Dicke Road is in the way of something. At least that part of Dicke Road that runs south from Aboite Center Road to where it intersects with Scottwood Court.
I journeyed out to the Dicke Road area this morning to pick up some fresh produce at Schlup’s roadside stand. As I turned onto Dicke Road and headed south, I didn’t notice anything different at first. But two or three houses down, I noticed a for sale sign posted by Century 21. Then a couple of house further, I saw more for sale signs. By the time I got to the produce stand, almost every house exhibited a Century 21 for sale sign.
Of approximately 18 houses, at least 10 – 12 were for sale. I picked up what I wanted and headed back toward Aboite Center Road. As I drove along, I saw a young man sitting on a porch step. My curiosity was killing me at this point, so I decided to stop and ask if he knew what was going on. Just as I was slowing down to turn in, a car pulled in front of me. I pulled in behind the car, got out, and approached the woman who was also getting out of her car.
I asked her if she knew what was going on, and she said a Century 21 representative had come around to the homeowners and asked them if they wanted to sell. She said some of them said they would, and a few said they wouldn’t. She had heard that Lutheran wants to put some type of care facility in the area.
Just looking at the Google Map below, it would appear that possibly the entire square will be eventually bought out if the owners are agreeable.
This raises a particularly thorny issue. The homeowner I spoke to said that several of the homeowners had refused to sell their properties. If that remains the case, then how does Lutheran acquire the property it desires?
Lutheran will have one of two options: it will have to pay an outrageous amount for the homes, or it may seek to enlist the aid of the City. If Lutheran turns to the City, the only course I can think of is that the City might attempt to use a “blighted” designation once again. I would hope the City would not take that route.
Anyone heard what is going to be built in that area?
