Historic St. Andrews Waterfront Partnership, Inc.

“Historic St. Andrews, a village by the bay where cultural attractions, entertainment, and commerce thrive.”


The Panama City Commission recognized the need to revitalize the St. Andrews community and in 1989, designated St. Andrews as a Community Redevelopment Area. In 1997, to aid in the revitalization and redevelopment of this quaint coastal community, St. Andrews applied for and received a designation as a Waterfronts Florida Partnership Community under the state’s Waterfronts Florida Program. Through its Waterfronts Florida Partnership Program, the Department of Community Affairs designates communities to receive intensive technical assistance, training and education, and limited financial support to help implement community-designed vision plans for their waterfront area.


In 2012 the St. Andrews Waterfront Partnership, Inc. reorganized itself as the Historic St. Andrews Waterfront Partnership, Inc., a non-profit organization. The City of Panama City engages the organization annually to operate the Panama City Publishing Company Museum.


MISSION STATEMENT:

The mission of the Historic St. Andrews Waterfront Partnership (HSAWP) is to revitalize Historic St. Andrews by preserving the historical, cultural, and environmental resources, advocating for public/private partnerships, and fostering community engagement.


KEY GOALS:

• Increase visitation to St. Andrews.

• Promote awareness of St. Andrews’ history.

• Find ways the past can catalyze revitalization.

• Attract new businesses and developments in keeping with community vision.

• Promote St. Andrews’ environmental quality and encourage public access and enjoyment of natural resources; promote a clean, green appearance.

• Maintain a calendar of festivals and events to attract people to St. Andrews.


Board meetings are open to the public and held at 8 a.m. on the second Wednesday of each month at the Panama City Publishing Company Museum.
GET INVOLVED

The Historic St. Andrews Waterfront Partnership serves in several roles: an advisory group for the St. Andrews Community Redevelopment Area of Panama City; managing the Publishing Museum, and managing the Market at St. Andrews. The Partnership encourages community involvement.


There are 5 standing committees for the Historic St. Andrews Waterfront Partnership, with the exception of the Finance committee, community volunteers are encouraged to participate.


-Community Engagement: Robin Wilcox, Chair - Meetings are the 1st Saturday of the month at 8 a.m. at the Museum

-Events Committee: currently vacant

-Museum Committee: Nancy Hudson, Chair - Meetings are the 4th Thursday of the month at 5 p.m. at the Museum

-Membership and Fund Development Committee: Zena Le, Chair - Meetings are the 3rd Thursday of the month at 5:30 p.m. at the Museum

-Finance Committee


WOULD YOU LIKE TO SERVE ON THE BOARD?

We invite you to apply for a position on the Historic St. Andrews Waterfront Partnership (HSAWP). We believe as you explore the HSAWP, you will want to partner with our organization in its multi-faceted focal areas in St. Andrews, from the Panama City Publishing Company Museum and the Market at St. Andrews to the growth and revitalization of the St. Andrews Community, and more.

APPLICATION

Board of Directors 2022-2023

Alice DeWall, President
Janis Boatright, Vice-President

Sterling Anderson, Treasurer
Nancy Hudson, Secretary

Brenton Hitchcock

Robbie Hysong

Melissa Smith

Gail O'Dwyer

Brad Stephens

Sonya Caldwell, Ambassador-at-large


Contact

Lisa Barnes-Tapscott, Executive Director

Museum@HistoricStAndrews.com

850-872-7208


Panama City Publishing Company Museum
1134 Beck Avenue
Panama City, FL 32401

ST. ANDREWS REVITALIZATION PROJECTS

In 1989, after a detrimental period of economic decline, the City of Panama City designated the commercial waterfront as a Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) so that a portion of the property taxes generated in the area would support public improvement in the CRA. In 1995-1997, a two-year visioning project brought area residents and stakeholders together to define what a revitalized St. Andrews would be. In 1997, St. Andrews became part of the inaugural Waterfronts Florida program that would provide technical and limited financial assistance to the community in achieving its vision.

Since then, the Historic St. Andrews Waterfront Partnership along with the City of Panama City, has accomplished numerous historic preservation projects and new construction projects have been completed in St. Andrews utilizing grants, volunteers, and CRA funds generated by increasing private investments made in the area, and will continue as we recover from Hurricane Michael. The vision is becoming a reality once again, and St. Andrews is coming back. We hope you will too!

Lion Plaza Entrance Enhancement Project – 2012
This project was possible through a partial grant from the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection in cooperation with the City of Panama City, St. Andrews CRA, and the Historic St. Andrews Waterfront Partnership.

Constructed in 1926, the school was restored and is now listed on the National Register. It was damaged in Hurricane Michael and the City of Panama City has leased the building for 5 years in hopes of establishing a community center.
The Bank of St. Andrews was constructed in 1907, and the building housed a number of different uses over the years, including a police substation, a thrift shop, and bakery. The building was restored in 2008.
The former Ramada Inn and Harbour House Restaurant site. It is now the site of a 116 unit, eight-story, luxury condominium complex called Harbour Village, built in 2006.
Historic St. Andrew Church was constructed in 1887. In 2007, the $150,000 restoration project was financed in part with historic preservation grant assistance provided by the State of Florida, Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources, assisted by the Florida Historical Commission. The steeple was destroyed in Hurricane Michael, but will be rebuilt and will have a bell for the first time since 1955.

The City of Panama City purchased the Panama City Publishing Company (circa 1920) building in 2005. The St. Andrews Community Redevelopment Area Tax Increment Funds (TIF) funded the purchase. In 2008, the $402,000 restoration project was financed in part with historic preservation grant assistance provided by the State of Florida, Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources, assisted by the Florida Historical Commission.

Parking Improvements:
The Community of St. Andrews envisioned more than 20 years ago to improve the parking facilities of St. Andrews. This has been an on-going process of purchasing land for public parking. The City has purchased property for public parking at two locations:
Chestnut Avenue/11th Court, and Beck Avenue/W. 13th Street on the NE corner.