Land swap costs up

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- A deal that would swap a Navy helicopter landing field in Escambia County in exchange for land in neighboring Santa Rosa County is still in the works, but cost is becoming a factor. Escambia County wants the current landing field in Beulah to create a commerce park. In anticipation of the deal, Escambia County purchased some 600 acres in Santa Rosa County for $1.68 million. The agreement also states that Escambia County would fund improvements to the land to ready the land for Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Milton to use as a helicopter landing field. Escambia County approved $4.9 million for improvements, but the expected improvement costs have gone up. The final cost breakdown is expected within the month. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 05/15/17)