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Most
of the projects have been for or through Fort Walton developer Earl
Mitchell, who is building several condos facing Santa Rosa Sound; GLC is
the contractor.
"He
likes the way we build," said Bill.
Florala
Co-op building materials are being used in Miramar Place, a three-story,
nine-unit condo under construction off Brooks Street. More condos are
planned when the already sold-out Miramar Place is complete.
It
might seem odd for the Florida builders to use an Alabama Co-op as their
building supplier, but Bill discovered the Co-op provided competitive
pricing and outstanding service through sales representative Bill Davis.
"He
and I had compatible personalities," Bill said of the 72-year-old
Davis. "I like dealing with people I enjoy being around. Somebody
else may be cheaper but they may not act like they appreciate your
business.
"The
Co-op has good pricing, good delivery and a good response time. They do
an exceptional job of working with you," Bill said.
Davis
even reminds Garvie of supplies needed for the ongoing project.
"Sometimes he does too good a job," Bill Garvie says.
Though
the brothers Garvie grew up more than a thousand miles away from the
Gulf, they have a keen respect and a deep devotion to the area because
of family ties. As children, they spent most every summer in Fort Walton
Beach.
They
have seen the hurricanes come and do their worst. They have watched as
out-of-state developers have come in, snatching up land and, with it,
opportunity. And today, they are a part of the changing face of the
beach – from Panama City to Destin – where mom and pop hotels are
being replaced with condominiums and other high rises and prices rise
right along with them.
Yet
Bill and Joe want to see the flavor of the community preserved.
"There’s
a lot of people who don’t want the growth," Bill said, "but
our family lives off growth and tourism. We like the growth, but I do
worry. Space is so limited. Land is hard to find and it is too
expensive."
The
five Garvie children were raised primarily in Virginia around the
Washington, D.C., area. The family moved around a lot because Bill Sr.,
a native of Pennsylvania, worked for the FBI. Martha’s mother, Agnes
Staff Bass, was one of the family members that started and built up
Staff’s Restaurant on Highway 98. The restaurant, started in 1913, is
one of the oldest in the state.
The
Bass family also used to own and operate Gulfview Motel on the Sound.
The original hotel building sits just a few hundred feet from the
B&B. The family has donated the old hotel to the Junior League.
Construction
overall is down from last year on the beach, in part because property
damage from the 2005 hurricane season has been restored. But the
hurricanes have had a lingering effect in tougher construction
standards.
"Windows
and doors now have to be upgraded to high wind and impact
resistant," Joe said. "If the windows aren’t impact
resistant, then they have to have hurricane shutters.
"Building
here is very restrictive. Hurricane straps, made out of steel, have to
be used on the trusses, the roof and the side walls. It takes a lot of
extra labor. All this has raised the cost of construction."
Yet
building continues. The brothers said there is always more work lined up
when the next project is completed. It is the same for the Florala
Co-op.
"When
I first came to the Co-op 10 years ago, we mostly sold lumber, shingles,
plywood and nails," Blackwell said. "We added vinyl siding.
Then plumbing and electrical. Eventually that led to doors and windows.
"Right
now about 50 percent of our total sales are building materials. After
Ivan that rose to about 65 percent," Blackwell said. "I
foresee that department increasing over the years. That’s where our
growth will be – in building materials."
GLC
Contracting can be reached at (850) 243-5554. To contact Blackwell, call
(334) 858-6142.
Debbie
Ingram is a freelance writer living in Dothan. She can be reached at dingram47@sw.rr.com. |
