Top stories of the week: New Odd Colony location, upcoming downtown eatery and more

Brandon Girod, Pensacola News Journal
·3 min read

Pensacola saw some exciting news for food and drink lovers this week, plus news that 10 Santa Rosa County apartment and townhome projects are in the works.

Keep reading to see our best subscriber-only stories of the week.

Old Sacred Heart Hospital getting Odd Colony Brewing Co. location and new eatery

Full story: Old Sacred Heart Hospital getting Odd Colony Brewing Co. location and new eatery

The Gothic architecture of the historic Sacred Heart Hospital is an architectural landmark in Pensacola, a building steeped in unique design and teeming with history.

And soon, it'll be buzzing with new businesses as a beloved brewery and a mystery eatery prepare to move in.

New restaurant chosen to fill site of former Tin Cow on Palafox Street

Full story: New restaurant chosen to fill site of former Tin Cow on Palafox Street

A new restaurant has been selected to take the place of the former Tin Cow on Palafox Street.

The search has been on for almost a year to choose the new tenant of the 102 S. Palafox St. space that formerly housed the build-your-own-burger and spiked milkshake joint, The Tin Cow. However, Realtor Michael Carro said they found the right fit to take over the location.

Although Carro was not able to disclose the name of the restaurant, he said his understanding is the new space will be a sit-down restaurant that also serves alcohol. He noted that the bar portion is "not their core business."

Santa Rosa may have 10 new apartment, townhome projects on the way

Full story: Apartments are rare in Santa Rosa County, but the economy is making them much more popular

It's well established that Santa Rosa County is growing fast.

Census data indicates between 2010 and 2020, the population grew roughly 25% — from just over 150,000 residents to about 188,000 — and there is no indication that growth is slowing. July 2021 census estimates put the population at nearly 194,000.

For those new residents who are looking to buy a home in the area, there are plenty in the works.

In August, the News Journal reported that over 900 homes and 17 subdivisions had been approved in the previous 18 months alone, with many more developments in the works.

Estuary program can be powerful guardian for Pensacola waters — with time

Full story: Estuary program could be powerful guardian for Pensacola waters — with a bit more time

Matt Posner, the executive director of the Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program, hopes his organization can soon play a more meaningful role in uncovering sources of pollution impacting the regions waterways and lead the way in finding solutions to clean up historically impaired reservoirs.
Matt Posner, the executive director of the Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program, hopes his organization can soon play a more meaningful role in uncovering sources of pollution impacting the regions waterways and lead the way in finding solutions to clean up historically impaired reservoirs.

There has been no shortage of reports in recent weeks of pollution entering waterways in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties that since 2018 have fallen under the purview of the Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program.

Fecal matter is entering Pensacola Bay at Bruce Beach, a contractor's illegal pumping has fouled the waters at Perdido Bay and East Bay and Escambia Bay have been impacted by stormwater runoff.

The Northwest Florida Water Management District took action to halt illegal pumping off Halycon Court in Perdido Key and has also acted to prevent further sediment run off from a county culvert replacement project near East Bay.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: New Odd Colony location, upcoming downtown eatery: Top stories