City should go slowly on mobile home park

Be careful for what you wish, Port Richey. The City Council majority should move cautiously with its stated desire to acquire a dilapidated mobile home park at River Gulf Road near the commercial strip at the northern apex of Grand Boulevard and U.S. 19.

The 1.6-acre park has been a thorn in the side of neighbors because of complaints of fighting, prostitution and alcohol-related criminal behavior. The park went on the market 16 months ago and the occupants began leaving several months later. Now vacant, the area remains unsightly from litter and other debris.

This week, the council voted 4-1 to have city attorney/acting city manager and nearby resident James Mathieu negotiate a purchase agreement subject to the council's final approval. A neighborhood cleanup would be a lot cheaper.

The asking price is $799,000. The park sold three years ago for $690,000 and is assessed for tax purposes by the property appraiser's office at $622,752. Its current tax bill is more than $11,000 of which nearly $2,500 comes to the city. That is government revenue that will be lost, at least temporarily if the city buys the property.

Ridding the city of blight is a logical step in Port Richey's redevelopment effort. But police said crime reports have dropped since the tenants vacated the property, which diminishes the sense of urgency. The lack of sales activity from the private sector after 16 months also should give council members pause.

More appropriately, the city would be better served by a redevelopment effort that can move beyond its infancy, develop a clear vision and reduce impulsive behavior from the council. At various times, individual council members have proposed building a parking garage, redeveloping the waterfront west of U.S. 19, helping to redevelop a commercial district east of U.S. 19 along the north side of the Pithlachascotee River, and financing the still unapproved dredging of canals. It's a long list of wants to try to fill with a short amount of redevelopment dollars. Now, add mobile home park purchase to the itinerary at the suggestion of council member Nancy Britton who lives near the park.

Exactly what Port Richey will do with the land, if acquired, isn't clear. Getting into the real estate business with anticipated private sector involvement can be time-consuming and does not always prove fruitful. Just ask New Port Richey which has multiple stalled projects on city-acquired land. It's not an ideal spot for recreational use either because of the neighboring commercial businesses.

The unknowns are a legitimate reason to put the brakes on this acquisition until the council can better define its long-term redevelopment goals and match it with available resources.

[Last modified November 29, 2007, 21:03:36]