By Jerry Creel, Community Development Director
This week in economic development, we saw the grand opening of the White House Hotel after a year of painstaking restoration. Also this week is the opening of the New Maritime and Seafood Museum. Both are beautiful additions to our tourism inventory of attractions.
Building permits were issued this week for Arbor Landing Apartments at 1850 Popp’s Ferry Road, and for the New Minor League Baseball Stadium. We should issue building permits for the New Parish Life Center at Saint Michael’s Church, and the Blind Tiger Restaurant on Beach Boulevard in the next few days.
We have 6 cases on the Planning Commission agenda, and 3 cases for the Zoning Board of Adjustments for public hearings to be held on August 7. There are currently no cases scheduled for the Development Review Committee for next week.
On the August 6  City Council Agenda, there are two applications for conditional use permits for temporary fireworks stands for the Christmas/New Year’s Holidays, and one application for a conditional use permit for short term rental in the downtown area.  All applications were approved by the Planning Commission as a recommendation the City Council who will have the final vote.
During the month of July, we issued 291 building permits with a construction valuation of $45.9 million dollars, and issued 52 Certificates of Occupancy.