Massive housing/retail project could double Town of Tuxedo's population
Town officials are expecting 3,000 new residents over the next ten years.
The Town of Tuxedo is making a move that could double its population.
Developers officially announced a housing and retail project off Route 17 after 40 years of planning that involved a rotation of town officials, activists and builders.
Representatives of development companies Lennar Corporation and Related Companies said Thursday that their project, "Tuxedo Reserve," will yield 1,200 homes for families of different sizes and incomes, and a retail district, "The Village," in the middle of it all.
Town officials are expecting 3,000 new residents over the next 10 years.
"I think it would be good for civilization," said Elizabeth McElroy, a sixth grader and member of the grade school choir that opened Thursday's press conference with the national anthem.
McElroy is especially excited about the 374 extra students the district is planning to absorb.
"More houses. More people. Hopefully more people in our school," she said, "because our school is tiny."
There has been opposition over the years, especially regarding the environment and appearance of the landscape.
Patsy Wooters and others were concerned about the trees and scenery.
"I tried to stop it," Wooters said. "I think that the [Sterling] Forrest should be preserved as wild space."
They did not go unheard.
Developers ended up shrinking the project to build smaller homes and kill fewer trees, as well as donating large parcels of green space to the town and school district.
"What the town and the area need are what we call 'the missing middle,'" Related Companies executive vice president Gregory Gushee said, "which is a fantastic, luxury housing product which is attainable."
Developers are also giving the Tuxedo School District $2.5 million to help with the costs of serving the new students.
Property tax revenue will help police cover a larger town. But will the department hire more officers?
"I don't want to make that promise," Police Chief Richard Marsh said, "but I would hope we would, yes."
Developers said the homes in the East Terrace neighborhood will go on sale this August.
The entire project — including seven other neighborhoods — could be finished in under ten years, representatives for the developers said.
Developers could not immediately say the costs of the homes.
Their plan includes townhouses, condos, regular homes, a few rental units and a 55-and-over neighborhood.
