Century Talks About Town’s Future

June 4, 2008

Economic development and saving Carver/Century K-8 School were the primary objectives discussed at an open meeting in Century.

The meeting, with consultant Peggy Fowler of Land Design Innovations of Ft. Walton Beach, was the second in a series of public forums to gain input prior to drafting Century’s new comprehensive plan.

“We talked a lot about problems in our previous meeting,” Fowler told the town council and the two citizens present at the begining of the meeting, “but tonight we want to talk about what you like about Century.”

“It’s home. We have a lot of people moving back home from the north,” council member Sharon Scott said. “But some people move to Pensacola because of the housing in Century.”

“We have a great attraction in Stone Lake Campground,” Mayor Freddie McCall said.

“We have plenty of churches,” Scott said. “A church on every corner,” council member Nadine McCaw said.

“Our water,” McCaw said “My girls come home and they take our water back home with them. They love our water.”

As for the types of businesses or services that those attending would like to see in Century, many mentioned expanded health services. Doctors and dentists were mentioned, along with a veterinarian for animals.

“Many of our business people that are local in town are from just outside the town,” McCaw said, adding that many choose to live in Byrneville, McDavid and other surrounding communities.

Others at the meeting mentioned the need, or desire, for a motel, more good restaurants , more retail stores, bowling or a skating rink for the children, a movie theater, another grocery store for competition and other businesses.

“It’s just sad that you don’t have a lot of these things here,” Fowler said. “These things are just basic.”

“But in order for us to have economic development, we’ve got to have a place for people to live,” council member Gary Riley said. “And the school is a big issue.”

“The need for economic development would probably include the school and housing,” Fowler said. She noted that the Escambia County School Board was invited to send a representative to an earlier meeting with various agencies, but no one from the school district attended.

“For economic development, you need a building to put business in,” local businessman Georges Van Nevel said. “And it does not exist.”

“In the industrial park, there is lots of space available,” he said. “I feel kind of lonely…you need to market the industrial park actively.”

“Other towns entice businesses,” McCaw said of economic incentives offered in surrounding towns to new businesses. “They are going to get that enticement from some other town. Century is the ‘gateway to Florida’, but it’s the gateway to Pensacola’s big boom down there.”

“When 113 opens, we are going to be the hub,” McCall said, referring to the four lane widening project currently underway on Alabama Highway 113 from Flomaton to I-65.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News