No River City Development for Sheffield

Our December 8, 2008, blog referred to the River City Development in Sheffield as dead in the water. A May 18, 2009, TimesDaily article assured readers the project was still in the works--after a lengthy assessment process that would take approximately one year. Since that time, there have been no official releases from either River City Development or its partner Trophy Golf and Resorts.

After we asked the status of the project in a recent column, an unimpeachable source has announced the project is definitely dead:

The project that you referred to is DOA. Trophy Golf Resorts of North Palm Beach, Florida pulled out of the project several months ago. Evidently there are too many problems with the project, first among them the numerous historical and Native American sites on the property. It was going to cost too much to do a historical site survey, particularly when they knew that there would, in all likelihood, be lots of things found. The property would be too cut up, once these sites were protected, to build out a meaningful project, so they went away. It does not appear that there is any possibility of activity in the foreseeable future.

We're not sure why the TimesDaily has not followed up on this, but perhaps the Decatur owners manage by the "horse may talk" school of journalism.

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Trader Evaluates has just posted a new blog. Be sure to read The Miracle Egg. Coming Soon: The Best Chicken Biscuit in the Shoals? It just might not be the one you think...

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With the Primary Runoff less than two weeks away, we hope everyone has made plans to vote on July 13th. At this time, we endorse Sherrie Perkins for Lauderdale Board of Education, Place 1.


Shoalanda

Ode to Billy Don

Midnight on October 31 will mark the end of Sheffield Mayor Billy Don Anderson's term in office. Defeated in his bid for another four years, Anderson is not going down without a fight.

Billy Don has called a special meeting for Friday at four o'clock. Ostensibly a budget meeting, sources close to the current mayor indicate that BD will attempt to have himself appointed to the Sheffield Utility Board. One of the few successful components of Sheffield, the utility department offers BD access to city records and could be used as a stepping stone to other positions--something BD would obviously prefer since the sale of his former bank left him without a job.

If you think there is more to this story, you're right. BD's camp has been responsible for rumors concerning the demise of the new River City/Riverfront Park development. Both Trophy Golf and River City Developers say this rumor is unfounded. Obviously, River City founders William B. Campbell Jr., Ron Riley, and David A. Steenson have ties to the area and are eager to see the project succeed.

All Sheffield citizens are urged to attend this meeting. Sheffield deserves a treat and not a Billy Don trick.


What's up with this: What local not-so-photogenic ambulance chaser is bringing suit against the town of Lexington? Sorry, guy, if your clients win, the town will probably be glad to hand over the key to the city.