Downtown Panama City is like a piece of preserved Americana, filled with brick and stucco storefronts, tall glass windows, and housing all manner of restaurants, boutiques and offices. It is a nostalgic picture straight from a movie set. But for locals, it’s home. “In that section, it’s kind of the heartbeat of Panama City. It’s historic,” says Summer Williams, a local realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Beach Properties of Florida.
Residents enjoy walking through Downtown Panama City over the weekends.
Downtown residents will anjoy fishing at the Asbell Park beach.
Downtown Panama City is a flourishing neighborhood coming back from a devastating hurricane.
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From House of Henry to Lone Star Boil House, a good time is easy to find
An appropriate way to explore this area is with an appetite. Quite a few of Downtown’s storefronts are occupied by eateries and the neighborhood’s walkable layout makes it convenient to check out more than one. House of Henry, open since 2020, calls itself “Florida’s most authentic Irish pub,” serving up shepherd’s pie, corned beef and cabbage, and more. Spots like Lone Star Boil House & Sports Bar harness the taste of the region, home to a range of fresh seafood — the shrimp boils are a hit. “It’s a great little Cajun place,” says Clay Dalton, a local realtor with RE/MAX Beaches. History Class Brewing Company, housed in a 1930s building loaded with artifacts, allows customers to imbibe among local artifacts. “It’s fun, a lot of fun,” Williams says. Meanwhile, Tarpon Dock Seafood Market, right by the Massalina Bayou, is renowned for its selection of everything from grouper to oysters.
The Lone Star Boil in Downtown Panama City serves up great southern cuisine.
The Lone Star Boil in Downtown Panama City features a delicious
crawfish boil.
You can often catch live music at the House of Henry in Downtown Panama City.
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Farmers market helps bring people together
The city takes advantage of Downtown’s walkability with events like a weekly farmers market, held at McKenzie Park each Saturday and attended by vendors offering not just fresh produce but also items like handmade jewelry. There’s live music, too. A Fourth of July celebration is one of the city’s most prominent annual traditions, with fireworks, multiple live music performances, food trucks and vendors.
Housing options are unfolding
This neighborhood is dominated by retail and dining, so housing is limited. But the options are growing. The Mashburn Building is a prominent example, a historic, 27,000-square-foot structure once home to the Chavers-Fowhand Furniture Store and is now being turned into a selection of new condos. The Mashburn’s units range from about 500 square feet to 1,000 square feet, with prices from the high $200,000s to about $500,000. The building is representative of a trend Williams expects to continue. “I anticipate the utilization of these big buildings down there, turned into apartments and lofts and being re-done like that,” she says. “It’s kind of luring the younger market into that area.”
The Mashburn building is now a residential building in Downtown undergoing renovation.
Downtown Panama City has few residential locations but is on the rise.
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Bay District schools like Bay High are well-regarded
The Bay District school system blankets Panama City, a district with a B-plus overall grade on Niche. Merriam Cherry Street Elementary has a student-teacher ratio better than the national average, at 15-to-1, and is C-plus rated. Students can explore a full range of athletics programs at the area’s B-minus-rated Jinks Middle, from football to boys and girls track. Bay High boasts a B-plus rating and dedicated programs in topics like digital design and engineering.
Downtown students can start their educational journey at Merriam Cherry Street Elementary School
Downtown students can then head to Jinks Middle School for grades 6 through 8.
Finally, Downtown students can attend Bay High School to finish their primary education
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McKenzie Park makes for a tranquil respite
Downtown’s McKenzie Park isn’t just home to events like the weekly farmers market, it is also an anchor of sorts to the area. This is the oldest park in all of Bay County, dating back to the 1880s — Panama City’s early days. The park, which Williams says is beautiful, is a peaceful spot to enjoy a picnic or a book under the towering oak trees. And it’s the subject of upcoming improvements, including the addition of restrooms.
The historic Mckenzie Park is right in the center of Downtown Panama City.
Residents enjoy afternoon walks around Mckenzie Park in Downtown Panama City.
The Robert Lee Mckenzie house in Downtown Panama City is a historical staple of the city.
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Downtown Panama City is filled with restaurants and breweries great for residents to enjoy.
Route 98 makes travel straightforward
U.S. Route 98 is the main thoroughfare, an easy-to-find artery for heading out of town. People often use this route to head west, across the Grand Lagoon and toward the popular tourist haven of Panama City Beach. “I would say it’s less than 10 miles to some of the most beautiful beaches in the county,” says Dalton, who has almost 30 years of real estate experience. Also, the Bayway bus system has multiple stops in the neighborhood, along Route 98 and Harrison Avenue.
GreatSchools:
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This is a growing area of Bay County, that is in need of a convenience store, even a Dollar General, good road frontage with 300+ ft. Traffic count of 2000 per day and growing. Anchored by a Airpark Gated Community, of Sandy Creek Airpark.
622 Harmon Ave is all about location! This piece of vacant land is cleared and is zoned 'commercial DTD'-which has many commercial allowable uses; OR it is zoned 'residential'- which can thus occupy a small single family residence. This location near downtown Panama City aligns with the vision of redevelopment and vitality in the downtown area and allows for many different commercial or
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
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Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
441
Median Age
44
Population Density
3 ppl/acre
Population under 18
20.6%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
18.8%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$23,534
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$31,763
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
72.6%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
15.1%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
1.5%
% Population in Labor Force
55.7%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
57''
Average Winter Low Temperature
45°F
Average Summer High Temperature
90°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
51/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
71/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
