NEIGHBORHOOD SPOTLIGHT nine mile road by tanner yea While the core of Pensacola is still growing in population, there is not much room for it to physically expand downtown, East Hill and Belmont-DeVilliers only extend so far and have their limits. However, the north end of the area 62continues to grow exponentially, adding new housing, and commercial developments at a quick pace. That’s why we are shining our Neighborhood Spotlight on the areas around Nine Mile Road. Transforming from just a stretch of highway to one of the most quickly developing areas of the city, now is the time to get in on the ground floor of one of the next big residential and commercial booms in Pensacola. History of the Neighborhood Nine Mile Road does not have as much of a rich history as more southern parts of the city. It is a segment of US Route 90 Alternate and State Road 10 – its name coming from its approximate distance from Garden Street. Recently, however, the stretch of road has exploded due to rapid development – mainly in conjunction with Navy Federal Credit Union becoming a growing source of employment for the area. Recently, 68 Ventures bought over 174 acres in the Beulah area with intentions to build single unit and multi-unit housing, as well as commercial buildings. In addition to this, the Florida Department of Transportation is expanding West Nine Mile Road into four lanes. With roughly 1,000 residential lots under construction, this area is exploding massively. Properties and Prices Nine Mile Road isn’t really a concentrated neighborhood, but a sprawl of communities that includes places like Ensley, Cantonment and Beulah. The most well known area of the stretch is the corridor that surrounds Navy Federal Credit Union, which has seen significant growth. According to Trulia, the average price around this area is around $200k, but this is only on the north side of Nine Mile Road. In the same area, on the southern side of the road, the price drops to an average $139k. As you go west on Nine Mile, that latter price is much more indicative of what you can expect to find. Many of the
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properties are fairly new, built in the 90s or 2000s and still well maintained – many are traditional ranch-style homes. Most homes have roughly 1,500 square feet but can range upward to 3,000, though multi-story buildings are a rarity. Many homes have three beds and two baths, with slight variation up and down. Due to Nine Mile’s proximity to the University of West Florida, there are quite a few rental properties as well – obviously mostly aimed at students. Dedicated apartment buildings usually run around $900 for a single bedroom, but rental houses can easily be split up with around $400 to $500 per bedroom with roommates. These prices generally stay consistent the more west you go. The further east you go on Nine Mile Road, the younger the population gets. Many on the west end of the area are married couples in their 40s and 50s, while the area around Navy Federal Credit Union and UWF sees a majority of single people and a larger range of ages – from 20s to retirements age. Though the communities off of Nine Mile Road are generally quiet and safe, the street itself is very busy and the commute can be slow. Utilities are the standard for Pensacola, with Gulf Power for electricity, ECUA for water and garbage, and AT&T, Cox or DirecTV for internet/cable. Local Attractions Probably the most notable school near Nine Mile Road is the University of West Florida. UWF is constantly growing, and now with a high-ranked
Division II football team, it will only get bigger. There are also several public schools that cover the area, including Ferry Pass Elementary and Middle School, Ensley Elementary, Woodham Middle and Escambia Westgate Center. For groceries, there is a wide selection to choose from. Publix, Winn-Dixie and Wal-Mart are all within close proximity of each other. Ever’man Cooperative Grocery & Café is also currently in the process of building a second location on Nine Mile Road. Restaurants are also plentiful – in addition to popular chains like McDonald’s, Sonic and Jersey Mike’s, there are local restaurants and cafes like Carmelina’s Café, Goat Lips Chew and Brew, and the famous El Asador taco stand. There are also a few places to unwind, all for different tastes. On the more refined end, Scenic Hills Country Club offers golf all year round, while the more casual may be interested in a game or two at DeLuna Lanes. For nightlife, Corner Pocket Billiards, Beef O’ Brady’s, and Red Baron Lounge and Package Store offer drinks and good times. Shopping is also plentiful, and while there are some major chains like Kohl’s and Target, there are also smaller mom-andpop stores like Bobe’s Hobby House and Ollie’s Bargain Outlet. Summary Along its entire length, Nine Mile Road is turning into a bustling, high activity area – almost a second downtown. Job opportunities, new residential and commercial construction and UWF’s growth all combine to show how the communities along this strip of road are paving the way towards Pensacola’s future. For more information on Nine Mile Road and the surrounding areas, speak to your realtor on how to hit the ground running on this exciting opportunity.