Pardon the construction
Growth prompts schools and GB businesses to expand; several projects are wrapping up
BY SCOTT PAGE Gulf Breeze News Scott@gulfbreezenews.com

Illustration by Nick Stamenkovich/Pictures by Scott Page/Gulf Breeze News Several Gulf Breeze area projects are near completion. The Publix and Sea Shell Collections center is expected to open by summer. Gulf Breeze Elementary is working to complete their cafeteria/auditorium is expected to be completed within the year.

Gulf Breeze will receive a refreshing face-lift from the completion of several ongoing construction projects in 2008. Much of the impact will be unpredictable, but there are a few expected changes exciting some local residents

The most noticeable change to the landscape of our community will be the Sea Shell Collections Shopping Center located at the intersection of Daniel Drive and Gulf Breeze Parkway. The project is nearing completion and the list of businesses that will locate there is almost complete.

"We should be open sometime in May and ready for the summer season," said Mary Moulton, vice president of Moulton Properties.

Along with Publix, Sea Shell Collections will include businesses such as Vick's Cleaners; Ciao Bella, an Italian restaurant; Gulf Breeze Eye Care Center; Tiki Jakes; Island Grille; and Camille's Sidewalk Café.

These new businesses will do much more than change the local appearance. They will also provide locals with new jobs and new shopping and dining experiences.

Don't be concerned about the pile of rubble in front of Gulf Breeze Elementary School (GBES). The school is adding a new cafeteria/auditorium that will provide much needed resources for the school's students and teachers.

A.E. New Jr., Inc. has been contracted to carry out a twophase construction plan. The addition will be 23, 602 square feet and cost $3, 294,000. The addition will put GBES on par with other elementary schools in Santa Rosa County.

"The design is the same as those at other schools such as Holley-Navarre Primary and Russell Elementary," GBES Assistant Principal Robert Trigg said.

The first phase has been underway since last December. It began with the demolition of the fifth grade pod, which was built in 1967, and will conclude with construction of the new cafeteria, kitchen, music suite, stage, two regular classrooms and two ESE classrooms.

The new cafeteria will be twoand a-half times bigger than the current lunchroom. Considering that this year's enrollment is the highest ever, a larger lunchroom is a necessity.

"This will allow us to conduct school-wide assemblies, etc., once, instead of having to arrange multiple sessions because we can't fit our 725 students into the existing cafeteria," said Trigg.

"Our current hope is to have the new cafeteria/kitchen available by the start of the next school year," Trigg said.

Phase two will consist of retrofitting the current cafeteria. The plan is to convert it into new classrooms. Work on this phase is slated to begin in early June, just as soon as students finish the current school year.

The Tiger Point area will also see changes in 2008. Construction of The Blake, an assisted living facility, is scheduled to conclude with the grand opening this summer. The Blake will be located 1.5 miles east of the Garcon Point Bridge on Highway 98.

Other new developments in the area include a Gulf Coast Community Bank, which is under construction on an out-parcel at the vacant shopping center in front of the Breeze Cinema 8.

Growth and progress are essential to the survival of any community, and with a grim economic outlook for 2008, it is nice to know that there will be some bright spots to help shine some light on a potentially dark situation.