Reply #1: There is a lot at stake....historic homes, private property...

[madfloridian]

just being bulldozed by this plan.

Local Florida officials who enabled developers and businesses fight back against CSX.

..."Furr, a former city commissioner who has spearheaded the push for downtown residential development, was uncharacteristically terse regarding CSX. She said CSX sees the downtown dilemma from the perspective of it owning the tracks and Lakeland building around them.

"CSX is arrogant in my personal view," Furr said.

And if by some chance CSX doesn't get its way here...it already has an alternative site.

WINTER HAVEN - If the deal for a CSX rail yard fails in Winter Haven, the Jacksonville-based railroad company has a backup location close to two major highways. In 2005, the company purchased 690 acres for $9.2 million south of Wildwood near Interstate 75 and the Florida's Turnpike in Sumter County, about 65 miles north of Winter Haven.