Developer Pays Blackstone Tap Fee Day before Deadline

J. David McCormack, developer of Blackstone Lofts, is a partner in Echelon Resources, which proposes to develop Cape Charles Lofts in the old school at Central Park. (Wave photo)

By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave

September 27, 2012

Today is the day that residents of Blackstone Lofts were dreading.

Blackstone VA Town Council voted a month ago to turn off the Lofts’ water supply if the developer did not pay the connection fee by September 27.

The Blackstone Lofts developer is J. David McCormack, who is also a partner in Echelon Resources, Inc.

Echelon has a contract with the Town of Cape Charles to convert the old school at Central Park into an apartment building to be called Cape Charles Lofts.

According to Blackstone Town Council minutes, Town Manager Philip Vannoorbeeck admitted that the town was at fault for issuing a building permit for Blackstone Lofts without first receiving payment for the water and sewer connection fees.

The town has been trying to get McCormack to pay ever since. Last March, the town council gave him 30 days to pay, but did not enforce its demand.

Manager Vannoorbeeck told the town council he had both talked to McCormack and informed him in writing, “which is not endearing him to the town,” according to the minutes.

On August 27, the town council gave McCormack another 30-day deadline, and this time made sure he knew they meant it. Failure to pay meant the water would be turned off, period.

McCormack told the Wave September 3 that he definitely intended to pay the connection fee but was negotiating the terms.

Yesterday Blackstone Mayor Billy Coleburn told the Wave that McCormack had just delivered a check to the town manager for $38,000. He earlier had paid $2,000, and this covered the balance.

The Wave has been covering the Blackstone connection fee issue because of the parallels with Cape Charles. [Read more…]

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