—Mayor Reeves Discusses Baptist Hospital Timeline, and Palafox Construction Strategy—
- Pensacola mayor outlines communication plans as major downtown project begins
Baptist Hospital Demolition Starts December
Demolition of the old Baptist Hospital will begin next month, launching an 18-month process that will be preceded by extensive community engagement.
- “It is our goal and our intent to make sure that the community is being engaged before major demolition is happening,” Reeves said.
The city council will vote in December on hiring a redevelopment expert to guide the community input process, similar to the approach used for the Holice T. Williams project, which involved over 30 community meetings.
Reeves said the administration has already begun meeting with stakeholders, including the Black Ministers Association and military community representatives, to understand housing needs and community priorities.
- “We’re trying to engage as many folks as we can,” the mayor said, noting that meetings will include not just community leaders but residents living within 500 feet of the project.
Palafox Construction: Free Parking and Communication Blitz
With fencing going up on South Palafox Street on Jan. 5th, the city is launching a comprehensive communication strategy to support downtown businesses during the Reimagine Palafox reconstruction.
The city plans to implement 24-hour free parking in approximately 414 spaces during construction, in response to business owners’ preferences expressed in a recent survey…