Destin Commons expanding

[Sally]

http://www.waltonsun.com/news/hotel_959___article.html/destin_story.html

Dusty Ricketts
March 6, 2008 - 1:55PM

DESTIN ? The city?s largest shopping center is growing.

Okaloosa County commissioners have approved plans to expand Destin Commons. The expansion will include 160,000 square feet of shops, a hotel and a new parking garage, and be anchored by four as yet unnamed restaurants.

?I think it?s time we got some work going out there,? Commission Chairman James Campbell said at Tuesday?s meeting.

The expansion will include a seven-story building that will have shops on the ground floor and a 192-room hotel on the other floors. Tom Patton, development manager for the project, said a major chain has signed on for the hotel, but Destin Commons is not releasing its name or the names of any of the other businesses yet.

?That will be announced very soon,? Patton said.

The hotel will be connected by a walkway to a five-story parking garage. That building will also have stores on the ground floor.

Two one-story retail buildings will also be built.

The expansion will be in the southwest corner of the center, which is now used for parking. Patton said site work will begin soon and construction is expected to start in mid- to late summer.

Work is expected to be completed in the fall of 2009.

 

[wrobert]

http://www.waltonsun.com/news/hotel_959___article.html/destin_story.html

Dusty Ricketts
March 6, 2008 - 1:55PM

If memory is working this morning, did Walton and Okaloosa County not get into a lawsuit over traffic counts on this development? You already can hardly get through the traffic at this intersection. Now they are going to add all of this other stuff? Destin is going to be awful in the summer.

 

[Sally]

Yes it was a big fight but I think Howard was the driving force because he wanted limits placed on the Commons and less competition for Grand Boulevard. Nevertheless Destin is pitifully overbuilt and they keep piling on. The community is run by businesses wanting more more more. Destin continues to be the model which SoWal should avoid but one that sadly will continue to be followed.

 

[DuneLaker]

Luckily, SoWal folks don't need to go to Destin anymore for mall shopping with Pier Park in Panama City Beach taking off. It is only 15 to 30 minutes for most in SoWal. Traffic is much easier, there's Dillards, Penneys, Movie Theatre, new restaurants, massage salons, etc. Our Silver Sands in Miramar Beach and all the cool, best restaurants and resorts in SoWal and along 30A can't be topped. Put our superior beaches in the mix and SoWal is No. 1. Peter Bos can keep his traffic jam, busted bridge and washed out beaches. We just need to keep him from trying to take over what is happening here, renaming us, etc.

 

[Teresa]

I do like how Pier Park is shaping up - this place is going to be bigger and better than Destin Commons, IMO. the only thing I am disappointed in is the Grand Theater - it is really poor quality film/audio. why did they go and do that?

Dillards -

 

[John R]

I wonder if our Walton 'Area' Chamber will be present at the groundbreaking?

 

[wrobert]

I do like how Pier Park is shaping up - this place is going to be bigger and better than Destin Commons, IMO. the only thing I am disappointed in is the Grand Theater

I wish they would start the 10 AM movie times back up on the weekends. I use to love to go in the mornings with no crowds.

 

[Santiago]

Luckily, SoWal folks don't need to go to Destin anymore for mall shopping with Pier Park in Panama City Beach taking off. It is only 15 to 30 minutes for most in SoWal. Traffic is much easier, there's Dillards, Penneys, Movie Theatre, new restaurants, massage salons, etc. Our Silver Sands in Miramar Beach and all the cool, best restaurants and resorts in SoWal and along 30A can't be topped. Put our superior beaches in the mix and SoWal is No. 1. Peter Bos can keep his traffic jam, busted bridge and washed out beaches. We just need to keep him from trying to take over what is happening here, renaming us, etc.

Ditto