Airport spaces prove popular, profitable

Zephyrhills Municipal's 40 T-hangar spaces are scheduled to open Oct. 1 and nearly all have been rented.

ZEPHYRHILLS - All but eight of the 40 new T-hangar spaces at Zephyrhills Municipal Airport have been rented to new tenants, officials said Thursday.

The T-hangars, airplane storage structures that the airport rents out, are on schedule to open Oct. 1.

Anne Wightman, an administrative assistant at the airport, said she has been working down the 113-name waiting list of people wanting to rent hangar space. Some people, she said, have found accommodations elsewhere. With others, the contact numbers no longer were current.

"That happens when you're on the list almost four years," Wightman said.

But she is only about halfway through the waiting list.

"I won't run out of people before I run out of hangars," she said.

The hangar spaces rent for $175 a month. A financial analysis prepared by the city showed that one hangar, which accommodates 10 planes and two workshops, would generate about $10,600 annually in rental income. Multiplied by four hangars, that's $42,400 a year for the city.

"These hangars are going to bring a lot more money into Zephyrhills," Wightman said. "That's 40 more planes that are going to be buying fuel, (and pilots) eating at restaurants in town. It's going to have a real economic impact - a good one."

Meanwhile, she said, three or four people come into the airport every week to add their names to the waiting list.

Airport manager Jim Werme, who contends T-hangar rentals are the best way to erase the airport's $430,000 debt, said more buildings are in the airport's long-term plans.

The airport has room for seven more hangars. In 2005, Werme said, crews will build four 50-by-50-foot units to accommodate larger planes. In 2009, they will add 30 more 40-by-30 units.

Florida Department of Transportation grants generally cover about 80 percent of the cost of such projects.

The city spent $228,000 for the four T-hangars going up now. The total cost of the project, including grant money, is about $1.14-million. The hangars will be paid off in five years, Werme said.

By October, the airport will have hangar space for 160 airplanes. Werme said he's also fielding interest from aviation-related businesses looking to lease property at the airport - another money-maker.

By 2005, he predicted, the airport should be out of debt.

Said Werme: "Things are starting to boil a little bit here."

- Molly Moorhead covers news about Zephyrhills. She can be reached at 352 521-5757 or toll-free 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6108, then 21. Her e-mail address is moorhead@sptimes.com

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