By SUZANNE WENTLEY April 27, 2006 St. Lucie County's air is some of the cleanest in the nation, according to a study to be released today by the American Lung Association.
Thanks in large part to sea breezes and a citizenry who fought a coal-burning power plant last year, the Port St. Lucie and Fort Pierce areas combined have the 22nd lowest levels of ozone and microscopic particles in the air of any area in America, association executives said
"It doesn't mean we're not polluting the air," said Brenda Olsen, assistant CEO of the American Lung Association of Florida. "Because we're on a peninsula, we have the crosswinds that tend to blow our pollution to other places. We certainly have a lot more to do in terms of cleaning up the air."
The data in the report came from an air quality monitor, maintained by the state Department of Environmental Protection and located at the St. Lucie County Emergency Operations Center. There are no monitors in Martin or Indian River counties.
The report ranked monitored cities based on the levels of "particle pollution" — microscopic solids from diesel trucks, school buses, trash burning and industrial emissions — and ozone, an invisible gas that irritates lungs.
Brevard County also ranked in the top 25 on the list of least polluted areas, but Escambia and Sarasota counties remained risky for residents who are elderly, infants or suffering from suppressed immune systems.
St. Lucie County also made the list of least polluted areas in the association's report last year. They have been analyzing the state and federal data since 2000.
Olsen said the decision against a coal-burning power plant last November by the St. Lucie County commission will help the area remain clean.
"The citizens and interested people were able to convince the local government that would not be a good idea," she said. "One of the things (politicians) tend to forget about is the respiratory health of people when they make decisions."
Charles Grande, the president of the St. Lucie Conservation Alliance, said the lack of industrial smokestacks, planning for "clean," research-based businesses and responsive elected officials have helped keep the air clean.
"The recent fight against the coal plant puts this in the forefront of our minds," he said. "We're not an industrial area. We have good air movement and lots of trees. Those are things that make for clean air."
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Some surcharges to bail out Citizens blow other bills away
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- April 24, 2006 -- You and your neighbor might be writing dramatically different checks to cover those big losses at Citizens Property Insurance Corp.
Thanks to back-to-back intense hurricane seasons, Citizens -- the state-backed insurer of last resort -- has run up more than $2 billion in deficits the past two years.
All Florida homeowners with insurance policies must pay to cover the shortfall, according to state law. But roughly one-third, or 1.7 million, will pay much less than others.
How much less?
Some homeowners paid as little as 70 cents for every $1,000 of premiums paid. The average most homeowners paid was nearly $70 per $1,000 of premiums paid.
Those who shelled out less did so because of a special exemption in Florida law that allows some smaller insurers, known as limited apportionment companies, to pay a small portion of the assessment. By extension, their policyholders -- about a quarter-million of whom are in Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties -- pay less.
In some cases, a lot less.
That difference has some state lawmakers and bureaucrats in Tallahassee calling the law unfair, especially as they weigh another Citizens bailout of $1.7 billion in the final two weeks of this legislative session.
As a result, they're trying to change the law. The Florida Department of Financial Services is drafting an amendment it wants to add to the property insurance reform bills that are moving through the Florida House and Senate. It would require the smaller insurers to pay a full share of the assessment.
Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, said he's planning to introduce a similar amendment in the House Commerce Council on Monday.
"For two individuals right next to each other with different insurance companies to pay different assessments doesn't seem fair," said Rick Mahler, chief of staff for the financial services department.
In 2004, Citizens ran up a deficit of $516 million. On average, state homeowners paid $68 for every $1,000 of premiums. Customers of State Farm, Florida's largest insurer, paid $66 and customers of Allstate Floridian Insurance Co. paid $76.
But policyholders of some small insurers paid much less. Tower Hill Prime customers paid only 70 cents per $1,000 of premiums to cover the 2004 deficit. Tower Hill Preferred customers paid $2.50 and Universal Property & Casualty customers paid $2.60.
In fact, most small insurers' policyholders paid no more than $9.30 per $1,000 of premiums to cover Citizens' 2004 deficit, according to documents filed with state insurance regulators.
What irks some lawmakers and insurance regulators is that the 815,000 Citizens policyholders already are exempt from paying the assessment. Add to that the fact that these smaller, limited apportionment insurers make up one-third of the remaining insurance policies, and that means roughly half the state's homeowner policyholders are bearing most of the cost of paying off Citizens' deficits.
"I think that's great for them, not great for us," said Erin Montgomery of Palm Beach Gardens, who is insured by Clarendon Select, which is not a limited apportionment company. "I don't know where the fairness in all of this is."
Florida homeowners are angry about having to pay to bail out the state-run insurer in the first place. David Flynn of Jupiter found out this week he is paying $171, or about 5 percent of his premium, to cover the deficit. His insurer, United Services Automobile Association, is not a limited apportionment company.
"I think the more important thing is, I shouldn't have to pay for my neighbor's homeowners insurance," Flynn said. "That's more important than the fact that the guy on the other side is paying less of the bill."
Some insurers also think the law needs tweaking.
"The issue is, times have changed and maybe it's time to reexamine it," said Rade Musulin, vice president of operations of the Florida Farm Bureau, which has one of the smaller insurers.
Florida law allows insurance companies to apply for "limited apportionment" status if they have no more than $20 million in surplus capital and write at least 25 percent of their policies in Florida. About 40 companies qualified for this status last year, and they must reapply for it annually. They have about 234,000 policies in Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast.
These companies get perks, including paying a smaller part of Citizens' assessments. The companies as a group have to pay only the first $50 million of any assessment. Then, just like all other insurers, the smaller companies get that money back by ordering policyholders to pay a surcharge.
So for the 2004 deficit, the one-third of the Florida homeowners market controlled by these small companies paid $50 million; the remaining two-thirds paid $466 million.
And now, when Citizens' 2005 deficit is projected to be $1.7 billion, that means two-thirds of the market will end up paying $1.65 billion of the tab.
Bills in the House and Senate would pour some tax money into Citizens to help cover the deficit, but Gov. Jeb Bush said Friday that he supports giving that money to homeowners rather than to Citizens.
The idea behind the law was to encourage small insurers to open up shop in Florida to increase competition. The companies say the law helps them stay in business. They say they aren't like large insurers, who have more capital on hand and can write big checks up front for the assessment. Doing that would put some of them out of business, they claim.
"You're going to be hit with this assessment right during or after you pay a bunch of money in claims," said Don Matz, president and chief operating officer of Tower Hill, which owns two smaller insurers. "Companies might not have the money to pay this assessment."
The companies also point out that they are writing policies and keeping a lot of homes out of Citizens -- homes that otherwise might contribute to the deficit.
"These smaller companies really provide the bulk of the capacity for homeowners insurance," said Barry Gates, senior underwriter for Bankers Insurance Co., whose sister company, First Community Insurance Co., is a limited apportionment company. "If they're not there, people would have trouble getting insurance at all."
Not all small insurers paid so little. Florida Farm Bureau General Insurance Co. policyholders paid $46 for every $1,000 of premiums, and Florida Preferred Property Insurance Co. customers paid $26.10.
But most companies were paying far less than the rest of the market. And some lawmakers have raised questions about the law, especially in a year when Citizens is posting record deficits and staring down the barrel of an active hurricane cycle.
"You should not be giving some insurance companies an unfair advantage," said Sen. Steven Geller, D-Hallandale Beach. "You may decrease the availability the larger insurance companies have."
The state Department of Financial Services is crafting an amendment that would require small insurers to pay a full share of the deficit, Mahler said.
They would pay their share of the first $50 million up front, as they do now. After that, the companies would collect the rest of the money from policyholders and then give it to Citizens. Currently, the companies pay Citizens first and then charge their policyholders to get it back.
"They wouldn't have to front as much, but their policyholders would pay as much as everyone else," Mahler said. "It was basically a common-sense issue."
Ross plans to introduce a similar amendment in Monday's House Commerce Council meeting. He said it would allow limited apportionment companies to tap the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund sooner, but it also would require them to pay their full share of any Citizens' assessments.
Sam Miller, spokesman for the Florida Insurance Council, said he expects the special exemption to end this year.
"Based on what we've heard, they will probably take a hard look at whether the $50 million cap is appropriate," he said.
And many companies think that would be just fine.
The whole key is that as long as it's a pay-as-you-go system rather than advancing the money ahead of time, there won't be issues, said Don Cronin, CEO of United Property & Casualty, a small insurer.
"A major reason the limited apportionment definition was even created was to prevent smaller companies from being financially unprepared because of a single assessment that came due all at once," he said.
Florida homeowners such as Charles Matuella of Greenacres just want the process to be fair. "If we're assessed the same amount," he said, "we should all be in the same ballpark as far as payment."
Copyright © 2006 The Palm Beach Post, Fla., Stephanie Horvath
Thanks to back-to-back intense hurricane seasons, Citizens -- the state-backed insurer of last resort -- has run up more than $2 billion in deficits the past two years.
All Florida homeowners with insurance policies must pay to cover the shortfall, according to state law. But roughly one-third, or 1.7 million, will pay much less than others.
How much less?
Some homeowners paid as little as 70 cents for every $1,000 of premiums paid. The average most homeowners paid was nearly $70 per $1,000 of premiums paid.
Those who shelled out less did so because of a special exemption in Florida law that allows some smaller insurers, known as limited apportionment companies, to pay a small portion of the assessment. By extension, their policyholders -- about a quarter-million of whom are in Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties -- pay less.
In some cases, a lot less.
That difference has some state lawmakers and bureaucrats in Tallahassee calling the law unfair, especially as they weigh another Citizens bailout of $1.7 billion in the final two weeks of this legislative session.
As a result, they're trying to change the law. The Florida Department of Financial Services is drafting an amendment it wants to add to the property insurance reform bills that are moving through the Florida House and Senate. It would require the smaller insurers to pay a full share of the assessment.
Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, said he's planning to introduce a similar amendment in the House Commerce Council on Monday.
"For two individuals right next to each other with different insurance companies to pay different assessments doesn't seem fair," said Rick Mahler, chief of staff for the financial services department.
In 2004, Citizens ran up a deficit of $516 million. On average, state homeowners paid $68 for every $1,000 of premiums. Customers of State Farm, Florida's largest insurer, paid $66 and customers of Allstate Floridian Insurance Co. paid $76.
But policyholders of some small insurers paid much less. Tower Hill Prime customers paid only 70 cents per $1,000 of premiums to cover the 2004 deficit. Tower Hill Preferred customers paid $2.50 and Universal Property & Casualty customers paid $2.60.
In fact, most small insurers' policyholders paid no more than $9.30 per $1,000 of premiums to cover Citizens' 2004 deficit, according to documents filed with state insurance regulators.
What irks some lawmakers and insurance regulators is that the 815,000 Citizens policyholders already are exempt from paying the assessment. Add to that the fact that these smaller, limited apportionment insurers make up one-third of the remaining insurance policies, and that means roughly half the state's homeowner policyholders are bearing most of the cost of paying off Citizens' deficits.
"I think that's great for them, not great for us," said Erin Montgomery of Palm Beach Gardens, who is insured by Clarendon Select, which is not a limited apportionment company. "I don't know where the fairness in all of this is."
Florida homeowners are angry about having to pay to bail out the state-run insurer in the first place. David Flynn of Jupiter found out this week he is paying $171, or about 5 percent of his premium, to cover the deficit. His insurer, United Services Automobile Association, is not a limited apportionment company.
"I think the more important thing is, I shouldn't have to pay for my neighbor's homeowners insurance," Flynn said. "That's more important than the fact that the guy on the other side is paying less of the bill."
Some insurers also think the law needs tweaking.
"The issue is, times have changed and maybe it's time to reexamine it," said Rade Musulin, vice president of operations of the Florida Farm Bureau, which has one of the smaller insurers.
Florida law allows insurance companies to apply for "limited apportionment" status if they have no more than $20 million in surplus capital and write at least 25 percent of their policies in Florida. About 40 companies qualified for this status last year, and they must reapply for it annually. They have about 234,000 policies in Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast.
These companies get perks, including paying a smaller part of Citizens' assessments. The companies as a group have to pay only the first $50 million of any assessment. Then, just like all other insurers, the smaller companies get that money back by ordering policyholders to pay a surcharge.
So for the 2004 deficit, the one-third of the Florida homeowners market controlled by these small companies paid $50 million; the remaining two-thirds paid $466 million.
And now, when Citizens' 2005 deficit is projected to be $1.7 billion, that means two-thirds of the market will end up paying $1.65 billion of the tab.
Bills in the House and Senate would pour some tax money into Citizens to help cover the deficit, but Gov. Jeb Bush said Friday that he supports giving that money to homeowners rather than to Citizens.
The idea behind the law was to encourage small insurers to open up shop in Florida to increase competition. The companies say the law helps them stay in business. They say they aren't like large insurers, who have more capital on hand and can write big checks up front for the assessment. Doing that would put some of them out of business, they claim.
"You're going to be hit with this assessment right during or after you pay a bunch of money in claims," said Don Matz, president and chief operating officer of Tower Hill, which owns two smaller insurers. "Companies might not have the money to pay this assessment."
The companies also point out that they are writing policies and keeping a lot of homes out of Citizens -- homes that otherwise might contribute to the deficit.
"These smaller companies really provide the bulk of the capacity for homeowners insurance," said Barry Gates, senior underwriter for Bankers Insurance Co., whose sister company, First Community Insurance Co., is a limited apportionment company. "If they're not there, people would have trouble getting insurance at all."
Not all small insurers paid so little. Florida Farm Bureau General Insurance Co. policyholders paid $46 for every $1,000 of premiums, and Florida Preferred Property Insurance Co. customers paid $26.10.
But most companies were paying far less than the rest of the market. And some lawmakers have raised questions about the law, especially in a year when Citizens is posting record deficits and staring down the barrel of an active hurricane cycle.
"You should not be giving some insurance companies an unfair advantage," said Sen. Steven Geller, D-Hallandale Beach. "You may decrease the availability the larger insurance companies have."
The state Department of Financial Services is crafting an amendment that would require small insurers to pay a full share of the deficit, Mahler said.
They would pay their share of the first $50 million up front, as they do now. After that, the companies would collect the rest of the money from policyholders and then give it to Citizens. Currently, the companies pay Citizens first and then charge their policyholders to get it back.
"They wouldn't have to front as much, but their policyholders would pay as much as everyone else," Mahler said. "It was basically a common-sense issue."
Ross plans to introduce a similar amendment in Monday's House Commerce Council meeting. He said it would allow limited apportionment companies to tap the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund sooner, but it also would require them to pay their full share of any Citizens' assessments.
Sam Miller, spokesman for the Florida Insurance Council, said he expects the special exemption to end this year.
"Based on what we've heard, they will probably take a hard look at whether the $50 million cap is appropriate," he said.
And many companies think that would be just fine.
The whole key is that as long as it's a pay-as-you-go system rather than advancing the money ahead of time, there won't be issues, said Don Cronin, CEO of United Property & Casualty, a small insurer.
"A major reason the limited apportionment definition was even created was to prevent smaller companies from being financially unprepared because of a single assessment that came due all at once," he said.
Florida homeowners such as Charles Matuella of Greenacres just want the process to be fair. "If we're assessed the same amount," he said, "we should all be in the same ballpark as far as payment."
Copyright © 2006 The Palm Beach Post, Fla., Stephanie Horvath
Monday, April 24, 2006
Port St Lucie Celebrates its 45th Birthday!
Port St. Lucie celebrates its 45th birthday this month with a population that is surging toward 150,000.
The recent change has been dramatic. In its first 30 years, the city welcomed 55,000 residents. In the past three years, about 45,000 people moved here. The Census Bureau calls it America's fastest growing city.
That explosive growth is straining city services and relations with its neighbors, igniting political feuds with Martin and St. Lucie counties.
The face of the city also is changing: more families with children, more newcomers from South Florida instead of the Northeast, more diversity.
Port St. Lucie milestones:
1961: On April 21, Port St. Lucie filed for incorporation. Port St. Lucie Boulevard paved from U.S. 1 to Morningside Boulevard.
1970: Census results indicate city's year-round population is 330. The city has only one doctor until 1980.
1980: The city's population jumps to 14,000.
1988: New York Mets training facility opens.
1990: General Development Corp. declares bankruptcy.
1994: The city embarks on a citywide water-sewer project despite criticism about cost.
1999: Early census numbers indicate the city exceeds West Palm Beach by more than 3,000 people.
2001: $20 million in state funds earmarked for the Walton Road Bridge is moved to fund the West Virginia Corridor.
2003: The population tops 100,000.
2004: Fifteen square miles west of Interstate 95 annexed. The area includes a large job corridor along I-95.
2005: Census names Port St. Lucie the fastest-growing large city in the country.
2006: By the city's 45th birthday, the population nears 150,000.
The recent change has been dramatic. In its first 30 years, the city welcomed 55,000 residents. In the past three years, about 45,000 people moved here. The Census Bureau calls it America's fastest growing city.
That explosive growth is straining city services and relations with its neighbors, igniting political feuds with Martin and St. Lucie counties.
The face of the city also is changing: more families with children, more newcomers from South Florida instead of the Northeast, more diversity.
Port St. Lucie milestones:
1961: On April 21, Port St. Lucie filed for incorporation. Port St. Lucie Boulevard paved from U.S. 1 to Morningside Boulevard.
1970: Census results indicate city's year-round population is 330. The city has only one doctor until 1980.
1980: The city's population jumps to 14,000.
1988: New York Mets training facility opens.
1990: General Development Corp. declares bankruptcy.
1994: The city embarks on a citywide water-sewer project despite criticism about cost.
1999: Early census numbers indicate the city exceeds West Palm Beach by more than 3,000 people.
2001: $20 million in state funds earmarked for the Walton Road Bridge is moved to fund the West Virginia Corridor.
2003: The population tops 100,000.
2004: Fifteen square miles west of Interstate 95 annexed. The area includes a large job corridor along I-95.
2005: Census names Port St. Lucie the fastest-growing large city in the country.
2006: By the city's 45th birthday, the population nears 150,000.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
PSL to look at Becker Road project
By CHRIS YOUNG April 23, 2006
PORT ST. LUCIE — City Council members will examine the first step in transforming Becker Road from a two-lane road to a four-lane thoroughfare at Monday's regular council meeting.
They will consider approving a plan mapping how existing side streets will intersect with Becker as well as targeting 70 empty lots and one lot with a house on it for drainage ponds.
"It's a beginning," Councilman Jack Kelly said. "I'd like to see it move quicker."
The city won't need to buy property along Becker Road for the four-lane expansion, and could work around the occupied lot if the owner refused to sell, City Manager Don Cooper said.
After approval Monday, the city can stop any future building on those 71 lots and begin acquiring those properties for the drainage.
The plans for the corridor, which are only about 30 percent complete, include the four-lane road with landscaped medians, a pedestrian walkway on the south side and a bike path on the north side.
Currently, officials aren't looking at incorporating any roundabouts proposed by the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council, but would install five traffic signals at Hallmark, Savona, Port St. Lucie Boulevard, Darwin, and Kestor.
The plan can include planning council ideas if funding becomes available, but at least it must go forward in order to make good on the annexation agreement the city signed with Core Communities, G.L. Homes, and Ansca Homes, Cooper said. Those developers will pay for the Becker Road expansion from Interstate 95 to Florida's Turnpike.
Cooper said the interchange of Becker Road at the turnpike should be finished by early next year, about the same time construction should begin at Becker Road and I-95.
An amendment to the city's comprehensive plan needs to be finished, which will take at least six months, along with a report detailing plans for the interchange at I-95, which will also take a couple of months, Cooper said.
PORT ST. LUCIE — City Council members will examine the first step in transforming Becker Road from a two-lane road to a four-lane thoroughfare at Monday's regular council meeting.
They will consider approving a plan mapping how existing side streets will intersect with Becker as well as targeting 70 empty lots and one lot with a house on it for drainage ponds.
"It's a beginning," Councilman Jack Kelly said. "I'd like to see it move quicker."
The city won't need to buy property along Becker Road for the four-lane expansion, and could work around the occupied lot if the owner refused to sell, City Manager Don Cooper said.
After approval Monday, the city can stop any future building on those 71 lots and begin acquiring those properties for the drainage.
The plans for the corridor, which are only about 30 percent complete, include the four-lane road with landscaped medians, a pedestrian walkway on the south side and a bike path on the north side.
Currently, officials aren't looking at incorporating any roundabouts proposed by the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council, but would install five traffic signals at Hallmark, Savona, Port St. Lucie Boulevard, Darwin, and Kestor.
The plan can include planning council ideas if funding becomes available, but at least it must go forward in order to make good on the annexation agreement the city signed with Core Communities, G.L. Homes, and Ansca Homes, Cooper said. Those developers will pay for the Becker Road expansion from Interstate 95 to Florida's Turnpike.
Cooper said the interchange of Becker Road at the turnpike should be finished by early next year, about the same time construction should begin at Becker Road and I-95.
An amendment to the city's comprehensive plan needs to be finished, which will take at least six months, along with a report detailing plans for the interchange at I-95, which will also take a couple of months, Cooper said.
Friday, April 21, 2006
One of two winning Lotto tickets from Port St. Lucie
By Allyson Bird
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Friday, April 21, 2006
PORT ST. LUCIE — The Cumberland Farms store on Floresta Drive was a revolving door of media and frequent customers who had heard the news Thursday morning that one lucky Florida Lottery player bought the winning ticket there.
By 11:30 a.m., store clerk Keri Frosch stopped curious people short and just said with a smile, "No, we don't know who it is."
But she does know that receipts show about 4,000 people bought tickets Wednesday night alone.
"When it's that high it happens," Frosch said, referring to high ticket sales. "When it goes up to $82 million, forget it."
The small store, tucked away in a strip mall across the street from Floresta Elementary School, was packed with customers at about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Many appeared to have stopped on their way home from work to pick up tickets. The line at times stretched to the back of the store, while customers chatted about the odds of winning.
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Friday, April 21, 2006
PORT ST. LUCIE — The Cumberland Farms store on Floresta Drive was a revolving door of media and frequent customers who had heard the news Thursday morning that one lucky Florida Lottery player bought the winning ticket there.
By 11:30 a.m., store clerk Keri Frosch stopped curious people short and just said with a smile, "No, we don't know who it is."
But she does know that receipts show about 4,000 people bought tickets Wednesday night alone.
"When it's that high it happens," Frosch said, referring to high ticket sales. "When it goes up to $82 million, forget it."
The small store, tucked away in a strip mall across the street from Floresta Elementary School, was packed with customers at about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Many appeared to have stopped on their way home from work to pick up tickets. The line at times stretched to the back of the store, while customers chatted about the odds of winning.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
St. Lucie housing boom shifting to lower gear??
Excerpt from: Eve Samples
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Friday, April 14, 2006
PORT ST. LUCIE — During last year's frenzied days of deal-making and low interest rates, almost $6 billion worth of property changed hands in fast-growing St. Lucie County — but investors shouldn't expect the craze to continue at the same pace this year, real estate experts said Thursday.
"Obviously there's a housing bubble in Florida. Come on, of course there is," he said.
But owners shouldn't fret too much: Much of the state's housing glut is in South Florida condominiums, and the excess local homes shouldn't stay on the market too long, Fishkind said.
The Treasure Coast's housing surplus is more pronounced in St. Lucie than Martin County, but Fishkind predicted healthy population growth should be enough to eat up the excess within nine months or a year.
Port St. Lucie's growth rate — which the U.S. Census last year deemed the nation's highest among cities larger than 100,000 residents — is holding strong. By the end of this year, Port St. Lucie is on track to hit 150,000 people, City Manager Don Cooper said.
"That makes us the largest city between Fort Lauderdale and Jacksonville," he said.
If and when the entire city is built out, the population is expected to reach 400,000 to 450,000.
Why is St. Lucie growing so much more swiftly than Martin or Indian River counties? More stringent growth restrictions in the neighboring counties are driving builders into St. Lucie, Fishkind said.
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Friday, April 14, 2006
PORT ST. LUCIE — During last year's frenzied days of deal-making and low interest rates, almost $6 billion worth of property changed hands in fast-growing St. Lucie County — but investors shouldn't expect the craze to continue at the same pace this year, real estate experts said Thursday.
"Obviously there's a housing bubble in Florida. Come on, of course there is," he said.
But owners shouldn't fret too much: Much of the state's housing glut is in South Florida condominiums, and the excess local homes shouldn't stay on the market too long, Fishkind said.
The Treasure Coast's housing surplus is more pronounced in St. Lucie than Martin County, but Fishkind predicted healthy population growth should be enough to eat up the excess within nine months or a year.
Port St. Lucie's growth rate — which the U.S. Census last year deemed the nation's highest among cities larger than 100,000 residents — is holding strong. By the end of this year, Port St. Lucie is on track to hit 150,000 people, City Manager Don Cooper said.
"That makes us the largest city between Fort Lauderdale and Jacksonville," he said.
If and when the entire city is built out, the population is expected to reach 400,000 to 450,000.
Why is St. Lucie growing so much more swiftly than Martin or Indian River counties? More stringent growth restrictions in the neighboring counties are driving builders into St. Lucie, Fishkind said.
Utility takeover talks backed in Port St. Lucie
By Teresa Lane (Palm Beach Post Staff Writer)
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
PORT ST. LUCIE — Faced with dozens of pleading St. Lucie West residents, city council members on Monday instructed their city manager to take the first step in what could be a municipal takeover of St. Lucie West's water and sewer plants.
Crippled the past year by a lack of water, management turmoil and a three-month lag in notifying residents of high lead levels, the quasi-governmental St. Lucie West Services District asked city council members to consider managing its utility plants and possibly other services two weeks ago.
With some council members favoring city ownership of the utility plants, others seeking only to run the plants and still another favoring no action, it's unclear how negotiations between City Manager Don Cooper and services district attorney Dan Harrell will end.
Only one thing is certain, Mayor Bob Minsky said. "There's no way we're going to just leave you in the lurch," Minsky told the residents. "You are citizens of our city."
Although two services district board members voted against seeking city management April 4, Councilman Jack Kelly said it's clear the community's utility system has been in trouble since 7,000 faucets went dry a year ago.
"When you turn on the faucet and there's no water, that's like a 2-by-4 in your face," Kelly said. "If we do take control, we have to have complete control of the utility. There has to be one master."
Dozens of St. Lucie West residents attended Monday's meeting, applauding whenever someone walked to the podium to encourage city management. Only district board member Sal Mancuso spoke against negotiations, blaming recent troubles on management company Government Services Group rather than board members who hired the company.
"We have serious concerns about St. Lucie West Services District's lack of leadership and direction," Cascades resident Charles Jordan said. "We pay more for services and seem to be getting less."
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
PORT ST. LUCIE — Faced with dozens of pleading St. Lucie West residents, city council members on Monday instructed their city manager to take the first step in what could be a municipal takeover of St. Lucie West's water and sewer plants.
Crippled the past year by a lack of water, management turmoil and a three-month lag in notifying residents of high lead levels, the quasi-governmental St. Lucie West Services District asked city council members to consider managing its utility plants and possibly other services two weeks ago.
With some council members favoring city ownership of the utility plants, others seeking only to run the plants and still another favoring no action, it's unclear how negotiations between City Manager Don Cooper and services district attorney Dan Harrell will end.
Only one thing is certain, Mayor Bob Minsky said. "There's no way we're going to just leave you in the lurch," Minsky told the residents. "You are citizens of our city."
Although two services district board members voted against seeking city management April 4, Councilman Jack Kelly said it's clear the community's utility system has been in trouble since 7,000 faucets went dry a year ago.
"When you turn on the faucet and there's no water, that's like a 2-by-4 in your face," Kelly said. "If we do take control, we have to have complete control of the utility. There has to be one master."
Dozens of St. Lucie West residents attended Monday's meeting, applauding whenever someone walked to the podium to encourage city management. Only district board member Sal Mancuso spoke against negotiations, blaming recent troubles on management company Government Services Group rather than board members who hired the company.
"We have serious concerns about St. Lucie West Services District's lack of leadership and direction," Cascades resident Charles Jordan said. "We pay more for services and seem to be getting less."
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Port St Lucie officials reject developer's land bid
PORT ST. LUCIE — City council members may be eager to develop the northern finger of Riverwalk, but a majority says they're not so desperate they'll sell land for $60,600 an acre.
That's the offer West Palm Beach developer Jonathan Gladstone has made for 16 1/2 acres on Midport Road between Veterans Memorial Park and the Walden Woods condominium complex. Although Gladstone is paying the city $400,000 an acre for 9.75 acres along the southern fringe of Riverwalk, he said the northern piece is much less valuable because of its thin, linear shape and lack of waterfront access.
Like a dozen other developers who once pondered a public-private partnership to develop all or part of the city's long-awaited north Riverwalk project, Gladstone was not interested in the northern piece until council members asked him to make a bid on it.
He offered $1 million for 16 1/2 acres and proposed to build 42 townhomes, two small restaurants, a bed-and-breakfast hotel, two buildings for retail, office and living quarters, and a canoe-rental area.
Assistant City Manager Bonnie Dyga said with building lots selling for up to $100,000 apiece, the land beneath the 42 townhomes should generate $4 million alone. Most council members said they agree the price is too low and will seek an appraisal before selling it.
The item was scheduled for council consideration Monday night but pulled by Gladstone, who wants to meet with council members individually.
"I can't go much higher than $1 million," said Gladstone, who is planning a more ambitious project at the southern Riverwalk parcel on Westmoreland Boulevard. "This is not big money-making stuff, and it's going to be an expensive project to produce."
He estimates it will cost $15 million to develop the buildings, access roads, parking lots, canoe and kayak launch and two wildlife viewing towers proposed.
Dyga said the council recently adopted a policy to have all city-owned land appraised before it is sold. Mayor Bob Minsky, a former real estate agent, would like to do just that. "Rather than give it away prematurely, I think it's advisable to wait," Minsky said. "I'm not willing to take a low value and (allow) that many homes," Councilwoman Michelle Berger said. "It's fine if it doesn't get developed. It's serving a purpose now."
Even Councilmen Chris Cooper and Jack Kelly, among the staunchest proponents of Riverwalk, said they have several questions about the proposal.
"It's not quite what I was looking for," said Cooper, who wants the district to extend north of Walden Woods to Midport Lake and Lyngate Park. "At some point it will appeal to somebody."
While Kelly said he's excited by the chance to jump-start Riverwalk, he wants to know how much Gladstone is spending on public amenities before agreeing to a price.
Vice Mayor Patricia Christensen said she's in no hurry to develop the parcel, part of the 24 acres the city received in a three-way land swap involving land across from St. Lucie Medical Center.
"I want to see what Mr. Gladstone puts on the southern piece," Christensen said. "The city may need to use this land for our own recreational purposes at some point."
That's the offer West Palm Beach developer Jonathan Gladstone has made for 16 1/2 acres on Midport Road between Veterans Memorial Park and the Walden Woods condominium complex. Although Gladstone is paying the city $400,000 an acre for 9.75 acres along the southern fringe of Riverwalk, he said the northern piece is much less valuable because of its thin, linear shape and lack of waterfront access.
Like a dozen other developers who once pondered a public-private partnership to develop all or part of the city's long-awaited north Riverwalk project, Gladstone was not interested in the northern piece until council members asked him to make a bid on it.
He offered $1 million for 16 1/2 acres and proposed to build 42 townhomes, two small restaurants, a bed-and-breakfast hotel, two buildings for retail, office and living quarters, and a canoe-rental area.
Assistant City Manager Bonnie Dyga said with building lots selling for up to $100,000 apiece, the land beneath the 42 townhomes should generate $4 million alone. Most council members said they agree the price is too low and will seek an appraisal before selling it.
The item was scheduled for council consideration Monday night but pulled by Gladstone, who wants to meet with council members individually.
"I can't go much higher than $1 million," said Gladstone, who is planning a more ambitious project at the southern Riverwalk parcel on Westmoreland Boulevard. "This is not big money-making stuff, and it's going to be an expensive project to produce."
He estimates it will cost $15 million to develop the buildings, access roads, parking lots, canoe and kayak launch and two wildlife viewing towers proposed.
Dyga said the council recently adopted a policy to have all city-owned land appraised before it is sold. Mayor Bob Minsky, a former real estate agent, would like to do just that. "Rather than give it away prematurely, I think it's advisable to wait," Minsky said. "I'm not willing to take a low value and (allow) that many homes," Councilwoman Michelle Berger said. "It's fine if it doesn't get developed. It's serving a purpose now."
Even Councilmen Chris Cooper and Jack Kelly, among the staunchest proponents of Riverwalk, said they have several questions about the proposal.
"It's not quite what I was looking for," said Cooper, who wants the district to extend north of Walden Woods to Midport Lake and Lyngate Park. "At some point it will appeal to somebody."
While Kelly said he's excited by the chance to jump-start Riverwalk, he wants to know how much Gladstone is spending on public amenities before agreeing to a price.
Vice Mayor Patricia Christensen said she's in no hurry to develop the parcel, part of the 24 acres the city received in a three-way land swap involving land across from St. Lucie Medical Center.
"I want to see what Mr. Gladstone puts on the southern piece," Christensen said. "The city may need to use this land for our own recreational purposes at some point."
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