VIRGINIA BEACH
City leaders may have found some shoulders on which to offload the underachieving Sportsplex. On Tuesday, the City Council received details of a deal that would transfer management of the complex to a private developer.
Princess Anne Athletic Development LLC, a group composed of three Fredericksburg siblings and local restaurateur Chuck Thornton, want to create a U-shaped complex using the Sportsplex, a field house and a shopping center.
"This could turn a loser into a winner," Councilwoman Rosemary Wilson said of the plan Tuesday.
The 10-year-old Sportsplex has been a burden to the city from its outset. Billed as a candidate for major league soccer, the best it did was host the minor league Mariners, who struggled through poor attendance and ownership changes before disbanding last year.
John Wack, manager of the Fredericksburg Field House, wants to build a $13 million, 166,000-square-foot field house at the site. Thornton's role would be building a $6.5 million, 50,000-square-foot retail center and managing the 6,000-seat Sportsplex stadium.
The developers say turning the Sportsplex from bust to boom revolves around a $1 million investment in artificial turf, which would remove the limitations that natural grass has placed on rentals.
City parks director Cindy Curtis predicted the plan would triple the number of events hosted at the center.
The indoor field house, outfitted with joint-friendly "sport court" flooring, would be rented to youth and adult recreation leagues for soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, volleyball and flag football.
The retail center would house sports-oriented businesses: equipment and trophy shops, and one of Thornton's Hometown Heroes restaurants.
The deal would relieve the city of $447,000 in annual operating costs, city parks director Cindy Curtis told the council. The developers would contribute $3.5 million in infrastructure improvements, including an access road. The city would get up to $3 million in revenue sharing over 20 years.
In exchange, the developers would receive a 20-year lease, plus the option of renewing at 10-year intervals, for up to a total of 40 years. Sportsplex rent would be essentially free - $10 per year - and the city would provide a grant for 10 years equal to the real estate taxes paid, totaling $3.2 million. That grant, Curtis said, would offset Sportsplex operating expenses.
Over 20 years, city staff projects, the city will earn $66.7 million from the deal.
The strongest objection Tuesday came from Councilwoman Barbara Henley, in whose district the project would be built. Henley said there wasn't enough time to fully vet the plan. The planning commission is set to hear a rezoning request today.
Tina Milligan, the president of the nearby New Castle Civic League said after the meeting that her group worries about the traffic the project would bring to Dam Neck Road, which narrows from four to two lanes at the Sportsplex.
"There isn't enough thought going into growth in that corridor," she said. "They're putting everything out there, and they aren't thinking ahead."
Curtis said she hopes to bring the plan to the council for a vote in December. If the proposal is approved, Wack said, the field house construction could begin in February.
John Warren, (757) 222-5114, john.warren@pilotonline.com
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Think Ahead?
That was a joke right? The only forward thinking our city leaders are capable of is to think of which developers will be contributing the most to their re-election. Build, build and build who cares if the infrastructure can handle it? We have to keep the developers happy and in business so they can be re-elected.
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Henley!
Ms Henley is the only common sense person on council. She was the only one that wanted more study of the Road Plan while the rest of the council followed Stolle like little chickens. I suspect they will vote for this without any ready study.
Soccer and artificial turf
Since the NFL can play on artificial turf, I had to do some google research on Henry's comment.
I found lots of manufacturers of artificial turf. Just one brand, "Field Turf" has 14 FIFA-approved fields around the world.
Googling "soccer" and "artificial turf" provided this quote:
"Everything's possible today. If the artificial grass is good the players will like it – they want to play on good fields," said Pelé, who led Brazil to World Cup victories in 1958, 1962 and 1970.
"I trained on these artificial-turf pitches at Santos and they are perfect. Bad players used to give the excuse that the field was not good. But now they cannot do this. If they don't have good control it's their fault."
I think the technology has changed so much that you won't have any players dropping out.
Artificial Turf?!?
Nobody plays serious soccer on artificial turf. Install it at Sportsplex and you'll lose all the out-of-area soccer.
Bye Bye Cycling Loop
From looking at the layout, the 3/4 mile cycling loop is gone. The cycling loop has been used by cycling groups for practice and races ever since it was created. The city has repeatedly emphasized to cyclist that if they want to ride their bike, use the loop. That way they're off of the roads and not interfering with cars.
Now that the cycling loop may be gone, what will their next suggestion be, move away?
a real winner?
Rose thinks this could be a winner? Is this the same Rose that thought the Magna Carta would be a real money maker? Makes you wonder. Gotta give Mrs. Henley accolades for her thoughts! Glad we got you back on council, a voice of reason along with Reba.
traffic
"Dam Neck Road, which narrows from four to two lanes at the Sportsplex."
Dam Neck road has been impacted by the Landstown Commons project and other new construction in the area. The city is not handling this transition very well with regards to traffic. Example, traveling in the right lane toward Princess Anne you find yourself in a right-turn lane with no warning. Back-ups and accidents occur much more frequently. Traffic engineers need to study this area, the timing of the lights, the impact to local residents.
Dam Neck doesn't go by the Sportsplex, BTW. The two lanes between PA and Landstown Rd should be sufficient except when the VWVBA hosts a concert. The intersection of Dam Neck and Landstown will likely require a signal if this project is succesful. I hope it is.