That's the question that keeps going through my mind and the mind of many that have watched the local growth continue to press as if they're going to run out of houses before people to buy them. Lancaster is at an all time high on available homes due to the MASSIVE foreclosure inventory in the area. Furthermore the Fort Worth Star Telegram sites that "Home Deals are Better but Financing Harder to Get." ( by, Andrea Jares Section C Front Page )
This brings a very interesting question to light. If home sales are declining from their record highs a few years ago as also stated, and foreclosure inventory is at an all time high coupled with more difficult financing terms...Who exactly is going to buy these Preserves boxes? Now I know there will be plenty of people lined up to stay in the apartments, and the nail salons and rent a microwave places are waiting to move into the retail slots but who's going to buy the "big" stuff. You know, the 15,000 sq. ft lot stuff? Or has that been changes too? Anyway, with a 6% drop in New Home closings this year and a product designed to entice a "more discerning" buyer, why now? There's no market existing for this development. No one coming to Lancaster and asking Ellen to take them to the exclusive section of Lancaster because they heard that Lancaster was the "place to be." No one is touting Lancaster as the next Arlington boom location. Furthermore no one wants that! How many folks can honestly say they want more people to move into such a small town. Can a city that struggles and fails to maintain it's current infrastructure *( I.E. leaking Police Department, Horrible Streets, Storm Drainage issues, etc. ) afford to build? How does that work? We have had disappearing park fees from Meadowview, invisible use of impact fees city wide, and a school system so heavily taxed both literally and figuratively that it simply can't keep up with the changes! How is 2000-2400 more people going to help that situation?
While we're on the subject of schools, how much do you think Larry's next Acropolis will cost. You realize that he'll need to build one for the southern sector don't you? By the way, with L.I.S.D. trying desperately to convince citizens that higher taxes will result in better spending habits, how will an extra 2.5 children per 2000 residential homes effect the equation? Who pays for those changes? Changes that will need to be made, expansions that will need to happen, BEFORE these folks come to Lancaster. If they're coming at all! Am I the only one that sees these things or am I just the only one that cares? If so...that's just sad. I have no vested interest in what happens there except a boiling desire to watch Steve and Tommy eat their own lies ( and possible get hit by an asteroid...) Besides that, I'll see Lancaster from time to time in joint North Texas planning issues because of other responsibilities. That being said, where are the folks from the other sections of Lancaster?
Think this won't effect you? How long do you wait at Minyards to check out? How long will you wait once 2000 plus residential homes are built. Don't forget apartments... Think they are going somewhere else to shop? Maybe but since you only have one grocery option, why wouldn't they use it. Better yet, why would anyone move somewhere with a dismal I.S.D. performance record and one grocery store? Value...that's why! You can't have your cake and eat it too. You can't have growth without catalyst and the people that would consider a $300,000 home aren't going to come to an area that has so many opportunities already. So once again I ask why now?
Answer... Because these guys CAN'T AFFORD for this to fail. The question is can Lancaster afford for it to succeed?
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