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| Less (new high density housing built on OLF-8) is More (better 😊) |
But what would the total number of residential units be, if some buyer made an offer and built out the OLF-8 field precisely as DPZ stipulates in their Hybrid Plan - the compromise plan the board adopted two years ago for OLF 8? How does that number of residences compare to the latest offer/plan submitted by D.R. Horton and Stirling Properties in their revised offer of $24.1 Million for OLF-8?
I wanted to know so I asked staff to do an analysis--which they recently completed and sent back to me.
"We’ve broken down the numbers of the plans into overall
residential densities. The Horton (new) plan doesn’t include the mixed
residential/commercial category as in the hybrid plan, and it proposes much
lower overall densities.
Under the DPZ hybrid plan adopted by the board--the 61 acres set aside for residential development allowed for up to 40 units per acre. So, multiplying the 61 acres for high density residential dwellings in the DPZ hybrid plan (and not including any of the hundreds of residential over retail in the DPZ plan's 47 acre set-aside for mixed use)==you get more than 2,400 residential units on OLF 8!!
So the latest Horton/Stirling plan cuts, by more than half, the total number of traffic exacerbating, infrastructure taxing high-density residential dwelling units on the field while still providing retail, a town center, green spaces, restaurants, and other amenities---as well as a significant amount of space for job creation.
Remember--most that live out here in Beulah, like I do, wanted NO RESIDENTIAL on this field, as we have plenty of high density residential development all around this area already.
Just more to consider as we look at what is proposed.
But for my vote---LESS residential and more amenities is bettter.
Flawed argument in all ways. Comparing apples and oranges. Of course the density is going to be less if DR Horton is purchasing 4.5x the land. The whole idea of DPZ included mixed use type of units, integrated in all forms and fashions- and not cookie cutter tract houses that all look the same. The hybrid plan gave the best shot for an employer to actually come in and have the residential they needed to attract the best talent in the world. Can’t have high paying jobs if you don’t have the high quality homes to support those jobs! It’s crystal clear how events are unfolding that DR Horton is steering the commissioners to build Horton land, we only wish that you were as tough on DR Horton as you were with DPZ or anything else you oppose. The fact is you are folding like a lawn chair in terms of negotiating for your constituents simply because DR Horton is waving their version of everything OLF8 should not be— and in the process not paying a little more in terms of the value. Give us some sort of originality and sizzle to Beulah. Give us more green space. Give us a bigger town center. Give us one small strip of a downtown. Fight like hell Bergosh, because if you can’t stand for the people of Beulah… no one else can! The fact is you have not mentioned one counter point of anything that you don’t like about the deal! That is extremely suspicious when you’re the first to bring issues or concerns when they deserve. I hope your next post rather than be a cheerleader, bring some talking points of what you don’t want at OLF-8 to DR Horton. How about making the deal pencil from of what is right perspective for your constituents? How about we look at what this deal could be, and look back and say— wow Bergosh at least negotiated and gave us all he could and put his heart on his sleeve for the people that voted for him. Where is the fight? Where is that fire? Where is the Bergosh who shows up and is tough on developers looking to make profits beyond belief in our backyard? Where is the Bergosh who knows that the majority of his community just want him to look at things objectively and not be swayed by big corporate bureaucracy? That Bergosh is long gone from what I see in this political theatrics, it’s just so obvious that being cozy with DR Horton is what’s best for Bergosh and not Escambia County.
ReplyDeleteMet with one of the developers of Jubilee tonight. What a fantastic town center and village they will have in Pace. Once again our ignorant approach will leave us with a huge missed opportunity
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