Construction on new sports complex to get underway
(ksl.com 11-5-10)
Seven years after voters first approved a $15 million bond, soccer supporters formally launched construction for a new sports complex near Salt Lake International Airport.
A Friday kickoff event marked a major milestone for both the future Salt Lake Regional Athletic Complex and soccer's rise to prominence in Utah.
City and county officials along with Real Salt Lake players and financial donors kicked ceremonial gold soccer balls into a net at the site, located at 2199 North and 1912 West, to commemorate the occasion.
In 2003, voters passed a $15 million bond for construction, contingent on $7.5 million from private sources, a sum pro club Real Salt Lake donated in 2007. Now, after years of hurdles and headaches, construction is ready to begin.
The proposal faced opposition from individuals over environmental concerns, as the land for the complex borders the Jordan River and is considered open space.
As recently as Wednesday, the Jordan River Restoration Network futilely petitioned a 3rd District judge to halt construction on the project, saying it will devastate migratory bird habitat and violate flood-plain rules.
The network's coordinator, Jeff Salt, said it is not ready to give up. "I think it's premature. The city still has not received their Army Corps of Engineers wetland fill permit and that's essential before they can move forward with construction. Meantime, our zoning appeal is still pending," Salt said.
Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker thinks the project balances the needs for athletic facilities with river habitat restoration.
"There's no doubt in my mind given the ferocity of the opponents to this project they'll continue to try to challenge it in every way they can. We'll be respectful of that," he said.
"Our decisions have been made and subject to judicial review, and we'll keep moving forward," Becker added.
Current design plans for phase one of the complex include 15 competition-quality soccer fields, one championship field, seven lighted fields, more than 600 trees, administration and maintenance facilities, and a Nature Preserve along the riparian corridor of the Jordan River.
Real Salt Lake owner Dave Checketts, who last year celebrated the team's first championship, said the new complex will be an extraordinary facility when completed. He anticipates it will provide a huge boost for the sport.
"I do believe that we will have kids playing for Real Salt Lake that have grown up here in the not too distant future," Checketts said.
The city expects the project to be completed by fall 2011.
--------------------
Soccer complex project taking shape
(by John Daley ksl.com 10-15-10)
Years ago voters first approved a bond to build a new soccer complex in Salt Lake City. The project soon begins taking shape. The question: Can Jordan River restoration peacefully co-habitate with soccer competition? Backers of the long-delayed new Regional Athletic Complex say yes.
"That 17 fields will do wonders for our competitive youth leagues here in the city," said soccer complex supporter Dave Spatafore. "Some rec leagues will play there. But it will be a great economic engine for tournaments coming into the Salt Lake valley."
Soon, Salt Lake City starts construction on the project, just east of I-215 near the airport. In 2003, voters passed a $15 million bond for construction, contingent on $7.5 million from private sources; a sum professional club Real Salt Lake has kicked in.
Construction will happen in two phases, with 16 or 17 multi-purpose fields going in first -- half with lighting and one with all-season sport turf -- plus a championship pitch with seats for 2000.
Leaders in Salt Lake City say they hope the project will become a model for future Jordan River restoration
The proposal drew sharp criticism from residents preferring to keep the land open space. The city says 23 acres along the river will be restored and preserved, with a 100 to 400 feet buffer between the river and the fields, management of storm water runoff and mitigation wetlands.
"There are probably people who are not satisfied," said Emy Maloutas, open space lands program manager. "But I would say that this plan really strives, more than any other project that's happened on the river, to strike a balance."
The city expects to hold a groundbreaking late this month or in early November. A spokesman for Real Salt Lake says the project will provide a big boost for soccer in the state.
If all goes according to plan, the facility could host its first event, perhaps a cross-country running race, in about a year.
Most fields are expected to open in the spring of 2012.
--------------------
Salt Lake City approves oft-delayed soccer complex
(ksl.com 9-8-10)
Salt Lake City council members ended seven years of wrangling with approval for a nearly $23 million soccer complex along the Jordan River in the city's northwest corner.
A 5-2 council vote on Tuesday calls for use of a $15.3 million bond that voters approved in 2003, plus $7.5 million donated by Utah's Major League Soccer team, Real Salt Lake.
The complex at 2200 North near Rose Park is scheduled to be built by fall 2011.
The plan calls for 16 soccer fields, including a championship facility with seating for 2,000.
The effort was delayed by environmental concerns, court fights and cost overruns.
The Salt Lake Tribune says critics claim the complex was part of a secret city agenda to create an elite academy for Real Salt Lake.
--------------------
Group asks judge to block soccer complex until lawsuit resolved
(ksl.com 8-20-10)
An environmental group went back to court Friday in an attempt to halt plans for a new soccer complex in Rose Park.
Earlier this week, a judge denied an appeal from the Jordan River Restoration Network to postpone a public hearing on the complex.
The group is suing Salt Lake City to gain access to every document dealing with the complex since 2002.
Members say those documents show that the city has not been up front with taxpayers on the details of the $44 million project.
"It's unfortunate that SLC with its budget crisis, they can't afford to keep the streetlights screwed in and will jeopardize neighborhood safety, will put money into a boondoggle elective project like the sports complex which is speculative at best," said Jeff Salt with the Jordan River Restoration Network.
Friday the group asked a judge for summary judgment barring the city from moving forward with the complex until the lawsuit is settled.
-------------------
Environmentalists fight Jordan River sports complex
(by Nicole Gonzales ksl.com 12-16-09)
A new environmental coalition spoke out Wednesday against a proposed soccer complex site in Salt Lake. The city is planning on breaking ground as soon as next spring. Over 150 acres of open land along the Jordan River and 2200 North could soon be a sprawling sports complex.
The new Jordan River Restoration Network argues it's the place for wetlands, open space and wildlife. Dr. Ty Harrison, professor of Wildlife Biology, says, "This is not the place for a soccer complex."
The city has a different goal: 18 soccer fields, 4 baseball diamonds, a large stadium and a parking lot for 1,300 cars. Voters approved the plan six years ago.
Salt Lake Mayor Ralph Becker says, "We need to initiate construction this year. We're working through the final planning and design phase."
Becker and the city plan to incorporate a buffer zone of at least 100 feet to protect the Jordan River and even improve it by using $15 million from the 2003 bond election, Real Salt Lake's gift of $7.5 million and a possible $17 million from the county.
"We are looking to really, greatly enhance current quality of the Jordan River along that stretch," Becker says.
But opponents say adding a huge sports facility would inherently destroy the quality of land there. The group believes Salt Lake City is contradicting its environmental stance by building the complex.
Jeff Salt of the Great Salt Lake Keepers says, "Salt Lake City has abandoned its environmental policies, commitment to open space and a commitment to this recent planning document called ‘Blueprint Jordan River.'"
That policy passed earlier this year and was supposed to be a guide for preserving open space along the river.
Ray Wheeler, with the Earth Restoration Project, says, "Either we choose to protect what little we have left, or we bury it under parking lots and buildings."
Mayor Becker says the plan will be sensitive to the surrounding area. Mayor Ralph Becker/Salt Lake City Becker says, "I don't think anyone takes environmental matters more seriously than I do or Salt Lake City."
The coalition has suggested three other sites for this sports complex:
-5600 West California Ave
-between 500 South and Indiana Ave
-1000 North and I-15
However, the city plans to go forward with the original site.
--------------------
Salt Lake City moves ahead on sports complex
(ksl.com 9-9-09)
The Salt Lake City Council has agreed to spend $500,000 for 160 acres of state land that would become 12 soccer fields, two baseball diamonds and more.
The regional sports complex would be on the city's west side on the banks of the Jordan River near Rose Park.
The complex also would include rest rooms, concession stands and parking for 1,300 vehicles.
Construction on the $22.8 million first phase of the project could start next year. Funding will come from a $15.3 million bond that residents approved in 2003 and a $7.5 million pledge from Real Salt Lake.
Public Services Director Rick Graham expects the land transfer with the state to be signed Monday.
Graham says a deal letting the city upgrade the site in ways that also benefit the state could slash the land bill to $164,000.
--------------------
Soccer complex may soon become reality with county's help
(by John Daley ksl.com 7-18-08)
A much-delayed recreational soccer complex may be getting a new life. With the help of Salt Lake County, backers of the proposed facility hope they'll have enough money to push the project to completion.
The new 24-field, 180 acre recreational soccer and baseball complex, which would be sandwiched between I-215 and the Jordan River near the airport, was supposed to be home to dozens of soccer and baseball fields. But five years after voters OK'd money for the project, nothing has happened.
The complex was part of the Real Salt Lake soccer stadium deal. A $7.5 million contribution from RSL owner Dave Checketts should have gotten the ball rolling last year. But costs ballooned, Salt Lake City changed administrations, and a year later, still no progress.
Now, discussions have begun to get some kind of help from Salt Lake County. "We don't know yet, but we certainly want to be supportive in ways we can, whether it's financially or helping manage the project, whatever it might be," Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon said.
Project backers hope the city, plus the county and possible corporate partners, will bridge a $5 million to $8 million gap.
"We believe probably a $5-8 million revenue stream from the county, together with doing the bond for the championship field and the $23 million we already have, will get this project up and running and operational in the next couple of years," said Dave Spatafore, co-chair of the Salt Lake Athletic Complex.
Corroon says he views the use of any public funds to build youth fields capable of hosting regional- or national-caliber tournaments as an investment in economic development.
"These kinds of recreation fields, if we can bring a tournament here into Salt Lake County, we'll bring thousands of young kids. They come with their families, as well, and they spend hundreds of thousands of dollars when they come here for these tournaments, probably millions of dollars," Corroon said.
Supporters of this project say if they can get help from the county, construction could begin next spring, with completion in the fall of 2010 or spring of 2011.
Meanwhile, Salt Lake City's mayor has a new point man on this project: former Utah Jazz president Dennis Haslam, who he hopes will move this project along.
No comments:
Post a Comment