I wish they could do this somewhere I drop closer. Is there no decent area within a 5 hr drive of the tristate? Pennsylvania?
Different people have tried to do versions of this in PA, DE, MD, andVA over the last 15 years that know of. A few times they got very close, with houses actually under construction, before falling apart. Many times, education was a big issue with local governments. This group seems to have reached a compromise with local authorities, so I believe they have a better chance at success.