What Happened In Port St. Lucie?
Brad Hunter, an analyst with housing research firm Metrostudy, says St. Lucie’s blessing eventually became its curse. “Too many houses got built, ultimately because too many developers were drawn by the large land supplies available,” he says. “People were enticed to buy the homes because they kept going up in value, or in price. So ultimately, it was the same kind of boom that happened everywhere, but it just happened to a greater degree in St. Lucie,” Hunter says. Many retirees moved here, as well as people looking for jobs in the busy construction industry. You can find some of both lining up for the free hot meal every Thursday at St. Lucie Catholic Church. Diner Dennis Gonzales has been laid off from his construction job for two years. “I’ve seen a lot of people out of work,” Gonzales says. “I’ve seen a lot of people losing their homes right now. I’ve seen a lot of foreclosures.” In the past year, church volunteers say they’ve seen the number of people coming in climb from a few d
