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Townhomes may replace mobile homes

New Port Richey officials like the idea of Deep Lagoon Townhomes' helping to build the tax base.

By MELIA BOWIE
Published April 22, 2005

NEW PORT RICHEY - Plans are under way to convert a mobile home site into a three-story townhome project this month.

City officials are working with developer DRA Properties LLC to build Deep Lagoon Townhomes on 9.12 acres at Green Key Road. The proposal outlines 72 townhomes with two parking spaces per unit, according to plans submitted to the city.

The venture is the latest in a growing line of new housing projects slated for New Port Richey. It would be built on land that is currently occupied by the Deep Lagoon Mobile Home Park.

"It has preliminary site plan approval," said Richard Bekesh, president of Spring Engineering in Holiday, which is designing the townhome community.

Formal approval for the site plan still is required, and a hearing before elected officials is another hurdle.

Cost projections are not yet available, said those close to the project. But because it would be built on land annexed after the city's Community Redevelopment Agency borders were drawn, tax revenue from the project could be diverted into New Port Richey's stagnant operating budget instead of the CRA.

"This would be new general fund money coming in," City Manager Scott Miller said Thursday. "That is very good."

The Deep Lagoon project falls in line with city efforts to replace deteriorating rental housing and mobile homes with new higher-end townhomes, condos and single-family residences, increasing the tax base.

At Deep Lagoon, plans include two-story townhomes with garages beneath and underground utilities. Currently the site is home to a mobile home park that, city administrators say, is occupied, but mostly vacant.

From the city's perspective, changing the housing climate in New Port Richey entails a greater emphasis on annexation.

Of late, several key properties have been annexed into the city - including a 3.5-acre lot this month on which Accent Homes is building 17 single-family homes. Such parcels help funnel tax money to the general fund instead of the city's CRA, which currently reaps the financial benefits of redevelopment projects in New Port Richey.

Annexed land is excluded from that pot. Tax proceeds from such properties go toward New Port Richey's operating budget, which funds basic city services such as police, fire, the library, public works and more.

In addition to the financial implications, projects such as Deep Lagoon also show a renewed interest from developers who long shied away from building in New Port Richey, city officials said.

Developer Tampa Residential LLC is proposing 34 townhomes on three vacant acres on Massachusetts Avenue.

Melia Bowie can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6229, or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6229. Her e-mail address is bowie@sptimes.com

[Last modified April 22, 2005, 00:44:19]