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Read comments (20)Escue met with members of the city's Finance Committee on Tuesday with a proposal for Westbrook Subdivision, a project that will offer 53 lots for new houses in what Escue called the middle-income bracket.
Westbrook Subdivision is slated to beoff Upper Finley Road and Jenkinsville-Jamestown Road, next to the Camelot Subdivision.
"This is not in any way associated with low-income housing," said Escue, who said the subdivision would be comparable to Camelot, with lots selling for around $30,000 and home packages from $150,000 to $175,000. "In real estate right now, that is where the demand is."
Escue said the base price to build the first phase of the subdivision would be $27,000 per lot and that he and investors will only be able to spend $16,000 per lot to offer the homes in the middle-income price range.
"What I guess I'm asking for is to see what the city is willing to invest," said Escue. "What I'm looking for today is to see if the city is even willing to work with us on this. I'm basing my future in Dyersburg on this. We are at kind of a stalemate. This is the one development we are working on and if that's it -- I need to move on."
Escue said that although Farms developer Judy Burks told members of the Finance Committee at a recent meeting that no more land in the Farms acreage will be developed, he and Glenn Hall are looking into developing another 17.5 acres in the development in the future.
"Just because she's my mother-in-law doesn't mean I agree with everything she says," said Escue. "Glen and I are looking at developing land out there. I just want you to know there are plans. A lot of that depends on this. If this (project) doesn't go, we're out of here."
"This sounds like it would be appropriate for the new high-falutin' city engineer we've just hired," said committee member Bob Kirk.
"He's sitting right behind you," said Mayor John Holden.
Newly-hired city engineer Brad Davis, with SSR Ellers of Memphis, joined the meeting just in time to hit the ground running and discuss the details of the development with Escue, Holden, Kirk, committee member Kevin Chaney, committee chair Lewis Norman, City Recorder Gleyn Twilla and purchasing agent Greg Williams.
Although he did not request a specific action or investment amount from the city, Escue said that a deficit of $11,000 per lot exists between what the developers are willing to invest and the cost of the subdivision. He also said that the developer's investment should be reimbursed quickly because the subdivision will bring benefits to the city indefinitely.
"We only get a one-time lick at this," said Escue. "The city is going to get infinite rewards."
"We have perpetual maintenance," said Twilla. "Once it is completed, those streets will have to be paved. No matter how well it's engineered, you are still going to have water problems. More houses mean more fire stations for the fire department, more cars for the police department."
Another hurdle to cross is that the subdivision will be located in the Northwest Utility district, which has offered to run underground electric cable for free as long as gas lines are not run in the subdivision.
"It costs an incredible amount of money to keep these systems running," said Chaney. "It's going to be pretty hard to spend city tax money on Northwest infrastructure."
Escue gave examples of public/private partnerships or incentives given by Union City and Ripley. Norman asked about communities like Arlington, Lakeland and Jackson, and Twilla updated the group on a negative situation in Millington and Union City's five attempts at promoting residential growth with varying degrees of success.
Davis and Escue discussed meeting at a later date to go over the figures of the proposed subdivision. The group also discussed contacting other municipalities in the area to see what they offer as incentives to developers within their city limits.
"I would like to meet with city engineers in these cities," said Holden. "Go to Union City and Millington and visit those sites and talk with those people. Let's see what we can do about that. We've talked about affordable housing. I think it's important. It's important for the future of Dyersburg."
Committee members were also cautioned about entering into an agreement that will obligate them to offer similar packages to future developers, and reassured that any agreement or contract will be drafted by the city attorney's office.
"If you do it for one, you have to do it for everyone," said Kirk.
"I don't know how we are going to do it, but we'll sure look into it," said Chaney.
"I really believe we need to do something," said Twilla. "My heart says we need to do it, but my head just cannot see it working."
"I'm trying to look at this as a partnership," said Escue. "I want to live here. I want to stay here. I'm doing the best I can to stay here, but it all comes down to this. We are just trying to bring this to a point. I'm just glad to know that maybe this is something we can do."
Also at the meeting, Holden informed the committee that he had sent a letter to Judy Burks with documentation that the city had paid its part on the lift station she requested reimbursement for. The de-annexation of Burks' land has been deferred to the planning commission with input also requested from the Municipal Technical Advisory Service on the matter.
Muscadine is so right! Someone should start a grassroots movement to revitalize Milltown. The streets are laid out nice and there is opportunity for small businesses along Harrell Ave. It could start out small and develop into something big. The community needs to get involved. Pahhead57 and getter-done could go in together and start a small business in one of the vacant buildings along Harrell Ave and create some jobs for people who need them instead of waiting for city government to bring jobs to them. City government should help more people with small business loans and grants and subsidies to re-build the area. Everyone has to work together to make our town a better place.
Panhead57...ignorance would be a compliment for you, plain stupid suits you better. The "other industry" is NSK and they did not bring their own workers! 90% of their employees are from Dyer County. Of course NSK is a Japanese owned manufacturer but so are a large percentage of products you have probably purchased in the last year are from an overseas company (China, Japan, India); you do know where these countries are located on a map, right? Unfortunately, you don't see the opportunities of having a large automotive supplier in this community. More industry is relocating to the south and with that their suppliers will follow. So Panhead57, consider taking a refresher course in economics or shut your redneck mouth before your true lack of knowledge and utter stupidity further embarrass you and the rest of this community. Personally, I would hire a Japanese employee over someone like you any day of the week!
Milltown has the infrastructure........ streets, water, natural gas, sewer, electricity, fire protection, police protection........ when gasoline reaches $7.00 a gallon, shrewd entrepreneurs will be building houses on those vacant lots to sell, not just rent.............
Homes, you might ought to get some new industry in here that don,t bring their own workers with them, So Dyersburg residents can have a job to pay for a new damn home. Thought this mayor was gonna do something. Yea we got Briggs n Stratton and that other new one but they brought their workers. And can't understand anything they say, didn,t they pass a law Speak English or GET OUT
A sales technique to promote the development of Milltown East: "You're not likely to live next door to Mr. SQ nor his mother-in-law."
I love the Milltown idea as well. I moved to that neighborhood 6 months ago and its actually a step up from where I moved from. We looked in to buying a home here, but unfortunately we'd have to have a 10% down payment. Easier said than done for a family on a fixed income. We are NOT one of those families that WANT to rent all our lives. I'm sure most of you know that in many cases a monthly house note can actually be cheaper than monthly rent and you aren't just "throwing your money out the window".
Milltown is still a nice neighborhood. We still sit outside and converse with our neighbors and look out for each others kids, but it does need to be cleaned up and cleaned out! Not everyone in this neighborhood are drug dealers and users and we don't like living next to them any more than you do.
That's a very good idea and worth working toward. How about some trees than can be decorated at Christmas the way the mill used to do?
I envision the Cotton Mill property to be a walking/biking greenway park with trees, a fountain in the middle, park benches and beautiful landscaping. This park could be called Milltown Park and it could be surrounded by cute cottage style homes where people would enjoy living and be proud to call it home. There are many government funded programs for the greenways and walkways that city government should be aware of. There are also programs for urban renewal. You can either take a negative view and let it decline further or you can take a postivie attitude and start putting into place all the studies and backing to make our world (Dyersburg) a beautiful affordable place for everyone.
Dream on, fellows. Milltown will never be the same. The mill is gone. So is the Dr Pepper and Double Cola plants. They've moved the fair grounds and bury people on the midway where the girlie shows used to be. The only visible sign of progress in Milltown is the high-tech 911 emergency facility.
Most people are so poor'you can see it at the walmart plus Kroger. Only people with food stamps shop at these stores.The rich ones go to jackson.;or bigger citys.Ive' never this is the straw that will break Dyersburg. there are no JOB"S hear.! I agree fix up our TOWN. Some one must think they are in the Brush Family only he lives in Washgtion state and Texas.
Hey, Dyersburg. We can do both! Mr. Escue can develop new property and "Milltown" can be renovated. Mayor John Holden and I grew up on the same street and heard the mill whistle blow every morning. I'm sure that he would love to hear these comments to make the old neighborhood better!
I agree with Glenda. Milltown used to be a beautiful place when I was growing up. I realize it was a different world then, but the city could do a lot to keep it from turning into a slum neighborhood. There are still a lot of really good people in Milltown who take care of their property and take pride in their homes. I'm waiting for a contractor or individual to start tearing down the homes that have deteriorated and build the new cottage style homes for first time home buyers you see in some of the more progressive areas of the country. The city should make this a priority, not urban sprawl. Contractors and developers are out to make big money fast and the city lets them do it. The city planners should start a program to renew the areas that are starting to decay. Affordable housing is not $175,000.
Do any of you besides me smell something in Dyersburg and It starts with bull?
I wish somebody would take Milltown and flip it back to the way it used to be instead of building more expensive homes.. Alot of nice people are living there and trying to make their small homes pretty but there is so much property there that is neglected and just awful that it is hurting the area. Alot of those little houses could be flipped and made for older folks who are wanting a smaller home and also for young folks who cannot yet afford the larger homes. That used to be a nice area , not rich but homey with painted houses, clean yards with flowers and people sitting on the porch after work. Kids playing up and down the street not like now. The houses that have deteriorated to the point of tear down could be replaced with new Katrina homes. They are cute and affordable and just right for those lots. Just something to think about. We should take care of our older homes and neighborhoods before committing to newer very expensive homes for folks to worry about paying for.
Bye Bye Billy
The Farms, I like that name. Will they let you raise pigs and chickens out there?
"This is not in any way associated with low-income housing"
then why would you ask the city for money?
Mr. Escue, aa far as I am concerned you can move on............ We don't need developers in Dyersburg who are arrogant enough to ask for goverment subsidies to build $175,000 homes.....................
I love how these people act like they are doing Dyersburg a favor by making themselves money. Dyersburg has enough affordable housing right now(64 listings 75,000 to 175,000) than people that can afford them. We also have 3 subdivisions right now with homes within this price range with just 2 or 3 homes that are actually built. With the housing market like it is now the city will spend alot of money to offer these services and install water, sewer, power. But if there is no one living there no money is being made. And the worst thing of it is that the good working people of Dyersburg will lose money on thier homes because these developers overbuilt our area which causes our home values to plumit because supply will be greater than demand for these homes. And to ask the city to help with the cost of development is ridiculous.
Affordable housing at $150,000 to $175,000 is not middle income to me. Maybe I am just not knowledgeable to what middle income is. It would be nice if it were a program for those that want to buy a nice home such as first time homeowners or lower income renters wanting to purchase a home, there is not a market for that. Bigger cities have many programs such as sweat equity, down payment assistance programs and homebuyer class programs that would encourage and educate more people to buy homes. There is a major rental market here with everyone building homes but renting. Some of the rent is very high for the areas they are in but if you can't buy this is all that's available. It is hard to rent a home in Dyersburg because the selections are few. It would be nice if there were some programs with options to rent to own that would be encouraging to those who really want to buy a home on a fixed income and stepup to homeownership. Maybe someone could start some programs like that, I bet you would have many that would be interested.