First Ten Chupco’s Landing Residents Prepped on Rules

By Iretta Tiger

HOLLYWOOD — This is one of the moments Ft. Pierce Seminoles have been waiting a long time for; to become homeowners. On July 11 the Seminole Tribe called together the first 10 soon-to-be homeowners to the ballroom of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Over an elegant dinner, the 10 were about to learn everything about their new community.

Ft. Pierce Liaison Sally Tommie began the dinner with a candlelight ceremony in honor of four Seminole matriarchs: Rosalie Tommie, Hope Tommie Wilcox, Marie Tommie Gilliam and Minnie Tommie Howard.

“This is the first gated community within the tribe and it was purposely designed that way,” said Tommie.

The name of this new community is Chupco’s Landing with official address of 3351 Sally Chupco Tommie Way. Rules and regulations were compiled for the new community and Tommie took the time to go over them. From swimming pools to landscaping to house painting all the details were covered.

Tommie stressed the zero tolerance regulations and she put it in plain English.

“Dealing or abusing of drugs will not be tolerated within the community,” she stressed. “If you have a guest who is involved in any drug activity it will reflect on you so do your best in keeping it out of our community.”

Utilities Director Susie Kippenberger was the first to give a summary of the work the Utilities department has done in the community. Kippenberger then introduced representatives from the companies that are involved in creating the community and asked them to brief the homeowners.

From environmental issues to the architects to the Seminole Police Department all the bases were covered.

The houses will range from three to five bedrooms and the windows in each of the homes are hurricane proof; they can sustain winds up to 125 miles per hour. In further hurricane proofing built-in generators come with each home. The generator’s propane tanks are underground and can hold up to 250 gallons which means that should the power go out the generators will provide power to the homes from four-and-a-half to seven days, without air conditioning.

The community has a guardhouse which is manned 24 hours a day.

Chairman Mitchell Cypress made a special effort to attend the dinner; he drove from Orlando directly to the Hard Rock.

The Tribe is so proud of these homeowners that it has provided them with a budget for furniture and an interior designer will be available for consultation. As a special gift to the homeowners Sally Tommie gave each of them a framed picture of the matriarchs. The picture was taken several years ago when the land was officially signed into trust for the tribe.

No exact move-in date was given but when it does happen there will be a big celebration. For updates and announcements be sure to read the upcoming issues of The Seminole Tribune.