AF to become landlord

Under an "enhanced lease program" designed to let the Air Force collect rent on an under-used portion of beachfront land, the military next year will become landlord of a hotel, according to the Northwest Florida Daily News. "This will be a new way of doing business for us," said Glenn Wagner, manager of Eglin Air Force Base's enhanced lease program. The $24 million hotel near Sheraton Four Points will be owned by the Department of Defense and managed by Emerald Breeze Resort Group. Eglin's 46th Test Wing will be able to place a telemetric receiving dish and optical equipment on the top of the building so it can "see" further out into the Gulf of Mexico. (Source: Northwest Florida Daily News, 10/23/11)