How one connected developer's big ambitions in a rural Northeast Jacksonville neighborhood became a microcosm of the city's relationship with sprawl...
http://folioweekly.com/THE-FIGHT-TO-KEEP-A-DEVELOPER-FROM-PAVING-PARADISE-IN-JACKSONVILLE,12117
Good observation
QuoteThe area's proximity to protected lands has done much to shelter its beauty, but that charm is also a draw for homebuilders.
Looking at what happened around Jax in the last 25 years, I've seen so many once beautiful areass completely ruined by sprawl, especially towards the beaches, replaced with (gated) communities, Mc Mansions and strip malls.
The sad thing is that what draws developers to these areas is often ruined by them.
As for increasing property values - wouldn't that also drive up property taxes, i.e. if you want to stay you lose both your rural style of living and may be forced to sell your property anyhow.
I used to live on Black Hammock Island, before the boom, and sold after the bust at a staggering loss. During this time, Paul Fletcher of Marsh Landing fame, pushed through a major development zoning change, that had many of the same concerns. Fletcher was doing other coastal development In think in South Carolina, and later abandoned the project due to the crash. They started with a ridiculously high number of home to start, and then negotiated down to a more reasonable number, but still the same issues with water, septic, schools, roads, and damage to a pristine area. Barbara Goodman, superintendent of the Timucuan preserve, was quickly discredited by the city council for wearing her uniform, so as to appear important. She was on official business. Warren Alvarez, and others thought more 'executive' homes were needed. It was scary to see how fast major decisions were made.