Commission takes lead in land swap

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- The Escambia County Commission unanimously agreed to take the lead in a $16 million to $25 million deal to obtain the Navy's 640-acre helicopter training field in Beulah known as Outlying Field 8. The plan is to turn the land into a commerce park to lure aerospace companies tied to the Airbus final assembly line being built in Mobile, Ala. Escambia County would buy and develop 640 rural acres in Santa Rosa County near Naval Air Station Whiting Field, provide it to the Navy and get the Beulah site in return. Congress must also agree to the land swap. The deal, which will take two years to complete, was initiated by the Greater Pensacola Chamber.  (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 08/15/13). Previous