Jackson Jambalaya

it continues to amaze me how many contractors allow this to happen.standard contracts by AIA, and others, hold the owner to payment schedules that are fair to both the contractor and the owner.
this may be the residual payment, which is still a lot of money.

For some reason , a lot of people believe it is the contractor's duty to finance the job, which isnt true. It is a partnership, if the owner needs financing, he/she should go to the bank.

Dead Rabbit - it's dead and deader every day.

Seems like a pretty nice place to me.

I actually pull for people instead of against them. I hope the economy turns around and Lost Rabbit succeeds.

Thank you 2:47 I am so tired of people on blogs always being negative. Even though I do not care for our current president we need the economy to recover to help all of us. If Lost Rabbit goes down do these people think the contractors will get anything. Success gets success.

No one is getting a kick out of this, trust me. However, There is a problem with high-end developers going under right now and it should not be ignored either.

The original home builders that was in Lost Rabbit had to build with out electricity and all and unfortunately alot of those houses did not sell immediately and the home builders lost alot during that time and the developers had no sympahthy for them. But now we are suppose to feel sorry for the developers, I do not think so!!!!!!!!!

I agree with you 3:18.The developers created standards that were difficult for builders to abide by.For instance, a builder was required to buy 3 lots and build a spec home before he could be considered for a custom home, anywhere in the development. Not to mention the stringent architectural requirements.Too much red tape for this economy.

Thank you 2:47 I am so tired of people on blogs always being negative.

And yet you still read them.

I think the place is a neat concept and has a great spot on the Rez. But it is just waaaay too far out. The drive down Hoy Road is miserable. If they had an interchange with the Trace nearby, I would consider the area. But without it, forget it.

Who gave permission to turn public use land into private development? Maybe the original land owners' need further compensation!

I would love to live in Lost Rabbit. I have looked at several of the cottages and very much liked the floor plans. It is a very nice concept and would be a wonderful place to retire.

Then what is stopping you?

It'll build out eventually. That other Duany New Urbanism thing over in Flowood is dead as well. I think they got as far as the lagoon. When done, it'll all look like "Whoville". Same ole Columns and Shutters. Nothing wrong with that. We build better Antebellum and Arts and Crafts than they did back then and they are not drafty.

New Urbanism is marketing hype. A solution looking for a problem.

You should see the "Hastings" development in downtown Brandon. Just a few houses, and looks like crap. None of the surrounding landscaping was done on the streets which are the boundaries, and it's overgrown and ugly. I would hate to have bought a house in that crap.

Same cutesy architectural style.

Perhaps we should look at how counties differ in what is required of developers before they are allowed to sell lots. And, we might should look at what sort of inspections and requirements there are for builders.

Perhaps, the new homes aren't " as drafty", but I can't agree they are " better built". The " bones" are too often shoddy and the materials used for the " hidden" , cheap. God forbid you have to find studs...15 1/2 " isn't a standard anymore! Watch how the foundations are poured and the framing attached. Paint is watered down. Sewer lines don't have enough " fall" (sometimes they aren't even connected to the main line. Windows don't get set and caulked properly. The wiring looks like spagetti thrown in the attic. Furnaces and water heaters can't be removed if they ever need replacing ( want to get that furnace or water heater out of a narrow hidden staircase and get a new one in?)

All that would be fine, if you were getting what you pay for, but too often, a million dollar home and a hundred plus thousand home is only different in the size and cosmetics..NOT in the construction...and NOT that the lesser home is as well built but that the expensive home is as poorly and cheaply built.

8:35- Thank you for your post. Now I know what to look for in a builder!

A year ago when we came to Madison on our home search, a dear friend and Realtor/developer said "This is dead in the water. Don't even look at anything in there. It will be half the price in a year." Guess what? She was spot on.

Not only is almost every home in the development now for sale but the one we loved (2009 price of $2.5m) is a fire sale price of $1m! We ended up on the water in Reunion or Stepford as we love to call it. Which is fine until a really great house falls into foreclosure. There are rumors of such unicorns but nothing has hit the "public" market yet.

The high end market in Jackson has been dead for over a year with no signs of picking up anytime soon. Almost every home in the $2m-$5m rage in Madison County is a pocket listing waiting for a sucker with money. Just waiting for the bottom to fall out again and pick one of those up for $1m.

Should food and oil prices continue to rise this year, by Fall people who have bought more house than they can afford are screwed six ways from Sunday. As I like to tell a bright eyed builder friend, "Everyone who can afford a nice home in Madison County has one." And for the love of God stop building A. Hays Town knock offs. Branch out into another architectural style.

Can no one build a very upscale arts and crafts development here?!

KF:
Can you provide any more insight into the latest with Lost Rabbit and where the develpment is financially, with the PID and other such related issues/items? I had heard that the owner had lots and common areas (greenspaces) taken back for back taxes and that it was on the brink of collapse. Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated as we have loved ones with $ invested here. Thanks for all you do!

The PID and developer issues will be resolved. The PID only affects certain lots anyway, mostly developer lots left over after the sales of homes in the Garden District and Phase 2. In the meantime, Lost Rabbit is the best-kept secret in Mississippi. It is a wonderful place to live, with great neighbors and a perfect neighborhood plan. There are around 60 homes built with more being planned by new families right now. The Property Owners Association is taking care of neighborhood needs, landscaping, covenants, special events, amenities and so forth. Because of the economy and the controversy, prices for this little slice of heaven are very affordable, but they won't stay that way forever.

The PID and developer issues will be resolved. The PID only affects certain lots anyway, mostly developer lots left over after the sales of homes in the Garden District and Phase 2. In the meantime, Lost Rabbit is the best-kept secret in Mississippi. It is a wonderful place to live, with great neighbors and a perfect neighborhood plan. There are around 60 homes built with more being planned by new families right now. The Property Owners Association is taking care of neighborhood needs, landscaping, covenants, special events, amenities and so forth. Because of the economy and the controversy, prices for this little slice of heaven are very affordable, but they won't stay that way forever.

Lots are selling again in Lost Rabbit and lot owners are planning their new homes there. The economy did affect the neighborhood, but it is getting a second start now. Things are looking up.