Thursday, June 26, 2003
Development won't begin until the infrastructure contracts are awarded.
COLUMBIANA -- Columbiana officials will open bids Wednesday for the sewer line extension along state Route 14 and Route 7 on the city's east side. The city council could award contracts for the project July 1.
Developer Wayne Bacon has said he won't start construction of streets and homes at The Links at Firestone Farms until the city awards the infrastructure contracts for the area.
Bacon said the 850 acres at the corner of Route 14 and Route 7 has the potential for $100 million in residential and commercial real estate.
He plans to build homes ranging from $250,000 to $1 million or more on the 18-hole, championship golf course. The golf course opened last July.
Bacon has been discussing plans for The Links at Firestone Farms in various forms for more than 10 years.
The more than 300 homes will be built in neighborhoods interwoven among the fairways and greens. Bacon said the first 20 homes will be in the $250,000 to $300,000 range.
Plans are to build the homes as the market dictates, creating the neighborhoods by building the roads first as each area is developed.
Access to the golf course is now from Creek Road off Route 14, but there will eventually be access from Route 7 as well, he said.
The Links at Firestone Farms is the former homestead property of the late tire baron, Harvey S. Firestone.