Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2014 13:59:54 -0500
From: Pittsboro Matters
Subject: Chatham Park Construction Jobs?
How many jobs and contracts will be set aside for local residents and businesses during the Chatham Park construction process? Unless Chatham Park Investors (AKA Tim Smith and Bubba Rawls) provides a binding answer to this question, we should assume the answer will be …
VERY FEW JOBS AND CONTRACTS WILL BE SET ASIDE FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.
The jobs in question include (1) the installation of infrastructure such as roads, sewer lines, water lines, signs, communication lines and energy structures, (2) the sale of land, lots and buildings, and (3) the construction of commercial and residential buildings. Preston Development Company (AKA Tim Smith and Bubba Rawls) will undertake this work. For the reasons given below, in all three areas we should expect Preston to set
aside …
VERY FEW JOBS AND CONTRACTS FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.
We should assume this because Preston Development Company has a long history that probably will be repeated in Chatham County.
(1) Infrastructure work including site development, commercial building and heavy highway construction will be contracted to Barnhill Contracting Company and its employees. Barnhill is headquartered in Tarboro, NC and always is the prime contractor for Preston.
(2) The sale of land, lots and buildings most likely will be an in-house activity led by Vanessa Jenkins – the real estate director for Preston Development Company. As such, we should expect very little if any commission money will be paid to local brokers to act as seller’s agents. In this regards …how many local brokers do you know who made any money either as buyer’s or seller’s agents during the years Chatham Park Investors acquired over 7,600 acres? This answer should be your clue to the future.
(3) In terms of the construction of commercial buildings built by Preston Development Company, Barnhill Contracting Company most likely will get the contracts and its employees and usual subcontractors will get the work. Finally, when it comes to building residential buildings we can expect Preston Development Company to restrict work to its usual team of Wake County builders.
We also should ask ourselves, how many local developers and builders will be forced out of business because Chatham Park Investors corners most of the local development and building market? So, unless Chatham Park Investors is willing to enter into binding agreements concerning contracts and jobs, we should expect the following reality …
VERY FEW JOBS AND CONTRACTS WILL BE SET ASIDE FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES. IN ADDITION, MANY LOCAL DEVELOPERS AND BUILDERS WILL BE FORCED OUT OF BUSINESS.
THIS IS VERY TRUE. You only had to read the article in the N &O last week to understand that they have their “OWN” construction and building crews. After all Tim and Bubba keep over 30 projects going at any one time. They employ a lot of people and are going to take care of them FIRST- CHATHAM COUNTY WORKERS- YOU ARE THE “LITTLE” PEOPLE UNDER THE TABLE- YOU GET CRUMBS.