EDITOR’S DESK: Changing Crestview's conversation — from small town to big city
If you wanted to oversimplify matters, Crestview could be split into two eras: before and after the population boom.
But don't take it from me, a guy who's been here two years and nine months. I rely on local experts like Diana Hill, our Facebook fan with the distinction of submitting this edition's top comment.
"Crestview was a small, southern town where everyone knew everyone and our crime rate was almost nonexistent," she said. "… It was like this until literally 15 to 20 years ago. That's when we were 'discovered' by people moving into the Destin area who wanted affordable living and housing."
The Hub City experienced more population growth after the U.S. Army's 7th Special Forces Group relocated from Fort Bragg, N.C., to its cantonment facility on Eglin Air Force Base.
In fact, more than 6,000 people moved here between 2000 and 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. And the population continues its ascent.
Obviously, roads and other infrastructure haven't matched the pace. But something did change: the community's expectations.
I've talked to a number of long-time and native residents, and had conversations with countless new residents, and in between, have read pretty much every social media comment we received on this issue.
It seems clear that what we have here is an identity crisis.
Like the headline I placed over our top comment, it boils down to one thing: Is Crestview a small town or a big city?
Our top commenter says, "If you wanted to live where the lights are bright and the city never sleeps, then this probably wasn't the place to settle into."
I think we all can agree that this isn't Miami.
But if Crestview's affordable housing and schools lured you to make your home here, as opposed to settling in Fort Walton Beach or Niceville, you may want to have it both ways.
Sometimes, people have to move to a certain area. I can identify with that. Good media jobs dried up in my sweet home Alabama a few years ago, so I did the unthinkable for a native Baldwin County resident: I searched for jobs within a two-hour radius.
After an enjoyable round of interviews with various Halifax Media Group managers at the time, I got the job — understanding that I couldn't commute and must move to Crestview.
I'm a team player, so that was fine.
It took getting over a difficult first year (while I was determining what overall editorial tone the paper should have — oh, what a process of highs and lows!) — but after that, everything was gravy.
Since then, I've raved about Crestview's enjoyable and supportive residents, and particularly stuck up for the city when friends would play the "It's not Destin" card. (That was easy; I just had to point to the community-wide support for Drew Barefield, which, I hope everyone here knows, extended to a point that is quite rare except for special places. A photo of McDonald's #prayfordrew sign aired during the 2014 Golden Globes, for instance. So anyone can see the city's residents support their own.)
But then there were occasions like this one: I had an important dinner party to attend with a specific dress code. I called all the shops here and none had the proper attire.
After press deadline, during lunch, I even went to the Waterfront Rescue Mission on South Ferdon Boulevard. Still no match. So the thing I dreaded most became a reality: a 35-minute trip to the Santa Rosa Mall. (This is nothing against the mall, of course — in fact, I enjoy the experience when I finally arrive there — but more than an hour, round trip, and the time it takes to look for what you need, try it on and purchase it is more time than necessary, especially for an always busy professional.) A 10-minute drive would have been more convenient.
I'm not alone. Columnist Janice Lynn Crose's Weekend Edition of "Happenings" — which raised a recurring question: whether there should more shopping options — struck a chord with readers. Almost 6,500 to be exact. As many people read the post, which received 140 likes and 150 comments.
Residents passionately begged for a Target, IKEA, Costco, Red Robin and a greater variety of businesses, but I don't believe their feedback reflects an anti-small town mindset. Because I'm not anti-small town but understand their concerns.
In early Baldwin County, my grandpa once threw legendary barbecues for the whole community. Occasionally, a stranger will come up to me when I'm in town and I will still hear about it. Everyone knew everyone back in the old days. (Sound familiar?)
But while Daphne, Ala., a coastal version of Crestview, once had a sign that stated, "Jubilee Town Daphne: Home of 1,500 happy people and a few grouches," it grew, over several decades, to more than 20,000 residents. It's now the largest city in the county, and I still can't believe how much it's developed since I was a child. (Used to be, you had just Wal-Mart and a package store and a few auto dealerships and a Gayfers, along with some fast food restaurants and a Ruby Tuesday. Now, wow… I can't even count how many major stores and shops, including Home Depot, Lowes, Wal-Mart, TJ Maxx, Dick's Sporting Goods, Bed Bath and Beyond, Pier 1, among many, many others are there.)
Meanwhile, there is something sad about losing the small-town life. More streets had to be built, along with sidewalks and other infrastructure to handle the growth.
And people who remember my grandpa's barbecues mostly have died or themselves relocated to other communities.
But that's to be expected, since the Daphne area no longer is a small town. The good news is a well planned and landscaped downtown area, with a number of options for dining and even night life, help this now large city maintain its small town charm and hospitality.
Similarly, Crestview — Okaloosa's largest city— is, by definition, no longer a small town.
Now, I think the conversation should take a different turn: Since we know that, where do we go from there?
How do we preserve the small town charm, and build up the downtown area, but provide the services and amenities of a booming city?
Share your thoughts on how this can be done. Write a letter to the editor or tweet News Bulletin Editor Thomas Boni.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EDITOR’S DESK: Changing Crestview's conversation — from small town to big city
