CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Residents of the Pharoah Valley neighborhood in Corpus Christ are still hopeful that a $300 million development will get a green light although it's being held up in the courts.
Around five years ago Barisi Village was first proposed, but a handful of homeowners filed suit and began a major legal battle.
Barisi Village developer Jeff Blackard said he hopes that the lawsuit will be out of the Appellate Court within a few months, but in the meantime, they are still engineering and working on the project.
Construction of the Italian inspired multi-development village is planned for the site.
According to developers, 83-percent of homeowners surrounding the golf course were in favor of Barisi Village.
Back in 2015 two lawsuits claimed changing deed restrictions on the property were unconstitutional. Both trials were dismissed; however, the second suit filed in a state court is now under appeal.
Residents are furious that development is taking so long to get the wheels turning and the delay is detrimental to their neighborhood.
"We've had to tear buildings down. We've had to call the fire department three different times and put homes at risk because we are waiting for this crew to stop this nonsense so we can make progress in this community," property owner Steven Gomez said.
"They may have a different vision for what their backyard may look like, and I respect that, but I would love for them to step forward and say what they want in their backyard," said Jeff Blackard, president & CEO of Blackard Global.
The few opposed to Barisi Village were not at Tuesday's meeting.
According to Blackard, he has multi-use developments around the country that have made their communities prosper including one of the most notable in McKinney, Texas.
Blackard has grown close with the community of Pharoah Valley and is committed to making this development happen.