Andy Rooney of 60 Minutes fame had a sarcastic wit I loved. It wasn’t his sarcasm that captivated me as much as his introspective questioning of viewpoints we take as gospel. However, it wasn’t until CNN Money’s most recent article on “Best Places to Live” that I thought of Mr. Rooney’s profound insight that got me to thinking, “If Punta Gorda/ Port Charlotte Florida were voted before as one of the best places to live, how come we didn’t even make the list of top 100 this year?”

Florida always seemed to have a couple of areas in the top 10 but this year Weston, FL came in at #63 and Coral Springs came in at #94. More interestingly was that no city in Florida cracked the top 50. “Did Florida somehow not qualify this year; last I heard it was still part of the continental U.S.?”

Jobs, healthcare, low crime, education and quality of life were the criteria used in this year’s search, but in the Rooney style, I would have to say, “I didn’t realize jobs and quality of life were the major draws to such states as Minnesota and Michigan whose small cities garnered several of the top spots!” As a Realtor, I have been hearing for the better part of the past five years just the opposite that it was because of the tough job and housing market that many in these two states were leaving to seek a more attractive climate and “quality of lifestyle” that Florida had to offer.

It is hard to imagine the entire state of Florida had its 15 minutes of fame and now slips back to anonymity, or is the author of the CNN poll bias towards the northern states and trying to level the playing field?

I have always said, “If you move to Florida for employment, you may be best served going into business for yourself, unless you are being relocated with a large firm.” As for quality of life, somehow trudging through howling winds and freezing temperatures doesn’t appeal to me as much as year round sun filled skies, sandy beaches and a 10 minute relaxing drive to work…..I think Mr. Rooney would agree!

Recently I have written about a proposed business incubator being targeted for the former Impac University and business performance consulting company site in the downtown historic district of Punta Gorda.

After much public backlash, the Charlotte County Commissioners voted to delay any vote to go ahead with the $2.5 million purchase of this property as it was seen by many as too risky a gamble with the tight budget constraints the county is facing.

So what does this have to do with Murdock Village you ask? Well, for 10 years the taxpayers of Charlotte County Florida have had to bear the brunt of the interest fees on this more than $100 million purchase that many feel should never have happened in the first place and the thought of adding another $2-3 million purchase to the tax rolls with no definite users in sight for this property has outraged many in the private sector.

With over 870 acres of undeveloped land that was “acquired through a controversial mix of financial bonding and eminent domain,” Murdock Village still lays dormant and many question if this projected mixed use “entertainment” focal point will ever get off the ground.

Planned as a tourist destination accommodating three distinctly different venues from a water theme park, a music and entertainment district and a state of the art baseball youth experience, this was to be the key development in the economic revitalization of Port Charlotte and the surrounding area. Main Street, was the music and entertainment venue with robust plans to construct 400,000 square feet of theater space, 240,000 square feet of commercial retail space, and 500 multi-family units around two guitar shaped lakes and amphitheaters, similar to the entertainment district in Branson, Missouri.

Main Street which was the brainchild of Jay Goldberg, worked for over two years receiving the Charlotte County Commissioners approval for his conceptual plan however, on September 11, 2012 it was reported in the Charlotte Sun that Mr. Goldberg was unable to raise the $220 million in the 18 month timeframe needed to fund his ambitious project and Main Street was “scrapped.” While this was a major blow to the excitement generated by all three venues, the “cornerstone” of the Murdock Village site is a $130 million waterpark and resort to be built by Water Park Venture Management Services which have developed other resorts in Wisconsin and Tennessee. This project creatively spearheaded by Southwest Developers partners Bruce Laishley and Rick Treworgy agreed to swap 137 acres in Murdock Village owned by the county for 33 acres of shovel ready property owned by their company at Enterprise Charlotte Airport Park near the Punta Gorda Airport.

Now their project along with the possibility of luring in the Ripkin Baseball Experience venue could be the best hope Charlotte County has to develop the former General Development subdivision that cost the taxpayers $1.9 million last year alone or more than $5,000 a day in interest.

According to County Commissioners Stephen R. Deutsch and Robert Skidmore, aside from the infrastructure and natural gas issues, it all comes down to funding. “Financing is the biggest hurdle,” as many investors and large lenders are backing away from projects on this scale with the state of the economy. One can only hope the determination of those promoting these projects can find the resources that would give the economic boost the county so desperately needs.

Voted “One of the ten best places in the nation to retire due to its affordability and proximity to the water,” this is just the latest affirmation of Port Charlottes continued attractiveness for those looking to retire. Noted in the article was Port Charlotte’s previous mention as the “Top retirement town” in the March 2010 edition of “Where to Retire,” magazine and “One of the most popular retirement destinations,” by Portfolio.com.

While Port Charlotte’s recent notoriety began in 2009 when CNN Money voted Port Charlotte as “The best place to retire,” future development plans for Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda go well beyond serving the retired. Waterparks similar to those found in Orlando, music venues modeled after Branson Missouri with their theaters, shops and restaurants, and “Ripkin Baseball” featuring multiple baseball fields, attracting little league players from across the country,will spur tourism and job growth as the Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda area will become one of Southwest Florida’s premier tourist and travel destinations. Coupled with the waterfont location of Punta Gorda and its quaint historic downtown and state of the art marinas, this area is in position to become one of the best places in the country to live, work and play!

In a recent semiannual joint meeting between Charlotte Commission and Punta Gorda City Council, newly appointed Director of Economic Development for Charlotte County, Tom Patton, outlined the exciting new developments for the 870 acre parcel known as Murdock Village.

Purchased by the county in 2003 for $118 million, and sitting vacant since then, much to the citizens of Charlotte County’s dismay, Murdock Village is on the verge of becoming one of the greatest entertainment and tourism destinations in all of Southwest Florida.

Currently three separate venues are under consideration that would coexist making this the “prized jewel” of Charlotte County. First on the list is a 300 room indoor-outdoor water park resort featuring miniature golf, go carts, zip lining and “acres of water-based thrill slides”. But this $68 million project, projected to create more than 500 jobs, is just one piece of this elaborate puzzle.

A 110 acre live theater music district featuring up to eight theaters surrounded by an array of shops, night clubs and restaurants, similar to the parks found in Branson, MO and Universal Orlando’s “CityWalk,” is also in the planning stages. However, the key component is the Ripkin Baseball Youth Tournament Facility which would be modeled after the Ripkin Experience in Myrtle Beach, S.C. where approximately 1,200 youth baseball teams play tournaments each year. Combined, these three venues would make Murdock Village one of Southwest Florida’s premier tourist destinations.

With a corridor set aside to attract research and technology companies from all over the world, the possibilities for Murdock Village are endless, and the economic benefits for Charlotte County have never been better.

Until Hurricane Charley hit the City of Punta Gorda head on five years ago this year, most people in the United States never heard of this unique Florida City with a Spanish name. Even those within the state didn’t recognize this town which in English means “Fat Point.” However, what makes this Southwest Florida’s city a “must buy,” is its affordability as a pristine waterfront community. Situated on Charlotte Harbor within close proximity to the Gulf of Mexico and world class Tarpon fishing, Punta Gorda has rebounded in the last five years as an even more popular tourist destination and diversified residential community.

When compared to Sarasota and Naples, Punta Gorda’s boating communities of Punta Gorda Isles and Burnt Store Isles offer a waterfront lifestyle second to non and at a price that can’t be beat. In the last six months, 108 homes have sold and another 40 are under contract, a statistic that speaks volumes in a real estate market that has not seen very positive news in the past few years.

While not known for its beaches, the protective Charlotte Harbor has been voted as one of the top ten harbors for sailing, and ESPN has covered the O’ Boy Oberto Annual Redfish Tournament over the past few years attracting anglers from all over the country.. When it comes to gulf access canal front homes, the sister communities of Punta Gorda Isles and Burnt Store Isles, also known as PGI and BSI, offer a unique blend of pristine waterfront living with close proximity to the historic charm of downtown Punta Gorda.

Waterfront homes in these boating communities range from the mid $200,000’s to over $3,000,000 for powerboat and sailboat access to the harbor and the gulf islands beyond. Comparable properties in Sarasota and Naples (Sarasota and Collier counties) can cost one third to one half more, without many of the amenities.
So if a pristine boating community with a charming nightlife, nestled within close proximity to a historic downtown is what you are looking for at an affordable price, you may want to consider the waterfront developments of Punta Gorda Isles and Burnt Store Isles for your next investment or place to call home.