Jim Cullis Under Contract to Buy Old Lehigh Cement Plant Site: Marina Planned

Ironically, Cullis was once Central Florida Regional Manager for Landmar, which never went forward with an entitled high intensity marina development on the Colbert Lane Lehigh property.

Palm Coast, FL – February 14, 2015 – Local developer and head of Grand Haven Realy, Jim Cullis, has signed a purchase contract for property on Colbert Lane once occupied by the Lehigh Cement plant. The property straddles Colbert, but the main portion is on the east side between Colbert and the Sea Ray boat manufacturing plant.

The property was zoned as a PUD, high density in 2006, with residential, condominium, commercial and marina components.

• 511 Residential units (Single-family or multi-family)
• 160,500 SF of commercial/retail space
• 80 wet boat slips
• 200 dry-stack boat storage facility
• Building height maximum of 97 feet, accommodating up to 7 floors above one floor of parking
• 7.2 acre marina basin

The entitlements were procured by Landmar Group, which also developed Grand Haven and Grand Landings and once owned The Grand Club. The effort was led by Landmar’s Central Florida Regional Manager, Jim Cullis. But the marina project, dubbed Lighthouse Harbor, never got beyond the conceptual site plan stage. I remember seeing one concept drawing showing the remaining Lehigh smokestack dressed up with a superstructure and paint job to look like a lighthouse.

When the market went south, Landmar dropped their option to purchase the Lehigh property. Cullis departed Landmar in January 2009, only to return in December 2010 to purchase the remaining Grand Haven developer assets and Grand Haven Realty from the then bankrupt Landmar Group.

The owner of the Lehigh parcels, unsuccessful in securing another buyer, subsequently lost the property to the lender, from which Cullis is buying the property. The contract calls for a 30 day due diligence period followed by 30 days to close. I don’t expect any speed bumps. Cullis knows the property well.

The purchase price was not disclosed, but Cullis says his land costs this time around will be about 20% of the number Landmar had to work with, giving him more planning flexibility. He is going to re-plan the parcel, likely with lower density and minimizing building height.

Cullis’s willingness to develop a residential project bordering the Sea Ray plant is a contradiction to claims by nearby Lambert Ave residents who are fighting a Sea Ray proposal to expand its employee parking lot. They claim that Sea Ray’s presence diminishes the value of their property. Obviously, Cullis does not agree.

Jim Cullis Under Contract to Buy Old Lehigh Cement Plant Site

Ironically, Cullis was once Central Florida Regional Manager for Landmar, which never went forward with an entitled high intensity marina development on the Lehigh property.

Palm Coast, FL – February 14, 2015 – Local developer and head of Grand Haven Real Estate, Jim Cullis, has signed a purchase contract for property on Colbert Lane once occupied by the Lehigh Cement plant. The property straddles Colbert, but the main portion is on the east side between Colbert and the Sea Ray boat manufacturing plant.

Aerial pic

The property was zoned as a PUD, high density in 2006, with residential, condominium, commercial and marina components.

• 511 Residential units (Single-family or multi-family)
• 160,500 SF of commercial/retail space
• 80 wet boat slips
• 200 dry-stack boat storage facility
• Building height maximum of 97 feet, accommodating up to 7 floors above one floor of parking
• 7.2 acre marina basin

The entitlements were procured by Landmar Group, which also developed Grand Haven and Grand Landings and once owned The Grand Club. The effort was led by Landmar’s Central Florida Regional Manager, Jim Cullis. But Lighthouse Harbor never got beyond the conceptual site plan stage. I remember seeing one concept drawing showing the remaining Lehigh smokestack dressed up with a superstructure and paint job to look like a lighthouse.

When the market went south, Landmar dropped their option to purchase the Lehigh property. Cullis departed Landmar in January 2009, only to return in December 2010 to purchase the remaining Grand Haven developer assets and Grand Haven Realty from the then bankrupt Landmar Group.

The owner of the Lehigh parcels, unsuccessful in securing another buyer, subsequently lost the property to the lender, from which Cullis is buying the property. The contract calls for a 30 day due diligence period followed by 30 days to close. I don’t expect any speed bumps. Cullis knows the property well.

The purchase price was not disclosed, but Cullis says his land costs this time around will be about 20% of the number Landmar had to work with, giving him more planning flexibility. He is going to re-plan the parcel, likely with lower density and minimizing building height.

Cullis’s willingness to develop a residential project bordering the Sea Ray plant is a contradiction to claims by nearby Lambert Ave residents who are fighting a Sea Ray proposal to expand its employee parking lot. They claim that Sea Ray’s presence diminishes the value of their property. Obviously, Cullis does not agree.

Jim Cullis Under Contract to Buy Old Lehigh Cement Plant Site

Ironically, Cullis was once Central Florida Regional Manager for Landmar, which never went forward with an entitled high intensity marina development on the Lehigh property.

Palm Coast, FL – February 14, 2015 – Local developer and head of Grand Haven Real Estate, Jim Cullis, has signed a purchase contract for property on Colbert Lane once occupied by the Lehigh Cement plant. The property straddles Colbert, but the main portion is on the east side between Colbert and the Sea Ray boat manufacturing plant.

Aerial pic

The property was zoned as a PUD, high density in 2006, with residential, condominium, commercial and marina components.

• 511 Residential units (Single-family or multi-family)
• 160,500 SF of commercial/retail space
• 80 wet boat slips
• 200 dry-stack boat storage facility
• Building height maximum of 97 feet, accommodating up to 7 floors above one floor of parking
• 7.2 acre marina basin

The entitlements were procured by Landmar Group, which also developed Grand Haven and Grand Landings and once owned The Grand Club. The effort was led by Landmar’s Central Florida Regional Manager, Jim Cullis. But Lighthouse Harbor never got beyond the conceptual site plan stage. I remember seeing one concept drawing showing the remaining Lehigh smokestack dressed up with a superstructure and paint job to look like a lighthouse.

When the market went south, Landmar dropped their option to purchase the Lehigh property. Cullis departed Landmar in January 2009, only to return in December 2010 to purchase the remaining Grand Haven developer assets and Grand Haven Realty from the then bankrupt Landmar Group.

The owner of the Lehigh parcels, unsuccessful in securing another buyer, subsequently lost the property to the lender, from which Cullis is buying the property. The contract calls for a 30 day due diligence period followed by 30 days to close. I don’t expect any speed bumps. Cullis knows the property well. He plans to keep the Lighthouse Harbor name.

The purchase price was not disclosed, but Cullis says his land costs this time around will be about 20% of the number Landmar had to work with, giving him more planning flexibility. He is going to re-plan the parcel, likely with lower density and minimizing building height.

Cullis’s willingness to develop a residential project bordering the Sea Ray plant is a contradiction to claims by nearby Lambert Ave residents who are fighting a Sea Ray proposal to expand its employee parking lot. They claim that Sea Ray’s presence diminishes the value of their property. Obviously, Cullis does not agree.