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Developer asks why city/county sale of joint parcel has stalled; EDA price concerns cited
Summary
Developer James Goodwin said he submitted an April 14 offer to buy a jointly owned city/county parcel but heard nothing back; commissioners and an EDA representative said the Economic Development Authority reviewed an $11,000/acre offer that is well below county appraisal and will likely generate a counteroffer or further negotiation.
James Goodwin, a developer and builder, told the Loudoun County Commission workshop he was approached about purchasing a parcel jointly owned by the city and the county and filed an offer after an election period. "I put in an offer on it, and I haven't heard anything since," Goodwin said, describing physical constraints on the site (a blue-line creek, a petroleum easement and steep contours) that complicate development.
Goodwin said he had been advised to wait until after the primary to submit an offer and that he has been patient since February. EDA discussion at the workshop indicated the offer under consideration was about $11,000 per acre while the county appraiser had valued the land at roughly $25,000 per acre. An EDA representative said most EDA members would not accept the lower offer and that negotiations and a counteroffer are the likely next steps.
Goodwin said the parcel is jointly owned by city and county entities and that sale proceeds and future tax revenue could benefit the jurisdictions; he pressed for clearer communication. County representatives said the EDA and city representatives have discussed the matter and that someone on the EDA will follow up. The workshop was informational and did not produce a formal vote or sale authorization.
The commission indicated the item would be discussed further with the EDA and on the August agenda if needed.
