Hurricane Ike and an economy in free fall put something of a wrench in Marquette Land Investments' ambitious plans for the 1,000-plus-acre development called "The Preserve at West Beach." The planned community is still in the works, with a 15-story resort hotel, more than 4,000 condos and residential homes, a golf course, and a marina in the designs.
But now a coalition of conservation-minded locals are trying to buy back some of the undeveloped bay-front land and coastal plain from the developers. The site, according to environmentalists, is one of the most ecologically diverse spaces on the island.
The Galveston County Daily News reports that environmental group Artist Boat applied for $11 million from the federal Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to buy 343 acres, the site of the proposed marina and some residential housing. After a denial from Governor Rick Perry, the group joined with Galveston city officials to try to secure a $3 million Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association.
Marquette Land Investments is supporting the deal, too. The developers, who market The Preserve at West Beach as having 50 percent of land left as open space, are offering to contribute $3 million in matching land value if the grant is issued. NOAA will make a decision within 6-9 months, and if awarded the city council will rule on whether to accept it.
