Top stories of the week: Affordable rental housing, open alcohol container rules, more
This week's top stories have a range of topics, from open alcohol container rules in Milton to rental woes across Northwest Florida.
Here is our roundup of the best subscriber-only stories of the week.
Milton mulls changes to alcohol open container rules
Full story: Is allowing alcohol in public in Milton a good thing, or cracking open Pandora's bottle?
Milton officials are looking to review the city's alcohol open container ordinance, which could potentially let people consume alcohol in spaces like parks.
Currently, openly consuming alcohol on public property in Milton is prohibited, though there are specific instances — namely special events like the Bands on the Blackwater concert series at Jernigan's Landing — when open drinking is permitted.
Steve Dobbs, one of the owners of the Beardless Brewhaus brewery in downtown Milton, originally solicited the City Council to open up the ordinance for discussion.
The topic is currently with the city's Community Improvement Board, a seven-member volunteer board that gives input to the council regarding economic development and business activities.
Rental housing headaches abound across Northwest Florida
Full story: Renters across Northwest Florida struggle to find affordable housing. Is there a solution?
Kate O'Hagan is a single mom who works two jobs, has good credit, no debt and a sterling rental history stretching back more than two decades, but she struggled over the last year to find an affordable place to live.
Before finding what she described as "the house of my dreams" in May, O'Hagan said she was responding to "hundreds of ads" on sites like Facebook marketplace, Craigslist, Truila, Zillow and Rent.com even as she watched rents in the region climb by as much as $200 a month while available housing options dwindled.
O'Hagan is hardly alone, as renters across Northwest Florida are being rocked by increased prices. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic more than two years ago, rent prices have skyrocketed at rates more typical of Central and South Florida.
According to data published by the website Apartment List, the median monthly rent for a new apartment lease during July in the Pensacola metro area was $1,605 — a nearly 36% increase since January 2020.
Pensacola chef Ed Lordman brings elevated Southern fare to The Pointe
Full story: Pensacola executive chef Ed Lordman is bringing 'Beachside Brawl' momentum to The Pointe
It has been quite the year for Pensacola chef Edward Lordman, whose most recent accomplishment is taking on the role of executive chef for The Pointe in Gulf Breeze.
Over the summer, Lordman appeared on the Food Network's six-week cooking competition TV series "Beachside Brawl," where he ultimately secured a spot as runner-up on the show and was the last chef standing on his East Coast team.
Coming off the high of television and settling back into real-life, he realized he wanted a place to create and have artistic freedom over a menu and have fun with his recipes. That desire was manifested through working at The Pointe in Gulf Breeze on 1255 Country Club Road.
PNJ Power Poll: Pine Forest top debut area football rankings
Full story: PNJ Power Poll: Who heads into Week 2 as the Pensacola area's top-ranked football team?
The first PNJ Power Poll has arrived as the Pensacola News Journal will be ranking the area's high school football teams every week from now to the end of 2022 regular season.
You may agree with us or you may believe we don't know the difference between a football or a soccer ball. Either way, see below where your favorite team landed as we head into Week 2 of the regular season.
Pensacola Walk-On's combines sports atmosphere with Louisiana cooking
Full story: Sports and Cajun cuisine meet at Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux now open in Pensacola
Game day finally came Monday for Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux as its first Panhandle location at 1240 Airport Blvd. opened.
Some eager customers began lining up as early as 7:30 a.m. to ensure they were one of the first 100 people in line, giving them a chance at winning free Walk-On's for a year during the grand opening event.
The Pensacola spot, located in the former TGI Friday's location, marks the 68th franchise location for the Louisiana-based eatery, which has earned a reputation for its from-scratch Cajun cuisine, roughly 100 televisions and, of course, its connection to the New Orleans Saints through Walk-On's co-owner NFL All-Pro quarterback Drew Brees.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Affordable rental housing: Top Pensacola stories of the week
