Where did everybody go?

I spent a little time driving around town, today.  I do this occasionally for relaxation, and I also check on our "growing tax base."    It's like a bus man's holiday.  That's what I do for a living. 

I just don't understand what's going on at Homestead at Liberty Grove.  Every time I ask anyone from "officialdom" why it's going so slow, I get answers like, "Boy, you just wait and see."  I've been "waiting and seeing" for a year past the time the subdivision development should be done.  Folks, this is what I do for a living.  I check development and construction projects for the banks that's lending all the money to complete them.  Any banks I currently work for would be absolutely livid with such poor production performance by Homestead. 

Now, about two real good five iron shots south of Homestead, is the new assisted living project currently underway (or was).  Most of the slabs and flatwork are poured.........then nothing.  The PVC plumbing pipe coming thru the slabs look like a plastic tree farm just getting a good start........then all stopped. 

The weeds on both projects are beginning to give them the "abandoned" look. 

Some photos of Homestead.   .

They are cutting across recently paved street to accommodate some drainage issue presumably to a small lake to the right.  Where was the engineer when this work was designed?  It's usually better to complete the engineering before pouring the streets.

Really poor grading.  Not final at all.  This grading creates a double retainage wall, or a whole lot of additional grading to achieve the angle of repose.  It's just sloppy.  I presume they are going to let the builder do that, but the builder won't be happy about it.  Maybe that's why they haven't shown up, yet.

Again, pretty sloppy grading.  This corner is just before needing weeds cut......say two weeks.  Again, subdivision not very inviting to builders when unkept. 

I guess they are going to get a subdivision monument sign.  I would like to see the design.  Right now it looks like it's going to be a metal sign with flashing lights.  Maybe it will be the modern "ribbon sign" whereby a continuous message is advertised for extra income.  Maybe they could play some Country Western music and put a plastic bubble guy outside.  Who wants any of those old fashioned stone entries, anyway.

Homestead is a year past due.  I have been told the builders are coming.  There is now a new sign that Cambridge Homes and Weekley Homes are coming.  There is no sign of builder activity.  I truly have doubts the lots are sold.  If so, the builders should be applying for their model home permits.  In fact, they should have been underway three months ago.  Maybe the city is the problem.  I Don't know.

Some photos of the assisted living project.

Some equipment on site, but I haven't seen any serious activity for at least a couple of weeks.

Sure a lot of plastic PVC pipes sticking up from the slabs.  Framing should have started some time ago.  The construction entrance is pretty poor.  Slight rain will "mud it up" pretty quick.   Not enough crushed rock to establish stable entrance for material delivery and workman access.  Will darn sure slow things down.

Plumbing pipes sure look lonely out there.  They haven't had anyone around them for quite a while.  PVC pipes get lonely, too.
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There's probably a couple of other projects I would like to check.  I wouldn't mind reporting their progress to the city.  However, all I think it would do is make the city mad.  They seem to be offended if someone suggests their wisdom is less than Solomon.  I don't know who's in charge of keeping City Council aware of the progress of the projects they approve, but whoever it is needs to come back from vacation.  Altho, there might not be anyone charged with that responsibility, somebody should be watching our tax base development store.  I suppose it might be the same person that didn't tell City Council the three restaurant deal wasn't working even with free land.  I suspicion the deal couldn't be put together.  I know I wouldn't have loaned money on the venture, yet.  I guess we got the land back.  Oh, well.  It was only worth $75K......or, that's what the Staff Report said.