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Haas Center Analysis Looks At Possible Hotel, Mixed Use Development In Century
September 20, 2019
A University of West Florida Haas Center has completed a market analysis of the immediate Century area.
The analysis looked at the former Alger Sullivan mill property as a possible location for a mixed use development. Standard guidelines suggest that mixed use development that regions like the Century area may struggle to support such a development. However, there are indications that there is unmet retail demand within the region and the household income for potential spending growth that might support mixed use development, the Haas Center report stated.
The Haas Center also found that a small, well-run bed and breakfast with reasonable development costs could be feasible within the town, but a hotel or motel would likely not be feasible beyond perhaps a small budget facility.
“Small towns often must be more creative with their efforts as the sort of business growth that naturally happens with population growth does not happen for them. While small towns can attract big industry, they often instead must grow it themselves. Small towns are also more reliant on attracting visitor spending from outside of their community in order to grow their economy,” the study states.
In order to be successful, a small town must cooperate, rather than always compete, with neighboring communities when there are mutual benefits to be had, the study found. Flomaton and Century effectively make up a single trade area.
The Haas Center also noted that since it is a farther drive to business districts further south in Escambia County, FL, Century is often more linked to towns like Atmore and Brewton.
The analysis was funded by the Escambia County Commission.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Comments
16 Responses to “Haas Center Analysis Looks At Possible Hotel, Mixed Use Development In Century”
I can see it now; A bed and breakfast with picturesque views of the junk filled yards, falling down structures, and dilapidated saw mill property. As an added attraction, walking tours will be offered to the drug houses and sites of recent robberies and shootings. If guests are lucky enough to be in Century on Town Council meeting nights, they can sit in the gallery and watch the best comedy show in the South East USA. Guests won’t be safe in their cars, walking, or in their rooms, but they are safe from hearing a cow moo, or a rooster crow.
How much was this study???!? A bed and breakfast? LOL One bed and breakfast will bring how many jobs? What is an industry that people would take the drive for from Pensacola to enjoy in Century? Think people… An industry! Not a single bed and breakfast, hoping travelers will frequent… But a reason to drive a few miles to enjoy…..
People like to get on here and babble not knowing anything. Century resident. Retied US Army Sgt Major. But yes if the owner would get off the Alger Property and the government change the land use a mixed development would do fine. Low voter turn out and voting for friend rather than qualifications hurt Century. There are some beautiful homes in the historic district.
Century had a B&B, its called the Camilla House on Jefferson. Many years ago a group of investors bought property just outside town limits and planned on building a hotel for out of town visitors to the prison. A feasibility study determined the area couldn’t support it. Industry created Century. It’s going to take industry to bring it back. In my opinion anyway
Trisha For Mayor. You can make a difference.
well the sad truth is… that if the build a hotel it will become a place for cookin dope and selling dope … it’s not the community it’s just some of the folks in it
I’ve always wanted to open up a B&B in/around Century. On the right acrage, in the right location and with the right marketing to the certain types of clientele, I think it’d be successful. Trisha is right. Century is a diverse town. A lot of invididuals are well educated, friendly. We may not have large businesses, but many people across the nation are attracted to quaint, small town living. But its up to us, as the residents of Century, to do our part in making the town a better place, not just for us, but for the future of Century. Some of y’all are on a very high horse, indeed. If you don’t like how Century is being run, or how the economy is doing, why don’t y’all take up one of those Council positions and make a change yourself.
Oh, and let me just throw this out there. One person I work with just got her nursing degree, one is going to school to be in management, one is enrolled in school with a goal to be a Veterinarian (already has AA), one has extensive training in health care management and I have many years in management/accounting. So much for stupid, uneducated people in Century.
A B&B is not a bad idea. Look at the travelers coming from I65 headed to the beaches. If you are a tired driver there are no options until you get to Ensley. With hard work ideas become opportunity. With opportunity you can succeed. There is a saying “Walk a mile in someone else’s shoes” meaning before you judge someone, you must understand his experiences, challenges and thought processes.
Trisha, you are so right and Thank You for your great comment……
To address all comments above…. How dare you sit on your high horse and make assumptions about people in a community. I would have to look up the statistics but I am pretty sure the vast majority is not on government support. Century is a diverse community with income brackets that range from high to low. Even though you think we are all “dumb as dirt” you will find that most of us can hold an intelligent conversation with anyone. While you think a college education is the life success that we all strive for you forget that it takes intelligent, kind people to serve customers in all walks of life. Most of the youth over 16 are not drop outs. They care about their future, their family and their town. Large industry may never come to Century and job options are limited but the residents of Century and surrounding areas strive to make a better community. As to government, look around you. Everyone on the planet has problems with elected officials, if you think you can handle it then please run for office.
I appreciate UWF working up a marketing analysis.
Unfortunately their degree / “educated” minds has overcompensated for simply human common sense!
The funniest sentence in this whole “analysis” is a B&B!!!
Hurry Honey, Lets pack our bags and spend our anniversary at the new bed and breakfast in Century.
Their main attraction will be the Failed City Tour.
look at the population in this community. the vast majority is on government support. someone with a degree is a joke. most of the youth over 16 are drop outs walking up and down hwy 29. the city government is nonexistent. there are no schools in the community. that was a killer when they took our schools.
Century will struggle to support any development. Period. More money wasted
A Sad Truth. In other words without beating around the bush, the study says Century will always be what it is and on life support because no industry or big business will ever go there.