Indian River County: What's ahead in 2008

Here are a few New Year predictions and prognostications for Indian River County and the Treasure Coast

Monday, December 31, 2007

IN INDIAN RIVER COUNTY

Orioles snatch up Dodgertown

Dodger blue will give way to Oriole orange when officials announce that Baltimore will move its spring training facility from hectic Fort Lauderdale to laid-back Vero Beach. Keeping the historic training facility occupied will help stabilize Indian River County's economy by bringing new life — and new dollars — to the tourist trade.

Estefan opens Vero Beach hotel with concert

Gloria Estefan will open her long-awaited luxury hotel in Vero Beach and commemorate the event with a free community concert. Vero Beach won't nix the concert this time around because local candidates want to usurp the event for their campaigns. They will be booed by residents just looking for rhythm, not rhetoric.

Wild Turkey mine defeated by riled residents

Angry residents will wear down the owners of the Wild Turkey property, and they'll give up plans to mine the land — either willingly or after being bought out by the county or neighbors. In the battle, lawsuits will be filed, letters to the editor will be written and the growth debate in Indian River County will have a new epicenter.

Guthrie finally cleans up

Acting on a New Year's resolution, singer Arlo Guthrie will clean and rebuild his ruined Roseland house. Once he's out of hot water with county code enforcement officers, Guthrie will try to make amends with his neighbors who will be civil, but refuse to support his bid to turn the place into the new Alice's Restaurant.

Piper stays, but isn't quite welcomed

After months of waffling, Piper executives will decide to keep the 1,100 jobs in Vero Beach. But the company's relationship with Indian River County residents and officials will remain strained. Some workers will leave anyway, worried their jobs could be in jeopardy again.

Officials reach historic annexation deal, but residents aren't happy

Fellsmere, Sebastian, Vero Beach and the other Indian River County governments finally hash out a deal — the first of its kind on the Treasure Coast — showing how much land each city eventually will annex. Officials say it will prevent land grabs. But residents won't like the plan, fearing the extended city outlines just mean unsustainable growth, and will lash out at incumbent candidates during the election.

ON THE TREASURE COAST

Failing real estate market cripples local, national economy

The continued free fall of housing prices, combined with skyrocketing foreclosures, will leave more Treasure Coast workers out of work. Treasure Coast governments, as both commercial and residential growth slows to a trickle, also will be scrimping for cash. Worry, panic and stress over the recession will make the economy a significant issue in every election, from presidential down to local campaigns.

Voters lash out at governments over high taxes, poor economy, extra fees

Local governments, crimped by property tax reform passed by voters in January and the failed housing market, will enact new and higher fees on many services with a backlash against incumbent candidates in the elections. Incumbents who manage to eke out another term will have to promise tighter budgets.

'Research Coast' lands another biotech company

Alfred E. Mann Foundation for Scientific Research, a Santa Clarita, Calif.-based biotech organization, likely will be the next tenant of the Florida Center for Innovation at Tradition in Port St. Lucie. The Mann Research Center, which has ties to the Mann Foundation, already has signed a contract with developer Core Communities to buy 22 acres at Tradition. Another research organization could be the one bright spot in the Treasure Coast economy.