Smurfit-Stone Container Corp. announced plans to demolish the Florida Coast paper mill in Port St. Joe, Fla. The demolition work is set to begin this spring and will take about 20 months to complete. The C.C.C. Group, San Antonio, Tex., was awarded the demolition contract.
“There were no plans to reopen the mill, so it makes sense to clear the land and open it for future development,” said Ferrell Allen, Smurfit-Stone’s site manager..
Smurfit-Stone and real estate firm The St. Joe Company will work cooperatively to consider possible development concepts for the site. By dismantling the site and conducting a feasibility study, both Smurfit-Stone and The St. Joe Company hope to pave the way for the greater economic development of Gulf County and the Port St. Joe community.
The mill has been closed for around three years. The company earlier indicated that it did not plan on reopening the facility.
“We have no preconceived notions for this site, so we wanted a partner with creativity and roots in the community,” said Allen. “We believe St. Joe is the perfect fit.”