What will it take for Port St. Lucie to build an airport
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By Jim Turner
Posted at 02:40 PM on April 14, 2008
Port St. Luice needs to ground its dream of launching its own airport.
Even if it was a general aviation airport that was desired there would be questions, but they are talking of an international one to rival Palm Beach International Airport.
Forget for a moment the million dollar studies that will be needed just to investigate the possibility, or getting the Federal Aviation Administration to reconfigure the flight patterns of the major carriers going to and from Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and even Miami international, or that Melbourne International Airport has struggled to find carriers willing to land on the technologically advanced Space Coast, or that there is already an airport in the county with international in its name.
I'm all for economic progress. But think about what this would do to the housing market where the airport is put down.
Recently Martin County had to get millions from the Federal Aviation Administration just to buy out 23 homes on a cul-de-sac at the northwest end of Witham Field. And they have plans to pay for sound insulation on other homes around the airport.
And that was for a general aviation airport.
Port St. Lucie is already looking to purchase 46 homes as part of the Crosstown Parkway's $105 million to $119 million river spanning link to U.S. 1. Someone is going to have to be moved for the thousands of acres needed for an airport, the roads leading to it and those who are lined up at the ends of the runways.
Also, imagine yourself having plucked down $500,000 for a home in western Port St. Lucie and now you have the prospect of 747s and 757s rumbling somewhere overhead as they arrive and depart.
You still have time to get out. This airport dream is a good two decades from realty, but now you’re going to be selling to people who, if they do their homework, may question logic of buying under potential flight paths.
If they want to do anything, build up St. Lucie International and establish a multi-space helipad at Tradition that can taxi people north to Fort Pierce if saving time on the road is driving this proposal.
Yes, California-based Burnman Institute opted for Orlando over Port St. Lucie, with one of the reasons given being that Orlando has an airport that can get its scientists and management quickly to San Diego.
But that should have only been a call to bulk up the local airport, to start talking to carriers - even if its just flights to the larger South Florida airports - about how to connect the Treasure Coast to its sister research cities of San Diego and Portland, Oregon.
What will it take for Port St. Lucie to build an airport?
Aid from statewide airport consultants, engineers, investors, businesses.
Commercial airlines to consider the Treasure Coast a lucrative hub.
A viable site location on the Treasure Coast.
Capacity at Palm Beach International Airport, Melbourne International Airport, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Miami International Airport, Orlando International Airport and Orlando-Sanford International Airport must reach 80 percent, something that is not expected to happen until 2025.
Building an airport will not be cheap.*
First studies must be undertaken:
Environmental assessment study - $200,000 to $500,000
Feasibility study - $500,000 to $700,000
Site selection study - $500,000 to $700,000
Purchase of land - $40 million upward Airport master plan study - $1 million to $3 million
Construction of airport: $100 million upward
*2005 numbers.
Posted at 02:40 PM on April 14, 2008
Port St. Luice needs to ground its dream of launching its own airport.
Even if it was a general aviation airport that was desired there would be questions, but they are talking of an international one to rival Palm Beach International Airport.
Forget for a moment the million dollar studies that will be needed just to investigate the possibility, or getting the Federal Aviation Administration to reconfigure the flight patterns of the major carriers going to and from Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and even Miami international, or that Melbourne International Airport has struggled to find carriers willing to land on the technologically advanced Space Coast, or that there is already an airport in the county with international in its name.
I'm all for economic progress. But think about what this would do to the housing market where the airport is put down.
Recently Martin County had to get millions from the Federal Aviation Administration just to buy out 23 homes on a cul-de-sac at the northwest end of Witham Field. And they have plans to pay for sound insulation on other homes around the airport.
And that was for a general aviation airport.
Port St. Lucie is already looking to purchase 46 homes as part of the Crosstown Parkway's $105 million to $119 million river spanning link to U.S. 1. Someone is going to have to be moved for the thousands of acres needed for an airport, the roads leading to it and those who are lined up at the ends of the runways.
Also, imagine yourself having plucked down $500,000 for a home in western Port St. Lucie and now you have the prospect of 747s and 757s rumbling somewhere overhead as they arrive and depart.
You still have time to get out. This airport dream is a good two decades from realty, but now you’re going to be selling to people who, if they do their homework, may question logic of buying under potential flight paths.
If they want to do anything, build up St. Lucie International and establish a multi-space helipad at Tradition that can taxi people north to Fort Pierce if saving time on the road is driving this proposal.
Yes, California-based Burnman Institute opted for Orlando over Port St. Lucie, with one of the reasons given being that Orlando has an airport that can get its scientists and management quickly to San Diego.
But that should have only been a call to bulk up the local airport, to start talking to carriers - even if its just flights to the larger South Florida airports - about how to connect the Treasure Coast to its sister research cities of San Diego and Portland, Oregon.
What will it take for Port St. Lucie to build an airport?
Aid from statewide airport consultants, engineers, investors, businesses.
Commercial airlines to consider the Treasure Coast a lucrative hub.
A viable site location on the Treasure Coast.
Capacity at Palm Beach International Airport, Melbourne International Airport, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Miami International Airport, Orlando International Airport and Orlando-Sanford International Airport must reach 80 percent, something that is not expected to happen until 2025.
Building an airport will not be cheap.*
First studies must be undertaken:
Environmental assessment study - $200,000 to $500,000
Feasibility study - $500,000 to $700,000
Site selection study - $500,000 to $700,000
Purchase of land - $40 million upward Airport master plan study - $1 million to $3 million
Construction of airport: $100 million upward
*2005 numbers.
