When the process extends over several years, you lose people as fast as you attract them. Families have to make commitments to schools systems. People are transferred or take jobs out of the area. Marriages break up. Life goes on.
Professionals are essential from start to finish.
Synergy was dealing with a variety of unassociated professionals who had not worked together previously and didn't even consult each other when they worked on Synergy. The architect for example did not talk to the construction manager. Synergy members were doing all the back and forth. One member with construction experience was hired by the group to do the leg work, but ti wasn't enough. The architects plans were almost a year late, were turned in with many defects that had to be corrected, and construction costs had risen in that time.