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500-home project shrinks to none

By TIMES WIRES
Published April 7, 2007

DADE CITY

In a part of the county where new developments used to be a dime a dozen, another megaproject has left the scene.

Crosswinds Florida, the local offshoot of a 36-year-old Michigan developer, will no longer build 500 homes proposed on 280 acres in southeast Dade City.

"No, we're not" going on with the project, said Stephanie Blake, a Crosswinds representative involved with the project. "I'm not at liberty to discuss why that transaction didn't happen."

Dade City officials also confirmed that Crosswinds had canceled its contract to purchase the 280 acres from the Larkin family.

Crosswinds had worked on the project for more than a year, including rezoning and annexing it into the city.

Those associated with the project say Crosswinds' decision was prompted by financial problems largely due to the downturn in the residential market, much like most developers in the building industry.

Its pullout from Dade City is a sign of the times.

Across the Tampa Bay area, only one in 20 homes is now finding a buyer within a month. Two years ago, half of all homes found buyers in a comparable period.

Work has also slowed on major developments such as the 5,000-acre Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel. In the past six months, Richmond American Homes canceled two contracts on proposed developments covering about 240 acres in Land O'Lakes.

NEW PORT RICHEY

Former health chief to serve as volunteer

Dr. Marc Yacht retired from a job - not from life. That's why starting next week the former Pasco County Health Department director will start volunteering as a doctor at the CARES Senior Health Clinic in New Port Richey. Yacht retired in February after 19 years with the department but will be at the senior clinic one day a week. Once liability issues are ironed out he soon hopes to be volunteering at the Good Samaritan Clinic, too.

TAMPA

Hillsborough hires new internal auditor

Hillsborough County commissioners have hired a new internal performance auditor whose job is to look for ways county government can spend tax dollars more efficiently.

James Barnes, a certified internal auditor and certified government audit professional from the Panhandle, begins work Monday at a salary of $106,850.

Barnes has spent 27 years analyzing and reporting on local, state and federal government agencies and their contractors.

He replaces Kathleen Mathews, the county's first internal performance auditor. She left at the end of 2006 after a little more than three years on the job. Mathews resigned after receiving critical evaluations from some commissioners who questioned her managerial abilities.

[Last modified April 7, 2007, 01:25:13]