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Kennedy resubmits Haymarket Town Center deal
There is yet another turn in the ongoing saga that is the Haymarket Town Center land development deal; developer Gerry Kennedy has resubmitted a $2.3 million contract for the property after pulling an identical offer just last month.
The move is the latest twist in a battle over the property that has been at the center of an odd series of events since December.
Kennedy said he offered to buy the Town Center property again and move four historic buildings to it because of pressure from residential and business communities.
He pulled his initial offer because of a dispute with the Haymarket Planning Commission over a deceleration lane along Jefferson Street.
Without specifically identifying Haymarket Town Councilman Bob Weir by name, Kennedy previously said that there was “one particular individual” on the town council and planning commission that had been “dead-set against the project” and thus had “the ability to tie the thing up and delay it.”
Weir sits on both panels and voted against the project in January, citing concerns ranging from the business model to how well the council followed procedure to long-term consequences.
Entities ranging from the Haymarket-Gainesville Business Association to tenants currently on the property told Kennedy that his exit from the deal would hurt the potential for an increase in walk-up traffic through Haymarket.
“They think this project not moving forward is detrimental to the existing businesses in the town,” said Kennedy.
Haymarket Town Manager Gene Swearingen said he received the new version of the contract last Tuesday, March 4, though Kennedy said he made up his mind later in the week.
“I'm excited that he's still interested in doing this,” said Swearingen. “I just hope we can figure out a way to move forward.”
A discussion involving the Town Center property was set to be included during Thursday's Town Council meeting, which occurred after press time.
As of Tuesday, the town manager was not sure whether the council could automatically vote to accept or deny the contract at that meeting, or if it would have to hold public hearings first.
“We're still working with our attorney on that,” he said.
The council voted 5-1 in favor of it last time, with Weir being the only dissenting vote.
Kennedy is hoping for a quick process this time, saying that if the deal is approved in the next couple of weeks, the next step would be to resubmit a preliminary site plan to the Haymarket Planning Commission.
Previously, the planning commission did not vote in favor or against recommending the project because commissioners said they first wanted to see a traffic study.
From Kennedy's point of view, that delay meant there was no way the redevelopment of the property could be completed by his deadline of Haymarket Day in September.
So he pulled the deal even though it turned out a deceleration lane was not necessary.
Outcry from town residents and business officials began afterward and Kennedy reconsidered even as the town began seeing interest from other potential buyers.
Ultimately, Kennedy submitted a new version of the old contract with an identical $2.3 million proposal, even though town officials put it back on the market for $3.2 million.
“Our goal here is to move forward with a positive project that has positive economic impact on the Haymarket community,” said Kennedy. “One that is economically feasible and one that produces jobs and one that enhances the life of the local townspeople and surround communities.”
A settlement date could be reached between the town and developer by late May or early June. Construction would then wrap up possibly by Thanksgiving, according to Kennedy.
That of course, assumes all plays out completely in favor of Kennedy this time around, and there are no more delays.
“Now that doesn't mean we cut corners,” Kennedy stressed. “That doesn't mean we don't meet code. That doesn't mean we do sloppy work. We're just doing it efficiently, going through the process.”
The potential for drama is still present, however.
“We will be in and out of the planning commission several times,” he said.
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