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County To Continue Discussions On Latest Offer For OLF-8 Property
April 23, 2024
Escambia County will continue discussions with the latest parties to make an offer to make an offer for 290 acres of the county-owned OLF-8 property on Nine Mile Road.
As we reported yesterday, a Letter of Intent (LOI) offering $22.5 million for 290 acres was received from a law firm on behalf of local potential buyers Cliff Mowe, land developer, and Ryan Chavers, owner of a construction company.
The Mowe and Chavers offer states they will work with the county to develop a modified version of the current master plan.
Attorney Matthew Couch said at a Monday morning commission meeting that he did not know if those changes would still include a town center, and Commissioner Jeff Bergosh said that would be a sticking point.
“I am kind of hung up on the town center,” he said. “That land was suppose to be for job generation. We had a very, very hard fought, year-long compromise that we came to. My position at this point in the game is sticking to the compromise. That’s what the citizens wanted; that’s what this board voted for.”
Bergosh also said that after discussions with a DPZ Design managing members she indicated that the master plan would likely be needed.
“She acknowledged as much there are certain aspects of it that are going to require modification,” Bergosh said “I understand that.
Commissioner Lumon May said any future decision for him will be based upon the proceeds to benefit the entire county.
“I’ve said I’m not going to vote less than $25 million…unless there some other value that comes to the citizens of Escambia County,” May commented Monday.
“It’s a piece of property. We want to get top dollar for it; it’s worth what someone is willing to pay for it,” Bergosh added.
The commission instructed County Administrator Wes Moreno and the county attorney’s office to continue discussions with Mowe and Chavers. The offer includes:
- $22.5 million for 290 acres with cash due at closing following an initial deposit of $250,000.
- a six month inspection period with closing to following in two months.
- Working with DPZ Design to develop a modified version of the current master plan. The modified master plan will include a main boulevard, , green space, retail, office, recreation areas and a mix of multi-family residential. Detached single-family homes will not be a part of the Modified Master Plan.
- “Buyers and Seller agree to cooperate with one another on developing and obtaining approval for the Modified Master Plan, creating a project the Beulah community can be proud of, with the goal of accomplishing approval during the Inspection Period,” the offer states.”
- The buyers are also promising to try to involve local firms in all development aspects of the property.
- Escambia County was recently in exclusive negations with Beulah Town Center, LLC on acreage but did not come to terms and proceeds.
Comments
21 Responses to “County To Continue Discussions On Latest Offer For OLF-8 Property”
Bonnie Exner is right on target. A problem is that some of the Bell family was in favor of selling the camp. The commissioners back then fell into the trap, made expensive deals with the Navy and al their plans fell out.
Now, they have land they need to recoup some investment from. probably from interest on notes, so they want to get it off the rolls. All their plans are going array
without public support and most of us are against their plans. they are in a pickle with no way out. As a prior 4Her I smile and snicker at the political pickle jar they don’t know how to get out of.
I agree with HEY…..lease the whole dang thing to an AMERICAN forestry company
Priming to …TRY…. and involve local firms is NOT obligatory enough.Guarantee to use 50 % local firms is more acceptable .Comm Bergosh is correct…town center MUST be included
AMEN! Pocket money for sure
Those County Commisioners doesn’t give up when they think they can line their pockets with cash. Get rid of them! More trees and less people will only benefit this County. There are enough people here now!!!
The Quintette realignment/extension is underway.
Connect the segments and you’ll see the future.
A quarter mile from a 4 lane highway? I’m done.
HEY…..lease the whole dang thing to an AMERICAN forestry company, they’ll plant trees which are good for the environment, trees will grow and be harvested for lumber and paper products which should Stay in the USA. County gets a portion of profits from sale.
This on–off goofball “MESS” by our County Commissioners is old, wornout, tired and not producing any income to the county.
BoCC just QUIT trying to be real estate know-it-alls and DO Something.
Does this mean that we won’t be getting the tennis courts now?? Good grief
It’s unreal how long this saga has dragged on. Escambia county will continue to deteriorate as long as the county commission style of government exists. For as long as I’ve paid attention (over 50 years), this county has struggled to improve while five little tyrants spend their time infighting and self-aggrandizing. It’s time for a change so the citizens of the county can enjoy the progress much of the rest of the country experiences through effective, cooperative governance.
The county is not a real estate company. Sell the land and put the money into infrastructure/emergency apparatus.. Commissioners it’s not what makes you look good for Re-election but what’s better for the county.
I’ll repeat what I said before…”MATT LANGLY BELL WOULD ROLL.OVER IN HIS GRAVE IF HE KNEW WHAT OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WERE DOING WITH HIS PROPERTY.!”
signed,
Former 4-H er and Farmer.
We the people need to keep a close eye on these shenanigans. No more housing and no more retail. Major corporate only, or let it sit.
This is ridiculous. How many years has this been dragging along? How much money and how many man-hours has the County expended?
A marvelous strategy to move heaven and earth to obtain a property without knowing what you intend to do afterwards.
Modifying the current version of the master plan to me means rearranging a few things, moving a road here or there, leaving you with 90%+ of the original. When the new version looks nothing like the old one and what is being offered is no where near the same, that is a replacement master plan, which is what this group will be offering.
In addition, what is with all the apartment complexes going up all over the EscaRosa area. Why is this something county commissioners seem to get all excited about. A preliminary look shows they generate less in property taxes then development of a 5-6/house per acre neighborhood of detached houses on the same property.
Does something have to be built in every vacant space? Please stop!!!!!!!! People are already stressed out by the Federal Government.
Oh yes, Heaven forbid we have land anywhere without buildings on it.
Don’t sell. The county is not fiscally responsible.
“The buyers are also promising to try to involve local firms in all development aspects of the property.” This is where the ECC get their campaign donations. Don’t think they are negotiating for our best interest.
Why is hanging on to something of value so hard for the Commissioners. It does not have to be sold or constructed. Just leave it alone.
Those of you concerned about developing this parcel of land had nothing to worry about. This is Escambia County the county commissioners have no idea how to do this. So it will never get developed in our lifetime or the next. Maybe in 2150 you might get a strip mall and a dollar general.
It’s going to be another strip mall and apartments. Just face it. None of these grand and glorious plans ever turn out to be true.