POLITICS

Fort Walton’s new City Hall, possible locations, and if it will include an Auditorium

During a special meeting on Tuesday night, the Fort Walton Beach City Council had to decide whether or not to move forward with the design of a new City Hall Complex project, determine if an Auditorium will be included in the project, and narrow down the possible location to two potential sites. 

On June 22, 2022, Ajax Building Corporation and Sam Marshall Architects provided a proposal to the City for the preliminary planning and design of a new City Hall Complex.

The proposal includes phased tasks in order to update the existing program for the City Hall Complex, which includes City Hall, City Hall Annex, Council Chambers, Bathroom/Mechanical, and Auditorium. 

The proposal is broken down into three (3) Phases in the following amounts:

• Phase I – Master Planning (Update) – $62,283 (Completed)
• Phase II – Design/Preconstruction – $1,827,260 ($908,895 City Hall only)
• Phase III – Bidding / GMP Phase – $123,158 ($70,772 City Hall only)

The firms’ proposal is based on the following assumed project size and construction costs, not including site costs: A 32,713 sqft City Hall at $16.4 million and a 22,648 sqft Auditorium at $15.6 million.

The submitted proposal includes an evaluation of three (3) sites/locations including the existing City Hall property. Possible sites for a new City Hall include:

• The existing City Hall property at 107 Miracle Strip Parkway S.W.
• Chester Pruitt Park off Hollywood Boulevard (city-owned)
• Okaloosa County School District Administrative Complex property on Lowery Place.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Council decided NOT to move forward with the recommended Design Development (60% Design) task at an overall cost of $1,108,645, citing the need for more information on the project.

After a failed motion to approve the item, the council voted to direct Staff to put together (within the next two months) a public workshop with invitations to many community stakeholders in the area.

• The purpose of the workshop will be to discuss this topic further, and to get public input on the possible site location and whether or not this complex will contain an auditorium.

Councilman MG Moran followed that approval with another motion to direct Staff to negotiate with the Okaloosa County School District on the purchase of the property on Lowery Place. On Monday night, the Okaloosa School Board declared the property surplus.

The motion to negotiate terms with the school district passed.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Deputies search for Fort Walton Beach 12-year-old who did not return home from school

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office is trying to locate 12-year-old Sania Morris of Fort Walton Beach who did not return home from school on Monday.

• Morris was last seen wearing a blue Okaloosa Academy shirt, khaki pants, and Croc shoes.

Morris is 5’2″ tall and weighs approximately 125 pounds. She has lines shaved in her eyebrows.

Anyone with information is asked to please call the OCSO at 850.651.7400 or contact Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers, 850.863.TIPS, emeraldcoastcrimestoppers.com, or via the P3 Tips mobile application.

THE WEEKENDER

30 events to plan for over the next two weeks!

October 26, 2022 – C.A.R.E.ing for Turtles – $10 – View

October 26, 2022 – Wednesday Night Concert Series at The Village of Baytowne Wharf – Free – View

October 27, 2022 – Halloween Linocut w/ Chris McLoone – $55.00 – View

October 27, 2022 – Throwback Thursday Cinema at The Village of Baytowne Wharf – Free – View

October 28, 2022 – Super Sew Day – Free – View

October 28, 2022 – Destin Commons Halloween Haunt – View

October 28, 2022 – Ron Adams | Johnny Cash & Elvis Tribute + Halloween Costume Contest! – View

October 28, 2022 – Boo’s & Booze – – View

October 29, 2022 – GulfScarium’s Splash or Treat – $2 – $12. – View

October 29, 2022 – Downtown Fort Walton Beach Farmer’s Market – View

October 29, 2022 – MKAF 27th Annual Festival of the Arts – View

October 29, 2022 – 2nd Annual Cornhole Tournament & Fall Festival – View

October 29, 2022 – Impasto/Thick Acrylic for Beginners w/ Tamika Thomas – $57.50 – View

October 29, 2022 – Trinity UMC Trunk-or-Treat 2022 – Free – View

October 29, 2022 – Rad-O-Ween – View

October 29, 2022 – Boo At The Beach – Free – View

October 29, 2022 – Halloween Costume Party at Ara Rooftop Pool & Lounge – View

October 30, 2022 – The Destin Commons Market – View

October 31, 2022 – GulfScarium’s Splash or Treat – $3 – $12. – View

October 31, 2022 – TRICKS & TREASURES AT THE BOARDWALK – View

October 31, 2022 – Trick or Treat Street – Free – View

Looking Ahead

November 4, 2022 – Sip N’ Stroll Gallery Night at J.Leon Gallery – View

November 4, 2022 – Musician Marc Black to Perform November 4th – Free – View

November 4, 2022 – Tribute Concert Weekend at The Village of Baytowne Wharf – Free – View

November 5, 2022 – Step One Automotive Hosts the Saving with Soul Adoption Event – Free – View

November 5, 2022 – HOLIDAY Open Air Art Day at Artful Things Niceville – Free – View

November 5, 2022 – HH Arts Gallery Night – View

November 5, 2022 – Downtown FWB Art Walk sponsored by Artesano Boutique! – View

November 5-6, 2022 – Tribute Concert Weekend at The Village of Baytowne Wharf – Free – View

November 8, 2022 – Crust Artisan Bakery Fundraiser Dinner – $250 – View

SCHOOL

Choctaw’s weight room will now be known as “The Patrick Keefe Strength Complex”

On Monday night, the Okaloosa County School Board unanimously approved the naming of Choctaw’s Football Fieldhouse weight room after the late Patrick Keefe, class of 2015.

Keefe was born and raised in Okaloosa County and was a proud Big Green Indian at Choctawhatchee High School, where he played football. 

“He forged grit, discipline, and incredible strength and power in the weight room,” read Keefe’s obituary. “He brought unrelenting intensity, passion, and toughness to the football field. He loved his teammates deeply and led by example, attacking and embracing physical discomfort.”

In June 2020, Patrick was diagnosed with brain cancer. On June 6, 2022, exactly two years from his diagnosis, Patrick passed away at home, surrounded by his wife and family.

Before his death, Patrick wanted gifts honoring his life to sustain the Choctaw weight room. He wanted something that would last and continue to serve others rather than flowers that would fade and die.

• Keefe requested that instead of flowers, any gifts honoring his life to be in the form of donations, 100% of which would be used for equipment, maintenance and enhancement of the Choctaw weight room.

What started out as a GoFundMe to raise a few thousand dollars, turned into hundreds of donations totaling $101,300. 

• $95,300 was used to purchase new equipment.
• $6,000 was donated for exterior graphics to the field-house. 

“Patrick was a young man that left us too soon, but absolutely left his mark on Choctawhatchee High School,” said Superintendent Marcus Chambers. “He left his mark Okaloosa and the entire Okaloosa County School District. To be able to name a building, and specifically the weight room, in honor of Patrick, is something that I know we’re extremely proud of as a school district”

In a heartfelt speech after the vote, Patrick’s mother, Dr. Lynn Keefe, told the crowd of people in the room that the naming of the building is a “tribute to the 800 people that donated in his honor, who felt the pain but celebrated him.”

Dr. Keefe thanked the entire room, along with a list of people who helped make this naming a reality. 

• “I just want to thank you,” she said. “Choctaw has such tradition. When we were hurt really bad, it’s just such a wonderful thing to give back a little bit. It’s quite an honor.”

Choctaw’s Head Football Coach, Frank Beasley, spoke to the school board on behalf of the high school.

“We can’t say thank you enough for approving this item,” said Beasley. “It is an absolute honor for me to have known Patrick, and his impact on our community was so great. One of the most important things throughout this whole process for me and our coaching staff was to make sure that his legacy continues.”

Beasley continued by saying that the students, staff and school will continue to know who Patrick Keefe was and will be able to see his name every day as they walk into the weight room.

Principal Michelle Heck described Keefe as a “smart, witty, and inspirational” young man who “had the most contagious smile!” 

“His coaches and teachers will tell you that Patrick was everyone’s friend and a role model, especially in the weight room and on the football field,” said Heck. “Patrick was an inspiration to others, including teammates, coaches, teachers and people he didn’t even know. Choctawhatchee High School will ensure that Patrick Keefe’s legacy will live on. The entire Keefe Family will always be a part of our Big Green Family.”

COMING SOON

Best Western on Okaloosa Island to rebrand as “Beal House”

In March 2022, OTO Development acquired the Best Western Fort Walton Beach on Okaloosa Island, and announced a major redevelopment plan for the waterfront property.

• On October 2, the hotel, along with the iconic Swizzle Stick Martini Lounge, closed to the public to begin the renovations.

Now, OTO Development has announced that they plan to rebrand the former Best Western as Beal House Destin-Fort Walton Beachfront, part of the Tapestry Collection by Hilton. The property will reopen in May 2023.

• OTO develops, owns and operates distinctive select-service hotels across the country. In recent years, the company has emphasized purchasing and repurposing beachfront properties in popular leisure markets.

The Beal House’s new identity mixes contemporary aesthetics with a healthy dose of history. Locals will immediately recognize the Beal name and its ties to the Fort Walton Beach area. 

“The name honors the legacy of Dr. James Hartley Beal, a fascinating man of many accomplishments,” says Todd Turner, CEO of OTO Development. “Dr. Beal was an early citizen of Fort Walton Beach whose vision continues to impact the community today.”

Dr. Beal (1861 – 1945) was an influential pharmacist, educator and author. He was the first recipient of the Remington Honor Medal for distinguished service on behalf of American Pharmacy and is the namesake of U.S. Pharmacopeia’s Beal Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to public health.

In 1928, Dr. Beal and his family relocated to what was then called Camp Walton, where he partnered in the development of a beach resort and dance hall while successfully lobbying to rename the town Fort Walton (a change that took effect on March 1, 1932; the word “Beach” wasn’t added to the name until the 1950s). 

• He provided the genesis for Beal Memorial Cemetery and donated land that is now home to the town’s fire and police department, in addition to countless other civic contributions.

A scientist at heart, Dr. Beal’s avocation was collecting shells from all over the world. By the 1940s he had amassed one of the largest shell collections in the world — some 100,000 specimens — which are now housed at the University of Florida.

“Dr. Beal was a creative thinker who saw incredible potential for tourism in Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa Island,” Turner says. “Nearly a century later, we couldn’t agree more, and we are delighted to connect this hotel to his entrepreneurial spirit.”

The six-story Beal House will comprise 100 guest rooms — 60 with Gulf-front balconies — as well as a fitness center, outdoor pool and direct beach access. An onsite restaurant/bar will be called The Remedy, another nod to Dr. Beal, and will specialize in “Coastal Fresh with a Dash of Cajun.” 

• The venue will serve everything from morning coffee to late-night cocktails, with a dinner menu centered around locally sourced seafood and a bar menu heavy on martinis.

OTO is partnering on the Beal House project with Pond, an engineering, architecture and design firm, for a fully reimagined design that flows from the building’s exterior through all shared spaces and guest rooms. Robins & Morton is the general contractor. 

According to OTO, the design team is centering aesthetics around Dr. Beal’s extensive shell collection, a motif threaded throughout the property. The beach house ambiance will include authentic touches to invoke guests’ curiosity, encouraging them to explore both the history and current attractions of Fort Walton Beach.

Click here to see renderings of the new hotel!