Old army reserve building will be demolished soon

PANAMA CITY, Fla. ( WMBB ) — The old Army Reserve Center next to the Panama City Police Department will be demolished soon.

The facility was heavily damaged during Hurricane Michael. The reserve abandoned it and relocated up Highway 77.

Panama City actually owns the land. In 1958, the city leased it to the army for 99 years, with the understanding that it would come back to the city if the army no longer wanted it.

This week, city commissioners decided to demolish the building in the next 60 to 90 days. They haven’t decided how they’ll use the property.

“There have been past conversations with some type of public safety complex, but the police department right now, that is an older building. We have invested in it to obviously make it safe for the employees, but eventually, we’re going to need a new police department, you know, state of the art as the police department grows, as our city grows, especially with the growth expected here in Panama City proper, as well as Panama City North,” Panama City City Manager Jonathan Hayes said.

Breaking Ground Contracting will demolish the building for $109,000.

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