Huber Heights says aquatic center, retail hub could compete with The Greene
Huber Heights says aquatic center, retail hub could compete with The Greene
Dayton Daily News
By Cornelius Frolik, Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
HUBER HEIGHTS City officials this week announced plans to transform the area around the Interstate 70/Brandt Pike interchange into a commercial and retail hub that could rival The Greene Town Center in Beavercreek.
They said their plans to make northern Montgomery County a destination spot will initially center on building a multimillion-dollar recreation complex, featuring a $5 million aquatic center, to achieve their goal.
The last time I checked, The Greene doesnt offer an amenity such as an aquatic center, said Councilman Mark Campbell. This complex will, and it is just one of the items that will set us apart.
The proposed recreation complex, which would be located north of the YMCA of Greater Dayton Huber Heights, would be the anchor to attract the commercial and retail businesses needed to spur development along the corridor. Campbell said the aquatic center would be an asset unavailable in Greene County.
Officials said Montgomery County has gradually lost sales tax revenues since The Greene opened, but new development along Brandt Pike at the I-70 interchange could entice shoppers to spend money in Huber Heights.
Its time to bring that money home to our citizens, Campbell said. Its time to secure our northern border and compete to bring those tax dollars back home to Montgomery County.
City Council on Monday unanimously approved hiring the Montgomery County Transportation Improvement District to conduct a feasibility study to determine what kind of development would be appropriate for the 14.3 acres of land the city purchased for $650,000.
The feasibility study will identify the types of recreational facilities suited for the complex and the costs to operate it, said Steve Stanley, executive director of county TID. The city will also seek input from the public about the project.
Campbell said he expects the project would be completed in stages, with the first phase the aquatic center featuring various water activities.
The recreation complex could include an amphitheater, tennis courts, dog park, trails and picnic shelters. City officials said the YMCA is on board to operate the new center.
Our plan is to expand our current recreation agreement with the city to provide any services we can to help operate that complex if it does get built, said Josh Sullenberger, executive director of the Huber Heights YMCA.
The project will not require any new tax money because the site is located in a tax-increment financing district and those funds would cover its cost, said Mayor Ron Fisher.
We dont have to go to taxpayers to do this (multi) million dollar project, if we decide to do it, Fisher said.
The TIF fund was created to help pay for interchange improvements at I-70 and Brand Pike and Old Troy Pike. But the fund, which generates about $1 million annually, can be used to finance public infrastructure and capital improvement projects within or along the districts borders, Fisher said.
With no additional development, the TIF fund will generate the income necessary to cover borrowing about $6 million for the recreation project, city officials said.
But the citys goal is for new businesses to move into the district, thereby increasing the TIF revenue and allowing for additional investments.
The aspirations for developing Brandt Pike are part of the citys plan to rebrand Huber Heights as the perfect place to live, work and play. The city last year hired a marketing firm to launch a promotional campaign that seeks to raise awareness of Huber Heights and attract new businesses and residents. The city paid to erect billboards around the region touting the citys hot housing market, sense of community and other positive traits.
But Huber Heights has suffered setbacks in the past when pursuing ambitious projects. In 2002, the city signed a development agreement to build Benchrock, a 668-acre golf course and residential community.
The project fell apart and the road that ran through the development was nicknamed, The Road to Nowhere.
But that road now leads to the Carriage Trails housing development, which has sold dozens of lots and continues to build many new homes.
Carriage Trails, located near the YMCA, is another crucial component of the citys transformation of the I-70 and Brandt Pike interchange.
We are at the right place at the right time, and it is our turn, Campbell said.