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| Name: |
Crimson4Lif
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| Subject: |
can someone explain the actual happening....
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Date:
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5/3/2012 10:19:13 AM
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of the sailing club and people being evicted? It has been stated on here but not in just plain english. Always with remarks and such. Some of us are not real sure exactly what is going on or what is trying to be accomplished. The name Ben Allen was used a couple of times. Who is this? Is he with RL? Is he the one trying to build the cabins that were mentioned? I assume the area being discussed is the area from the sailing club towards the bridge to no where? Just what is going on? Please try to do it without attacks on RL or someone....that is not the intention....some of us are not up there to hear the in's and out's of happenings and would like a little clarification. Many thanks.
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| Name: |
Ulysses E. McGill
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| Subject: |
can someone explain the actual happening....
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Date:
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5/3/2012 10:54:56 AM (updated 5/3/2012 10:57:34 AM)
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I'm not an insider, but here is what I understand of this project. As you probably already know from discussions, Russell is planning a new phase to the Ridge involving upscale cabins...I'm not sure of exact boundaries, but I believe it goes a little further west than the area you mentioned. What I do know from experience is that a development and a planned neighborhood is more complicated than some believe. The whole area involved must be surveyed and subdivided. Roads, lots, utilities, and waste disposal must all be considered and then developed. Desired covenants and restrictions need to be attached to the deeded product. To do this correctly for a planned community, it can't really be done a little bit at a time. Russell is doing this for what they believe is a good business decision for their current and future interest in the area.....can't say I agree or disagree with that business decision, but time will tell. Overrall I think it will be good for the area and local economy, but I can understand why some are unhappy they lost their piece of the pie.
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| Name: |
Wakely
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| Subject: |
can someone explain the actual happening....
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Date:
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5/3/2012 12:31:14 PM
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A few different things mashed together in the original post; no surprise when this board is the main source of info!
The Sailing Club was slated to be moved a while back, when Phase 3 of The Ridge was started. For whatever reason-- slow sales is a likely culprit, given the economy, and the insistence that buyers in that phase were also required to buy an off-water lot as well-- the completion of that phase fell behind schedule. So the Sailing Club wasn't forced to move as quickly as originally thought.
The "new cabins" are not part of the same phase of The Ridge, though they are close; Phase 3 is along the eastern edge of Ware Slough, while the new cabins will be further west, but still in Ware Slough. Five cabins are slated for demolition, and 25 cabins will be built in their place; the lots are already staked out, if anyone is interested.
Interesting thing to keep an eye on: one of the people who is designing the new cabins has the cabin right next to the Sailing Club. Will he be forced to give his place up? Will he be allowed to keep the land, but be forced to build a "Ridge home" on it? Or will he be allowed to keep his cabin when all around him are losing theirs?
Jim (not Ben) Allen has apparently purchased a large piece of land that used to have many cabins on it, but now has far fewer. The tornadoes destroyed several, and most of the rest were bulldozed shortly afterward, even those with minimal damage. A few cabin tenants held out, but their time has come. I'm not sure what the plans are for this land, though it would be safe to assume that it will be a Russell-like development, only not owned by Russell Lands. (This is interesting because in the past Russell Lands has not sold property, and has in fact refused to sell when cabin tenants asked. But now they are selling land-- including many lots that they previously refused to sell-- to one owner.) By the way, this is Jim Allen: http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20060527/NEWS/605270333
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| Name: |
Crimson4Lif
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| Subject: |
can someone explain the actual happening....
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Date:
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5/3/2012 2:13:18 PM
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much appreciated Wakely. Been at the lake for 25 years but not real up to par on slough names and stuff. I do know the area your talking about though. That would seem to be a prime piece of land to have a cabin on except for the large amount of constant boat traffic....especially on the sailing club point. The west side of that peninsula is an ideal spot as it is much undeveloped and the land gradually slopes to the water and most importantly out of the way of boats. I have heard of the Jim Allen guy but was confused as to if he was part of the RL development....sounds like two seperate projects but not far apart as the crow flies. Thanks for shedding a little light on the subject.
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| Name: |
Catherine
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| Subject: |
Wakely's info is accurate, but not all
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Date:
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5/3/2012 3:37:46 PM
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Most already knew that the cabins at the Ridge were coming, it is just the manner in which the current tenants were treated that many find offensive. These were older cabins, some of the first offered by Russell Corp and leased and maintained by a handful of well-know, relatively wealthy families who paid out of their own pockets for improvements and upkeep over the 5o+ years they rented. Many (myself included) felt they should have been given some respect and appreciation, and offered alternatives/incentives to remain at new locations.
Jim Allen's purchase includes a parcel which Ben did not own, and is rumored to include a handful of lots on Bard's Lane where the tornado hit last April. Jim Allen isn't the bad guy, he just saw an opportunity and capitalized on it. Russell Lands needed cash, he has cash. He wanted land, they have land. Both win in that scenario.
What Wakely didn't address is all of the other tenants, primarily along County Line Road, who have been sent "eviction notices." I have now seen 2-3 of those letters, and while some offer the opportunity to buy the current lot at full price, or relocate to another cabin or lot, some specifically state that the owners will not be allowed to purchase their lots for unstated reasons. Fair enough, there are certainly valid reasons that would necessitate that arrangement.
But again, this is an area that covers MILES of County Line Road, and is far removed from the Ridge cabin project on Robinson Road. The rumors (and that's all they are at this point) all appear to indicate an outside investor (Jim Allen?), due to the insinuation that Russell Land has mortgaged themselves too deeply for the banks to loan them any more money without them paying down what they already owe first. The sudden sale of properties that have historically been "not for sale" (even to current and long-time tenants) does seem to indicate an air of desperation. Perhaps the rumors of heavily burdened lines of credit are true as well?
Again, all of this is speculation and rumor, at this point. But something has changed both in the direction that Russell Lands is going as a company, and in the areas and markets where they are offering their land and homes. Customer service appears to no longer be a priority, many wonder if it is even still a consideration. The Ridge is basically undeveloped and undersold (riding through it is like riding the Blue Ridge Parkway by a lake, 25 MPH speed limit and not a house in sight), as are the two new developments just outside Willow Point. Promised amenities don't materialize. Catherine's Market may as well sell adult novelties (who would know?). The Springhouse is nice, but it is run by folks who ran real businesses in real cities where if you don't make a profit, you close, and even they are still struggling at the cross roads.
With all due respect to my dear friend Kizma, who argues otherwise (and may be right), all the signs of financial trouble are there (at least I see them). A sudden change in direction. Liquidating assets that were once held closely. No attention to previous sales and customers. New customer bases, new products, new markets. Rob Peter, pay Paul, borrow some more from the banker. No discernible plan of development. Willy-nilly. Fire Sale!
Who knows what is going on? But obviously, what they were doing so well 20, 30, 40 and 50 years ago isn't working any more. Maybe they can figure it out. And maybe it is all simply due to the fact that Ben is shutting down, no longer able to deal with the business day to day, (the natural transition always takes a toll on companies when philosophy and leadership change) and there really is no one left to watch the hen house.
But there is no denying that something is changing, obviously and drastically. The company isn't a shell of its former self, and things are happening everywhere at once, with no apparent plan or direction. All we can do is wait and see.
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| Name: |
Crimson4Lif
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| Subject: |
Catherine that is...
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Date:
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5/3/2012 4:29:36 PM
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very interesting info. It does not take a rocket scientist to realize the real estate world is not what it was back in the day and as they say the housing market will come back....it ain't and won't....neither will the way RL did business back in the day. I asked earlier and it has not been answered.....they have the same last names but who is the Ben guy? Is he a major investor up there? You mention he is closing business....what business?
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| Name: |
Wakely
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| Subject: |
Catherine that is...
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Date:
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5/3/2012 4:52:55 PM
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You mentioned a "Ben Allen" before, But I think you have confused BEN Russell and Jim ALLEN.
I could be wrong, but I don't remember a "Ben Allen" in any other posts.
If I have ever mentioned "Ben" in any of my posts, it was Ben Russell. Sorry if that led to any confusion.
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| Name: |
Catherine
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| Subject: |
Ben Russell
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Date:
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5/3/2012 5:11:20 PM
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Ben's grandfather started Russell Corp (the mill) back at the turn of the century. When Ben came to work at the mill in the mid to late 60s, it was generally agreed that Ben wasn't meant for the mill, and the mill wasn't meant for Ben, so he took all of his grandather's land and started a new company to manage that land. Russell Lands was born. Many of the renters we have been discussing started renting their cabins before Russell Lands was even created.
Ben isn't "closing" the company, but he isn't as young as he was. His stepping aside has been anticipated for a while now, as he is in his 70s and is more suited with the details of his wood burning car than the day to day running of a company as bloated and diverse as Russell Lands.
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| Name: |
Witt E
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| Subject: |
can someone explain the actual happening....
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Date:
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5/3/2012 6:45:31 PM
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I read an article several years ago about that Allen guy when all of the Siegleman/Scrushy trials were front page news. I can't remember all of the details but someone told me he was a past business partners with one of the VP's at Russell Lands. I just hope Kowaliga Bridge doesn't turn into a toll bridge.
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| Name: |
Catherine
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| Subject: |
Yes, he was partners with Steve Arnberg
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Date:
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5/3/2012 7:36:59 PM
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Arnberg is one of the 73 VPs at Russell Lands. I would assume he is over the real estate, since he is also a broker.
They were partners in Emerald Mountain. Both Jim Allen and Steve Arnberg testified in Richard Scrushy's and I believe also Governor Siegelman's corruption trials, and according to the link, Allen had a non-prosecution agreement that covered his testimony.
URL: http://www.scrushy-report.com/ss_witness.html
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| Name: |
au67
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| Subject: |
Ben Russell
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Date:
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5/3/2012 9:04:38 PM
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That would be a wood burning truck, not car. Also, don't forget the wood burning boilers at Russell Corp.
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| Name: |
Witt E
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| Subject: |
Yes, he was partners with Steve Arnberg
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Date:
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5/3/2012 9:10:41 PM
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That is interesting. Things that make you go hmmmm.......
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| Name: |
Catherine
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| Subject: |
You are correct
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Date:
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5/4/2012 6:49:57 AM
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It is a truck. When he flies a wood burning airplane, he'll have built a better mousetrap! Wood burning cars aren't new, they've been around since the car was invented, and were used quite extensively in restoring Britain after WWII.
But the wood burning airplane is something no one has had the brains, or courage, to tackle. Seems right up Ben's alley, as he is a very talented pilot.
Fly a helicopter powered only by wood, or send a possum into orbit on top of a Big Green Egg and bring him home safely. That would get my attention!
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| Name: |
Witt E
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| Subject: |
can someone explain the actual happening....
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Date:
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5/6/2012 9:56:39 PM
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I heard a rumor today it will be years if not decades before dixie is run off. It does makes sense because who would want a lake place in that area. It would only make sense for commericial development. Good sailing!
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