"It’s a 400-acre development. We are in control of 200 acres and the project will eventually be home to 4,000 people and 2,000 employees,” said Chris Armstrong, president of Avante Properties.

Armstrong said a recently proposed sports complex by GK Sports and Entertainment is exactly what is needed to set the “Up-Town” Fitchburg development, located near Highway 14 and Lacy Road, in motion.

"It will have 12 indoor basketball courts, two indoor soccer fields, two sheets of ice one with seats around it so it could hold concerts and minor league sports teams,” Armstrong said.

With the complex built, developers believe hotels, restaurants and retails sites would follow.

"It would create an entertainment district essentially overnight,” Armstorng said.

The sports complex is set to cost $77 million , but GK sports wants the city to fund $25 million of that, through tax increment financing. Something Fitchburg’s Mayor isn't keen on, yet

"Right now we're not at that point we're more like trying to find the middle ground, where something that works for them and something that works for the citizens of Fitchburg,” said Mayor Steve Arnold, of Fitchburg.

Barkelar is interested in seeing how his view will change. He just doesn’t believe the city should be involved.

"I don't think they should invest millions into a private business. The business people can pay their own way,” he said.

The developer believes asking Fitchburg to pay for a portion of the complex is justified, because the development will likely bring in millions of dollars to the city.

 

Source : channel3000.com

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