[gumbyfly]

I am about to accept a job offer in the Panama City area, and was wondering how much of a risk it is living in the Panama City Beach area (about two blocks north of the beach / hotel strip). I know the area is a huge spring break hot spot, and am worried about vandalism, noise, crime, and traffic across the bridge to downtown Panama City (hwy 98).

[momcantrell]

Hi gumbyfly,
I live in Lynn Haven, outside of PC and you are correct about the traffic over the bridge to get to downtown PC. Spring Break and all summer is bad traffic, you might want to consider living outside the hot spot and only go over the bridge when you want to rather than daily.

[gumbyfly]

Living on the beach side of town would almost be prefferable if traffic is the ONLY down side. It is only 13 miles from the furthest apartment in PCB to the front door at my new office. Even if the drive took half an hour, it is still a shorter trip than I am making now by almost 20 minutes. I have also tried the suburb-thing, and it is miserable for a single guy (aka: lonely). I would much rather live closer to the beach, bars, and activity than work.

That being said, it is a combination of the traffic AND the other three things (noise, crime, and vandalism) that will sway me one way or the other. If there is a good chance that various drunken high school kids are going to be partying and fighting outside my apartment for eight straight months, I will look more closely at the Lynn Haven area. There are some nice apartments there (cheaper too).

[ScrappyNana]

Gumbyfly,
I can't imagine living at the beach. It would be too much noise for me. I worked out there for many years and drove about an hour one way to do it. I live in northern Bay county and love the quiet. I'm also single but not so much lonely (more of a hermit) so I don't really need to be near town. I can see why others might like it, though.
Lynn Haven is a nice town. If I lived in 'town', it would be there. You can jump on 390 to 98 and be at the beach in a very few minutes.
Good luck on the new job & Welcome to the county

[gumbyfly]

Thanks ScrappyNana.

I ended up getting something in PCB near the beach. It took 26 minutes to drive to my new office from the apartments, and it is located in an area that is pretty isolated from any beach-partiers wandering around. Plus I am within walking distance to nightlife, the beach, and shopping.

I looked at a couple of apartments in Lynn Haven, and they are all in the same 'isolated-suburby-country' type of area that I live in now. Great places to raise kids. Horrible places for a single man.

Six months from now, I will have to see if I made a good decision...

[ScrappyNana]

Good to hear that you found something you're happy with. Hope you enjoy your new beach life I have to admit, we do have lovely beaches!

[2goldens]

Welcome to Bay County! Did you sign on one year lease? By the end of one year, you can make another move if desired. I'm in Jackson County and I would have choosen Bay near the beach over the country living. Good luck! Do keep us posted.

[gumbyfly]

I will sign my lease either Tuesday or Wednesday this week (one year lease). I think someone mentioned in another thread about how PCB was being taken over by high-rise condos, and they were right on the money. You can only see the beach in a few select places anymore. To boot, a lot of the local community is built around the spring break crowd - with huge, guady signs. A lot of the area still looks like it is being cleaned up after the last hurricane.

If it gets to me after the lease is up, I can move somewhere else like you said. The apartment I chose was having a move-in special because they were struggling to find renters, so I get the first two months free. You can't beat that! We will see if it is too good to be true.

[lyzzy jayne]

Hello! I am considering moving to Panama City as well. Does anyone have insight on the "Stinch from the cardboard plant" This sounds strange. Thanx!

[gumbyfly]

The area around where 231 and 98 intersect smells funny. I stayed at the Holiday Inn there, and it could have been that. You don't smell it a few miles away from there, but I don't think there are too many residential areas around there.