(April 20, 2017) The next chapter in the long-stalled Summerfield development project in Snow Hill unfolded during an informational meeting on Tuesday at the Train Station on Belt Street.
Matt Odachowski, who owns approximately 400 acres of what had been an 1,000-acre parcel, opened the meeting by noting the population of Snow Hill has declined from more than 2,400 residents in 2000 to its current level of roughly 1,900 inhabitants.
“It’s an important time for figuring out a direction for the Summerfield project,” he said.
In February Odachowski submitted a list of potential projects to develop the dormant Summerfield property.
“I was trying to figure out a developer I could team up with,” he said. “I’m not a developer … I know how to do things, but I wanted to make sure that I brought on somebody I felt comfortable with that I can more forward with that has the same goals in mind: protecting the community, our jobs and the future.”
To that end Odachowski introduced Michael Glass, founder and managing partner with the Waterfall Group, a multi-platform real estate and financial services enterprise based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
“I met Matt two years ago in Wilmington, Delaware and he became vey quickly someone I can trust,” Glass said. “I’m here to listen to what the community tells us they want in Snow Hill.”
Glass said his group has twin visions in mind for Snow Hill.
“I will say first and foremost we want to build housing and we want to build a facility to care for our veterans,” he said. “We always start with the end in mind.”
Odachowski said among the primary issues the town needs to address are allocation of wastewater EDU’s, or equivalent dwelling units.
“There’s a certain level where it doesn’t make business sense anymore even though your heart says it makes sense,” he said. “In the last 10 years there have been no new EDU’s allocated. We need the town to commit to the development in Snow Hill and they need to support it.”
He also noted the lack of new housing options in Snow Hill.
“There’s a lot of people that want to live in this community that are getting up there in age and need a new home, so it’s easier for them to maintain,” he said. “They’re being forced to go somewhere else even though they don’t want to.”
Councilman Michael Pruitt inquired about the size of the proposed veterans medical facility.
“Just to clarify on the VA Hospital, it could be as small … a little medical center depending on what the support is,” he said. “We’d like to make sure it’s a benefit to the veterans and the community. The EDU allocation is really what determines if we go forward or not.”
After roughly an hour, Mayor Charlie Dorman closed the meeting to enter into closed session to discuss potential next steps.
“The future depends on our choices now,” Odachowski said. “At this point if I can’t get it figured out I’m just going to land-bank the property.”
Matt Odachowski, who owns approximately 400 acres of what had been an 1,000-acre parcel, opened the meeting by noting the population of Snow Hill has declined from more than 2,400 residents in 2000 to its current level of roughly 1,900 inhabitants.
“It’s an important time for figuring out a direction for the Summerfield project,” he said.
In February Odachowski submitted a list of potential projects to develop the dormant Summerfield property.
“I was trying to figure out a developer I could team up with,” he said. “I’m not a developer … I know how to do things, but I wanted to make sure that I brought on somebody I felt comfortable with that I can more forward with that has the same goals in mind: protecting the community, our jobs and the future.”
To that end Odachowski introduced Michael Glass, founder and managing partner with the Waterfall Group, a multi-platform real estate and financial services enterprise based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
“I met Matt two years ago in Wilmington, Delaware and he became vey quickly someone I can trust,” Glass said. “I’m here to listen to what the community tells us they want in Snow Hill.”
Glass said his group has twin visions in mind for Snow Hill.
“I will say first and foremost we want to build housing and we want to build a facility to care for our veterans,” he said. “We always start with the end in mind.”
Odachowski said among the primary issues the town needs to address are allocation of wastewater EDU’s, or equivalent dwelling units.
“There’s a certain level where it doesn’t make business sense anymore even though your heart says it makes sense,” he said. “In the last 10 years there have been no new EDU’s allocated. We need the town to commit to the development in Snow Hill and they need to support it.”
He also noted the lack of new housing options in Snow Hill.
“There’s a lot of people that want to live in this community that are getting up there in age and need a new home, so it’s easier for them to maintain,” he said. “They’re being forced to go somewhere else even though they don’t want to.”
Councilman Michael Pruitt inquired about the size of the proposed veterans medical facility.
“Just to clarify on the VA Hospital, it could be as small … a little medical center depending on what the support is,” he said. “We’d like to make sure it’s a benefit to the veterans and the community. The EDU allocation is really what determines if we go forward or not.”
After roughly an hour, Mayor Charlie Dorman closed the meeting to enter into closed session to discuss potential next steps.
“The future depends on our choices now,” Odachowski said. “At this point if I can’t get it figured out I’m just going to land-bank the property.”