WMBB News 13 - The Panhandle's News LeaderWalmart Construction Continues

Preliminary construction is underway for a big name retailer who's no stranger to Panama City.

Wal-Mart has a building and sign permit and as we speak they are working to expand the old twenty-third street location with hopes of opening soon.

Panama City officials are looking forward to when the store is finished. Because with the opening will come a flood of sales taxes back into the city's pocket.

Through the fenced off parking lot in front of the old Wal-Mart building onlookers see evidence of construction. Panama City Mayor Greg Brudnicki says he always sees activity. "I drive by there all the time and I see it fenced off and people doing work over there."

According to Panama City leaders, work has already begun on what will eventually be a new Wal-Mart store.

Brudnicki has closely followed the progress of the new Wal-Mart. "There was 105,000 square feet in the old Wal-Mart with 18,000 and change next door.

And the expansion would be used for refrigeration and a grocery section. But the mayor says the recent race to action on site is because of time constraints. "That shopping center doesn't allow any construction between October and Christmas, so that's why no one was working."

Right now crews are removing debris from inside and doing inside construction, but according to the Panama City Planning Department, this is a preliminary phase.

Planning director Mike Lane says Wal-Mart has paid over sixteen thousand dollars in impact fees already. "We recognize that they're serious about coming."

Wal-Mart has also submitted engineering plans and as of January: a sign permit.

Mayor Brudnicki says he's looked over the permit. "January 23^rd, yes and it's got on the sign...Wal-Mart...."

Wal-Mart did not return phone calls seeking comment. But the building permit estimates that the renovation phase is going to cost the company 4.89 million dollars.