in to see them visit after visit. But it also let's them make friends with people looking to move here. No reason why you can't be doing the same thing where you are. Bay County tourism is going to see a boom like no one ever imagined.

The only thing I see hurting it is lack of high end hotels. With condo building taking up available beach space, there won't be the posibility for a few new four-star hotel brands to build right on the beach. While many love renting a condo, a significant number of vacation travelers prefer a hotel for a few days.

Be intersting to see how that all shakes out. I follow a number of growing areas to anticipate nationwide travel trends.

While I'm not exactly against the condo's, they do tend to take away some of the ambience of the strip. I'm also not sure I'm into that whole antiseptic look the high rises tend to give a beach front. Sometimes uncontrolled growth isn't necessarily a good thing.

Aye, I will start up again shortly.. the wife of the bartender I work with has been a bartender for 18years and a broker-associate for the last 9.. She is about to get bumped up to Broker of Records due to her broker retiring.