Am I the only one who thinks that there's a problem with the vast majority of new business coming into Culpeper and Fauquier counties being retail?

Where are the businesses that will employ people who could actually afford to live here, buy homes here?

Why the focus on minimum wage employers?

How about some businesses that could employ locals and save them from commuting into Northern Virginia or DC?

Maybe there are secret negotiations going on to do just this. Or, maybe our elected officials have tried and failed. Or, maybe this is the normal pattern of growth and retail always comes before commercial/industrial jobs.

But I need to be convinced that there's a sensible plan here!

Any of you know something I don't?

We've talked here before about proffers.  Perhaps the largest proffer ever was recently offered and then rescinded by Centex Homes as part of a development in Warrenton.

Word is out today that the proposed development has been cancelled. The handwriting was on the wall for this one for some time in my opinion.  This was a deal that made no sense even in a hot real estate market, never mind the cooler one we're currently in.

The development would have featured homes for individuals and couples who were at least 55 years of age.  The prices of these homes was to start at somewhere around $850K-$900K.  In return for the rights to proceed with this development, Centex offered to pay Warrenton $23 million dollars!

First of all, ask yourselves how many retirees, or people approaching retirement are looking for $900K homes? And, $900K homes in Warrenton, Virginia???  As nice as Warrenton is, I believe that price for this community would have always been unsustainable. And to offer $23 million to have the chance to build this money-losing development seemed truly foolhardy!

The only question remains, what in heavens name made them think this was ever a good idea in the first place! And maybe the other question is does this person still have a job at Centex?!