Pace readies for 10,000 new homes

It may take the Eagle Group a decade to complete Jubilee, Florida, a residential community so large it may require its own zip code.

But according to Hal Hayes, president of Eagle Group, it will be worth the wait.

Hayes uses words like “authenticity”, “significant”, and “special” to describe the 10,000 home project. He says his interest in unique culture, architecture, and small town atmosphere are what pepper the Panhandle. And are exactly what the Eagle Group was looking for.

The sluggish real estate market Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties are experiencing doesn’t discourage him because he’s marketing nationwide.

“The market isn’t local, or regional. It’s the whole country,” he says.

Hayes is passionate about the Jubilee venture. He says America is looking for Mayberry and he and the Eagle Group are going to supply it...in Santa Rosa County.

Tier 1

The beginning of the development—currently in progress—will consist of 588 homes, community parks, 25 miles of interconnected natural and paved walking paths and biking trails.

Local contractors are already bidding for the project.

The first release of homes will consist of seven golf estates, four estates, 29 manors, 27 village homes, and 16 cottages—a total of 83 speculative homes.

The second release of properties will include an additional 25 golf estates, 11 estate lots, six manors, 30 village lots, and one cottage.

The third release—scheduled for late this year or early in 2008—includes 25 golf estates, eight estate lots, and one manor lot.

As for the impact on the local infrastructure, Pace Water System General Manager Ted Dotson says although Chumuckla Water System will provide water service, Pace will service with sewer and reuse water.

He says it will in no way affect Pace Water customers in cost; tap fees should take care of building more infrastructure.

“Pace Water is building a reuse line by the ball park and down Luther Fowler Road for the Eagle Group. The advantage with reuse is to get rid of the effluent,” he says.

The reuse line will be ready in May, says Dotson. He notes an agreement was met with the group for the growth coming into the area.

“They’ll pay for all the upgrades,” says Dotson.

With the first phase of 588 homes, says Dotson, 176,400 gallons of wastewater will be generated each day.

Hayes says the group is working with the State on the impact fee for Jubilee. He says the first amount was $168 million.

“We understand it is a process to (get to) that number. We are looking to find another way to get it down,” says Hayes.

When asked about how Jubilee will benefit Santa Rosa County, Hayes says the benefits will come in tax dollars.

Although, he says, Jubilee is an entirely different mindset as people come to Santa Rosa County for a better way of life.

“People here experience a high quality of life most don’t have. Two weeks ago it was 20 degrees in New York. It was 72 degrees here,” he notes.

Hayes says the development eventually will include a church, grocery store, retail shops, town hall and outside sports.

Pensacola native and PGA pro Jerry Pate says the upcoming golf course he’s designing at Jubilee has all the makings of one of the “great courses in the country.”

He says it will have the look and feel of the old Pine Barren courses of the turn of the century, like the legendary Pine Valley golf course in New Jersey with gnarly bunkers on the outside and a clean, parkland course on the inside.