D.R. Horton has pulled its offer to buy 297 acres of OLF-8 in the Beulah area. County Commissioner Jeff Bergosh offers his take on the decision.
“It’s really doesn’t come as a surprise,” said Bergosh. “I’ll just say that because we’ve had similar comments from each and every one of the previous potential offers. There’s a problem with the property, Rick, and really there’s a problem really with the board. We’ve been kind of wishy-washy going back and forth. So in many respects, I think we’ve met the enemy. It’s us. And in many respects, I think there’s issues with the master plan that are preventing someone from making it economically viable.”
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However, the commissioner said other prospective developers have shown interest.
“I was contacted personally by a pretty large firm out of Atlanta. As it turns out, ironically, the president of the company who I spoke with, his daughter lives in Nature Trail, and he happened to be down here. He saw it and sent me his email and his website. I looked it and checked it out. I was like, ‘Wow.’ So I forwarded his information to Wes (County Administrator Wes Moreno). Hopefully they’ll make a connection.”
“But then we had another person from South Florida, contact me yesterday. We moved very quickly, and we got a meeting with him and another partner with Wes and Alison (County Attorney Alison Rogers) yesterday at three. And my understanding is that meeting went real well.”
Mr. Peterson, I’d imagine the things that are “bothersome” to developers about following DPZ’s master plan on OLF8 might be similar to whatever reasons exist that our community isn’t being blessed with a wonderful mixed use space on Old Stinky.
Of course I couldn’t possibly know why that giant parcel of prime real estate in the heart of our Downtown, and the historic Tanyards neighborhood, isn’t being developed according to the very best, most ideal master plan DPZ could come up with for that empty land. The sky would be the limit on implementing an amazing vision that could embody many of the most wonderful aspirations that all of those outside speakers have been lecturing our community on for years now. Particularly because the history and environment of the Tanyards are being systematically destroyed, in my opinion–not to mention the flooding being greatly exaggerated in a FEMA flood plane–by overbuilt, overpriced fill residential, with much of it not even bothering to try to reflect the local architecture and aesthetic.
So why on earth not bring DPZ in to design a crown jewel of low impact, mixed use, walkable/bikeable, tiered cost, community-oriented pinnacle of those values, right in the heart of town?
Although it astonishes me to some degree that’s not happening, again, I would have no idea of the actual reasons for that decision. Left with my own wonderings and assumptions, however, if I were forced to guess, I’d have to consider the possibility that it might just have something to do with money.
I’d be curious about what *specifically* bothers these developers about the Master Plan. Requirement for sidewalks (gasp!) and walkable block lengths? Prohibition against vinyl siding? Opportunity for more density than just single-family homes?
Also, why haven’t these developers requested specific variances or exemptions for the things they feel are too onerous? That’s common practice for developments like this.
The lack of detail given from these developers makes me wonder if they even read the Plan.
The problem with the master plan is the project was driven by community input about their “Wishlist” components, however, real estate investment in development projects are driven by feasibility studies and market data. The problem with politicians trying to be developers is, they don’t have the understanding of the development process and financing requirements, politicians place too much emphasis on public input from constituents that don’t know the realities of real estate development. Basically, if the developer prospects are all saying the same thing, that is a clear indicator that there is not “market acceptance” of the project plan and political constraints of getting a deal done. I’ve walked away from opportunities because of the politics involved in getting a deal done.