Officials break ground on information center
BY PAM BRANNON Gulf Breeze News news@gulfbreezenews.com

Pam Brannon/Gulf Breeze News Ground breaking for the million-dollar-plus Santa Rosa County Tourist Center was held in Navarre Park, with several community leaders in attendance.

Ground was officially broken by several community leaders last week in Navarre Park for the new Santa Rosa County Tourist Information Center. Projected cost of the building is $1,049,750. The Center will also house the Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce offices.

The building will be 4,600 sq. ft. and is being built by Southeastern Construction, Inc. and is being designed by Hernandez Calhoun Design International. Architect Sarah Hernandez was at the ground breaking, and told the crowd assembled, "This is the design we originally came up with in 2004, but then the hurricanes hit and slowed this process down. We used the hurricanes as an opportunity, with the new codes and flood plane information, to make the building more sturdy and safe. So this is even a better building than we would have built in 2004."

Tourist Development Council President Dorothy Slye of Navarre addressed the audience, saying, "This is a big day for Navarre and Santa Rosa County. This shows we are moving beyond the hurricanes. We are no longer using the 'H' word in Santa Rosa County!"

Several county dignitaries were at the ceremony, including county commissioners Tom Stewart (chairman), John Broxson of Gulf Breeze, Gordon Goodin of Navarre, and Don Salter.

The funds for the building will be borrowed by Santa Rosa County and then paid back by the TDC bed taxes. The building is slated for completion by early 2008.