USPS Publication Number 16300
T h is C o m mu n i t y N ewsp a p er is a pu bl ica t ion of E sca m bia-S a n t a Rosa B a r Assoc ia t ion
Se r v i ng t he Fi r st Jud icial Ci rcu it
Section A, Page 1
Vol. 19, No. 43
Visit The Summation Weekly Online: www.summationweekly.com
November 6, 2019
1 Section, 8 Pages
Sitton Sets Sights Downtown
by Will Isern • photos by Guy Stevens
As downtown Pensacola has morphed from sleepy office park to bustling entertainment district, one property with immense development potential has remained stuck in the past. Until now.
T
he downtown Post Office, beloved by customers for its convenience, is nonetheless housed in a building with far greater potential than its current use. With an expansive corner lot, wide courtyard and historic charm, the building at 101 Palafox Place is a prime piece of downtown property thus far untouched by the resurgence of downtown as the city’s premier entertainment district. That will all soon change as native son and Super-Bowlchampion-turned-developer Josh Sitton and his wife Kristen have purchased the property with plans to transform it by adding retail or restaurant space on the ground floor and residential units upstairs. Sitton said the couple had been looking for an investment opportunity downtown for some time before they became aware the 101 Palafox property was an option. “My wife and I are always looking for opportunities to invest in the downtown area,” he said. “A friend of ours introduced the property idea to us. It was off market so we had no idea it was even an option. We fell in love with
the building right away. We have always wanted to invest on Palafox and we personally don’t think there’s a better corner downtown.” Patrons of the downtown Post Office need not fear, the Post Office will remain in the building, just in a smaller footprint. As for what will fill the rest of the building once the Sitton’s are done with it, they’re not quite sure yet. They’re still in the very early planning stages. “Nothing is set in stone this early for the project,” said Sitton. “Our initial idea is to reduce the footprint of the post office downstairs and add retail and or a restaurant. Upstairs is a beautiful untouched canvas. The ceilings are 15 feet high and it is a beautiful old space oozing with charm. We plan on turning this space into condos or apartments. None of this is for sure yet. The property is so large and has so many possibilities that we won’t know until it happens.” Partnering with the Sittons on the project is Josh’s lifelong friend and president of Bear General Contractors Chris Jaubert. Sitton and Jaubert founded the company while Sitton was in the midst of his
Partnering with the Sittons on the project is Josh’s (right) lifelong friend and president of Bear General Contractors Chris Jaubert (left).
successful NFL career. Sitton retired from the NFL in April following an 11-season career that saw him take the field with Green Bay packers and Chicago Bears. Sitton won Super Bowl XLV with the Packers in 2011. The 101 Palafox property has a long history downtown and was once home to a Sears, Roebuck & Co., a Walgreens, a dry cleaners and the Downtown Improvement Board. The building was designated in honor of former Pensacola mayor Vince Whibbs, Sr. following his death in 2006. The water fountain in the courtyard was once located at the intersection of Palafox and Garden streets and used for watering horses. Sitton said watching downtown’s transformation since his youth has been inspirational and that, if they do end up putting condos on the second floor of the building, there’s a good chance the couple will keep one for themselves. “Where downtown is compared to when I was growing up here isn’t even close,” he said. “It’s amazing to see the transformation, and we’re so very happy to be a part of it!”
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Our initial idea is to reduce the footprint of the post office downstairs and add retail and or a restaurant. Upstairs is a beautiful untouched canvas.”
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