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Subdivision developing(The Daily Independent (Ashland, Ky.) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Nov. 23--CANNONSBURG -- What a difference a year can make. At this time last year, Tristin Way and much of Taylor Lane in the Lakinview Heights subdivision looked like a development caught in the crosshairs of a natural disaster instead of the bankruptcy and collapse of the massive local business enterprise that was the Franz Group. Alongside newly-constructed family homes with neatly manicured lawns, partially-constructed homes -- some landscaped with open trenches and stagnant water -- dotted the street. Piles of debris camouflaged by high weeds had overcome numerous empty lots and the road itself was heavily damaged, dusty and collapsing onto other infrastructure. Today, the subdivision shows signs of meeting its original expectations of a quiet family neighborhood nestled on green, rolling hills. The road has been leveled and graveled, lots have been cleared and several of the abandoned, vandalized homes demolished while others have been completed. The turnaround is the result of a collaborative effort involving county officials, residents and a group of new developers who purchased most of the troubled development at auction earlier this year. "The problems they had are pretty well starting to leave them," said Mike Clevenger, a retired educator and resident of the nearby Graydon Heights subdivision who purchased some of the troubled properties. "It will be one of the nicer subdivisions in Boyd County when they get this completed." Clevenger purchased vacant lots and several unfinished homes, which he later sold to Gary and Chris Fannin, who had purchased numerous homes, lots and undeveloped land formerly owned by the Franz Group or one of the various entities under its umbrella, including Franz Enterprises, Tri-Level LLC, Sherwood Heights Inc. and Integrated Technologies, to name a few. At least two other individuals have purchased homes and lots in the subdivision. "The people up there are very, very caring. They need someone to change the omen that's been on that property. It's not true. It's sad the situation occurred, but it's been alleviated," Clevenger said. "During the time Chris and I bought, we kind of committed ourselves to taking that subdivision and getting it in order," he said. "We committed ourselves that we were going to get that subdivision nice for those people, knowing that the housing market was not a good financial investment but it was time for the people up there to get some help." Chris Fannin, who had previously purchased a 17,000-square-foot home in the subdivision originally built by Jason Franz for himself, confirmed he was drawn to making the investments and subsequent improvements as an effort to improve the value of his home and bring relief to his new neighbors. "I bought a house out here and I wanted to make the neighborhood better," Chris Fannin said. "I just didn't feel right as a person not to do my part as a person." He, like Clevenger, said he was moved by the resilience of the neighbors in the community. "What impressed me was with everything that was wrong up here, they still loved it. It's a family neighborhood. It has taken a lot of heat, but it was a better place than what people have given it credit for," Chris Fannin said. "I think it's made them all know each other better, get a little closer." The Fannins own nine homes in the subdivision they have renovated -- in some cases, they were gutted and redone. Most of the modern two-story family homes are for sale now for between $159,900 and $199,000. Century 21 real estate agent Teresa Wright has been helping the Fannins with their investment, coordinating the decorating and installation of new appliances, cabinets and lighting to make the homes more attractive to potential buyers. "We just went in and made them a little nicer than average houses in that price range," said Chris Fannin. In many cases, the homes are being sold for $30,000 to $40,000 less than they are worth with all the extras, he said. "We want to make these standout," Wright said, on a tour of one of the Tristin Way homes. "We want people to know there is a difference." Lakinview resident Felix Martinez said he too would like people to know there have been changes in the subdivision. Martinez, who purchased his home from the Franzes before the insolvency of Tri-Level LLC, said the stigma left on the neighborhood continues to affect his property. "We still have that cloud ... that black mark," he said, "People don't want to do business with us." Martinez said contractors have been reluctant to work on his home when they find out where he lives. "We need people to know the Franzes have nothing to do with the subdivision (now)," he said. Martinez said the Fannin's have cleaned up the neighborhood but he questions whether the homes will sell in the current economy or remain vacant for an even longer period of time. He also said he continues to worry about the quality of his home and questions the quality of those that were left sitting for years before the Fannin's purchased them. But his biggest concern, Martinez said, continues to be the state of the subdivision's roads, especially with Old Man Winter beginning to rear his head. "Last year we had lots of problems getting in and going out of the subdivision," he said. Taylor Lane and Tristin Way are graveled roads not in the county road system and therefore are not maintained or treated by county road crews. Earlier this year, the Boyd Fiscal Court condemned the roads and took emergency action to repair Tristen Way and a portion of Taylor Lane because they had become impassable for school and emergency vehicles. Commissioner David Salisbury said the subdivision's roads were originally constructed to adhere to the county's specifications but were never blacktopped. He said the county intends to take over the roads and do the remaining blacktopping but cannot and will not do so until it is given the deed and the corresponding rights-of-way, Salisbury said. The road is still reportedly tied up in legal battles between creditors and property owners. County Attorney Philip Hedrick said he did not know the current status of the legal proceedings. CARRIE STAMBAUGH can be reached at [email protected] or (606) 326-2653. To see more of The Daily Independent or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.dailyindependent.com. Copyright (c) 2008, The Daily Independent, Ashland, Ky. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |