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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - The City of Daytona Beach plans to sell city dirt for more than $2 million, all to help pay for the new First Step homeless shelter.
City officials call it out-of-the-box thinking, though some residents are calling it something else. Edna Sandrus is one of those residents.
"It's stupid! It's the stupidest thing Daytona Beach has ever come up with!," she says.
Others feel the city hit *pay dirt* with this deal.
"It's going for a good cause, as long as everyone involved is happy with it," says Laura Spencer. "I don't see a problem with it."
Private company P&S Paving has agreed to pay Daytona Beach for 40 acres of dirt. Both the 40 acres and the homeless shelter are located on a 626-acre property owned by the city, which is located off W. International Speedway Boulevard.
The city has agreed to sell the dirt for $1.50 per cubic yard. We found dirt usually goes for more than three times that amount.
City Commissioner Ruth Trager explained, "You have to factor in that they have to go out there and dig it up. It's not as though. We have a pile of dirt just waiting for them to take wherever they need to. But like I said, I want to make sure it's a good deal for Daytona Beach."
It's a dirt cheap deal that's creating a lot dialogue in Daytona Beach. City officials say the project would take several years to complete. They ultimately plan on turning that massive 40 acre hole into a pond or lake.