New data to draw retailers?

Palm Coast Observer
News

In 2000, the city’s population was 32,732. The 2010 U.S. Census reveals there are now 75,180 living in Palm Coast, and 95,696 in Flagler County.

Coffee. Doughnuts. Seafood. Pasta. Popcorn. Candies. Movies.

All of those indulgences are available to Palm Coast residents, thanks to an influx in restaurants and retail stores coming to town over the past nine months. And with the release of the 2010 U.S. Census data, more such stores and restaurants could be heading to Palm Coast.

The data released this month showed Flagler County has nearly doubled in size, going from 45,864 in population in April 2000, to 95,696 in April 2010 — a 92% increase.

County Commissioner Milissa Holland spearheaded the Flagler Counts! campaign in February 2010, urging residents to fill out the Census forms and mail them back.

Flagler County had the fifth-best return rate in the United States, at 76%, Holland said Tuesday.

With the higher numbers, County Spokesman Carl Laundrie said new stores and restaurants should follow.
“Commercial looks at the number of rooftops,” Laundrie said.

One of those could be Panera Bread, which plans to open in Palm Coast. The project is under review, though no timetable has been set for its arrival.

Palm Coast City Manager Jim Landon said: “Now that the census numbers are out, that 32,000 number will get off people’s computers,” he said. “Having a real census number now erases that stigma of only being in the 30s.”

David Lusby, vice president of commercial land sales at Palm Coast Holdings, said Flagler County has continued to grow despite its economic woes — something other counties haven’t done.

And continuing to grow, Lusby said, “will be the key to our continued growth in the retail sector.”