In yet another example of the the messes that local governments get themselves into with ill-conceived development projects, Wilmington has found themselves in quite the predicament.  According to WECT.com,

The future of a city-owned golf course in Wilmington is uncertain this week after no one placed a bid to renovate the area.

Bids were due last week on phase two of the Inland Greens project. 

Five years ago, the city spent half a million dollars of taxpayers’ money buying the course.  Money that came from a bond referendum, by the way.  Consider this story next time there’s a bond referendum on your ballot.

The city finished phase 1 of the plans – drainage and building a path – last year, but phase 2 involves installing irrigation systems, grading and sodding the course, and building a parking lot.  And no one has bid on the project.  No one.

It’s really not surprising.  Governments aren’t good at determining whether these sorts of projects are good ideas.  Developers are.  Developers have lots of incentive to only choose good projects, since it’s their dollars that are on the line.  And they have to either be good at making those choices or go out of business as projects fail.  They also take on the responsibility for all phases of their projects, whether they do the work themselves or subcontract.

What a terrible idea the purchase of this golf course has turned out to be, and what waste of Wilmington taxpayers’ money.