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MELIA BOWIEThe builder proposes a model home that New Port Richey would market, as well as townhomes on a vacant lot.
NEW PORT RICHEY - In a pitch to help the city's plan for a demonstration model home get off the ground, a local developer is seeking to start a public-private partnership with the city.
"I'm going to see what they want to do," builder Alex Deeb said of two proposals he made Tuesday to the city's Community Redevelopment Agency.
The first proposal is to revamp plans and build a long-envisioned three-bedroom, two-bathroom model home that the city can then market to residents for an affordable price.
The other is an idea to build townhomes on a vacant parcel near the city's new police station.
Deeb's first endeavor would enable the city to finally build its planned model home - an idea designed to give New Port Richey a facelift. The program encourages residents to replace old concrete block homes with new, stylish and affordable residences that would fit on the same size lot.
First presented in March 2003, the effort is intended to help spur residential redevelopment in New Port Richey in an attempt to remain competitive with Pasco County's fast-growing suburbs.
Gerald Paradise, assistant city manager for redevelopment, has said he wants the demonstration home to cost between $100,000 and $140,000.
Those estimates hit a snag this summer when the only bids received to build the home topped $200,000.
"I looked at the plans and said . . . I could probably do something a whole lot better (than other contractors) for a whole lot less," Deeb said Tuesday.
"I designed just a quick design of what I could build at builder cost for $100,000. If they (the city) put up the money, I'll build it. They can show it for a year and sell it and we'll split" the profit.
Redevelopment agency board members voted to let the city staff negotiate a contract with Deeb.
In an Aug. 4 memo to elected officials, Paradise said that "if this public/private partnership is successful, the developer would like to explore a possible program of partnering" on other projects.
Deeb, who developed River Bend, a gated community of 29 villas near Starkey Park, also presented redevelopment agency board members with a pitch to put townhomes near the city's police station.
"We could put about 40 units in there," Paradise said. He said he would need to go forward with engineering studies, but noted he was "trying to meet the city's needs. I think this could be a win-win for everybody."
Redevelopment agency member Ginny Miller agreed. The council also voted to work with Deeb on the second venture.