City Announces Financing Plan for Airport Terminal
Building
Tireless AOPA Airport Support Network honcho, Jack W. Tunstill
(pictured below), from Albert Whitted Airport (SPG), Florida has
some good news to share.
Jack tells ANN that Mayor Rick Baker held a news conference to
announce the new terminal building will be built as soon as
feasible at Albert Whitted Airport. Baker described how the FLDOT
will be supporting the City by underwriting 80% of the estimated
cost of the building. The City will be responsible for the other
20%. The estimated cost of the 10,600 square foot building with
furnishings is $4 million. FLDOT will provide $3.2 million in
grants and the City will have to come up with $800,000.
Tunstill adds that,
"Since we would like to begin construction of the building soon and
the FLDOT funds are scheduled to be made available over the next
six years, Mayor Baker announced that John and Rosemary Galbraith
have pledged a two part contribution to the City for use in
building the terminal building. Mr. & Mrs. Galbraith will give
the City a gift of $400,000 and an interest-free loan of $3.2
million. Proceeds from the FLDOT grants will be used to repay the
Galbraith loan over six years."
The Galbraith's have had a long association with Albert Whitted
Airport, and the City of St. Petersburg. Before he retired, John
was CEO of Templeton Funds. Mr. Galbraith relocated Templeton funds
to St. Petersburg in 1978. One of the primary reasons for John's
relocation here was the proximity to Albert Whitted. He saw an ad
in Flying magazine that offered information about living in the
Bayfront Tower condos.
John and Mary were both airline professionals. While he is a
former US Marine pilot who served in World War II, he was an
airline pilot with Mid-Continent Airlines which later became
Braniff Airlines. He met Rosemary, who was a flight attendant for
Braniff. They have owned several airplanes that were based at SPG.
John was co-chairman of the Airport Advisory Committee in the early
1990's.
"We are grateful for John and Rosemary's support of our airport.
We would also like to thank Mayor Baker and his subordinates for
their efforts to secure a funding method to build our new terminal
building," Tunstill added.
In the short time since the voters affirmed their desire to keep
Albert Whitted open FOREVER in the November 2003 election, Tunstill
says that "we can see great changes coming. The City will be
accepting grants from the FAA and FLDOT on April 27, 2005, to fund
airport signage construction (signs directing airplanes around the
airport), a new helipad, and the environmental assessment for the
Runway 18-36 overrun enhancement. Refurbishment of Hangars 1, 2, 5,
6, 7, and 8 will begin in June. Of course, we will see construction
of the new $2 million air traffic control tower in the not too
distant future."
ANN is pleased to note that Tunstill is still working tirelessly
(and so successfully) to support his fellow flyers... and we sure
wish we could clone him and install a copy at every GA airport in
the country.