Tourism and charter fishing were thriving in St. Andrews, Panama City’s oldest community, until the 1970's when the charter boats moved west to the developing beach area.
The historic community fell into decline, until the Panama City Commissioners designated St. Andrews as a Community Redevelopment Area in 1989, and then received acceptance to the Department of Community Affairs “Waterfronts Florida Program” in 1997. Since then, a variety of grants from the State of Florida, in the form of funding and technical assistance, have been tools for revitalizing St. Andrews into a sustainable waterfront community.

A broad-based community visioning project, designation to the Waterfronts Florida Program, thousands of volunteer hours, and several grants have been coordinated through the St. Andrews Waterfront Florida Program since 1996. Based on the St. Andrews community’s Vision Plan, Historic Revitalization Plan, and Community Redevelopment Plan, the director, Nancy Wengel, coordinates activities and projects with citizens, organizations, businesses, the Community Redevelopment Agency, City, County, and State agencies; applies for and administers grants; and keeps the community informed about Project activities through media, internet, and newsletter publications. Projects may range from administering the Historic Signage Program, to collaboration with new development projects. The historic Panama City Publishing Company building is managed by and is home to the Waterfront Project operations, which provides opportunities for volunteers to participate in shaping St. Andrews for the future.

Mrs. Wengel became Director in 2000, after 13 years of retail and business management experience, and 5 years of involvement in the St. Andrews revitalization process. Mrs. Wengel is a board member of the St. Andrews Kiwanis Club, a community representative to the St. Andrew School Advisory Committee, and an honorary member of the Gulf Jazz Society.

Specialized training through the Florida Department of Community Affairs and the Florida Redevelopment Association are ongoing to keep the director in step with the ever-changing environmental and Special District regulations that apply to waterfront revitalization and community redevelopment. For its successful efforts, the St. Andrews Waterfront Partnership is recognized as a model Waterfronts Florida Program community. Since 2000, the Council for Sustainable Florida, Operation Cinderella, and the Bay County Audubon Society have recognized the St. Andrews Waterfront Project for success in revitalization.

The St. Andrews revitalization is an innovative, successful partnership between the city and the citizens.