Winter Haven Residents To Protest At CSX

Winter Haven residents to protest at CSX Jacksonville Business Journal - by Christian Conte Winter Haven homeowners concerned about an intermodal and automotive terminal being built near their neighborhood will conduct a protest outside CSX Corp. headquarters Tuesday. The protestors said they’ve asked to sit down with the Jacksonville-based rail company, the parent company of Evansville Western Railway, which is developing and will operate the terminal, but have not gotten a response. The group plans to demonstrate what an intermodal facility would sound like and show how it would affect their neighborhood. CSX spokesman Gary Sease said the company did communicate with the homeowners until the homeowners filed a lawsuit and communication had to cease. Further, he said the project has already been through all the public hearings and has received all the appropriate approvals necessary for the project to start construction in 2009 and be complete in 2010. The terminal is expected to employ between 900 and 1,100 during construction and 110 when it opens. “We think we’ll be a good neighbor,” Sease said. CSX (NYSE: CSX) acquired the 318-acre property, formerly a waste water treatment plan, in September 2007.