I just drove thru the Homestead at Liberty Grove subdivision. The builders have arrived!!! Both Weekley and Cambridge have moved mobile construction trailers onto the site. Weekley has built decks on their office and Cambridge are finishing the decks on theirs.
Driving thru the subdivision, at least one Weekley house is underway whereby they are getting the slab ready to pour. There are other temporary power poles setup thru out the subdivision. There are approximately a half dozen of these poles erected. These sites do not have the builder's signs on them yet. However, other vacant lots thru out the subdivision has "for sale" signs posted. Cambridge did not seem to have any signage up yet, however they should be up soon. Essentially, the builders are announcing their arrival.
Even tho the builders are about a year late, it wasn't their fault. The subdivision wasn't ready. This subdivision had a problem getting finished. A pretty big problem. It looked to me like they ran out of money about a year ago, and have been trying to finish up with change found in the couch cushions. They still have to clean up the subdivision, finish the final grade (which they're starting, kinda). finish the entry monument sign, and any landscaping needed. Weeds will start to become a problem soon, so they need to start mowing.
As pleasant as it is to report progress, the builder's arrival is only the first step in success. The developer would have had to produce lots and builders still have to produce houses that are acceptable to the marketplace.
The really big test is market acceptance. If the public does not like a Form Base Code subdivision, nor the houses being built, it will be a short success story. . .
Driving thru the subdivision, at least one Weekley house is underway whereby they are getting the slab ready to pour. There are other temporary power poles setup thru out the subdivision. There are approximately a half dozen of these poles erected. These sites do not have the builder's signs on them yet. However, other vacant lots thru out the subdivision has "for sale" signs posted. Cambridge did not seem to have any signage up yet, however they should be up soon. Essentially, the builders are announcing their arrival.
Even tho the builders are about a year late, it wasn't their fault. The subdivision wasn't ready. This subdivision had a problem getting finished. A pretty big problem. It looked to me like they ran out of money about a year ago, and have been trying to finish up with change found in the couch cushions. They still have to clean up the subdivision, finish the final grade (which they're starting, kinda). finish the entry monument sign, and any landscaping needed. Weeds will start to become a problem soon, so they need to start mowing.
As pleasant as it is to report progress, the builder's arrival is only the first step in success. The developer would have had to produce lots and builders still have to produce houses that are acceptable to the marketplace.
The really big test is market acceptance. If the public does not like a Form Base Code subdivision, nor the houses being built, it will be a short success story. . .
Weekley's Construction Trailer
Cambridge Construction Trailer
Weekley signs and start of finish grade.
Forming up a Weekley slab.
I wish the Homestead of Liberty Grove the best of luck. Gotta ways to go yet, but the first step has been taken.
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Now, not so good news. The assisted living project just about 400-500 feet south of the Homestead entrance is showing signs of serious distress. All the slabs are poured and the underground plumbing roughed into place, but all the site paving is not yet done. There has been no substantial construction activity in over a month. A temporary water meter is still attached to the fire hydrant and some equipment is left on site. This project is demonstrating all the symptoms of running out of money. I have seen projects run out of money before, but never at the slab stage. I have seen developers loot the construction account treasury and go to Jamaica. I'm not saying that's what happened here, but somebody needs to do some explaining. I know at least one lender that should want to know what's going on. Of course, that's assuming the lender has enough administration savvy to know what the hell is going on. That's a fairly tall order by itself.
However, I'm not worried about the developer or the lender. I am worried about Rowlett. We don't need this. We've already suffered a couple of black eyes. We don't need any more. The City Council needs someone to tell them what's going on with these new developments. There doesn't seem to be any "feed back" about development progress on deals the tax payers have invested tax revenue or actual cash into. Somebody on Staff should be responsible to reporting monthly to Council about our "deals." When I occasionally ask a question of "officialdom," I seem to get blank stares. Of course, they can't talk about what they don't know about. We have a hole that needs plugged up. Council needs to create a "reporter" to communicate project progress.
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Now, not so good news. The assisted living project just about 400-500 feet south of the Homestead entrance is showing signs of serious distress. All the slabs are poured and the underground plumbing roughed into place, but all the site paving is not yet done. There has been no substantial construction activity in over a month. A temporary water meter is still attached to the fire hydrant and some equipment is left on site. This project is demonstrating all the symptoms of running out of money. I have seen projects run out of money before, but never at the slab stage. I have seen developers loot the construction account treasury and go to Jamaica. I'm not saying that's what happened here, but somebody needs to do some explaining. I know at least one lender that should want to know what's going on. Of course, that's assuming the lender has enough administration savvy to know what the hell is going on. That's a fairly tall order by itself.
However, I'm not worried about the developer or the lender. I am worried about Rowlett. We don't need this. We've already suffered a couple of black eyes. We don't need any more. The City Council needs someone to tell them what's going on with these new developments. There doesn't seem to be any "feed back" about development progress on deals the tax payers have invested tax revenue or actual cash into. Somebody on Staff should be responsible to reporting monthly to Council about our "deals." When I occasionally ask a question of "officialdom," I seem to get blank stares. Of course, they can't talk about what they don't know about. We have a hole that needs plugged up. Council needs to create a "reporter" to communicate project progress.
Weeds, concrete, and plumbing PVC....and not much else.
More weeds, concrete, and plumbing PVC...and not much else.
Abandoned temp water meter and lonely equipment......or yeah, more weeds.
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Well, the news ain't all bad. However, it should serve to demonstrate a need. Someone needs to keep the Council informed of what's going on........presumably someone that is savvy about development sites. The city should be able to walk onsite any time they want.
Come on, Jennifer. Let them have it!
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Well, the news ain't all bad. However, it should serve to demonstrate a need. Someone needs to keep the Council informed of what's going on........presumably someone that is savvy about development sites. The city should be able to walk onsite any time they want.
Come on, Jennifer. Let them have it!
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