Proposals for sports complex unveiled

Of the three proposals heard Tuesday night from entities interested in partnering with the city of Cape Girardeau on a future indoor sports complex, all had local ties.

Larry and Barbara Heartling of West Cape Development Corp. and MidAmerica Hotels Corp. were the local entities submitting master plans for the facility that would feature at least six basketball courts that could convert to 12 volleyball courts, an indoor soccer field and parking for 500 cars, plus other amenities required in the city's request for proposals.

Matt Sander and Joe Bannister of Arco Construction -- a Missouri-based contracting company that has done work in and around Cape Girardeau -- delivered the third presentation on behalf of South Kingshighway Investments LLC that submitted the proposal to the city.

Leading the presentation for MidAmerica Hotels was Joel Neikirk, who served as one of the six people on the facility feasibility team that spent much of last year determining the next project to be funded by the city's 1 percent restaurant tax.

The City of Cape Girardeau/MidAmerica Hotels Corp. Feasibility Study joint committee worked with city officials and consultants for about seven months to review four options, ultimately recommending an indoor sports complex to the city council.

Talk of a sports complex as the possible next restaurant-tax project dates to at least 2013, when the city and the hotel company were working toward an agreement regarding the direction and use of the tax through 2030.

The tax historically has funded facilities with a strong draw for tourists and out-of-town visitors. The River Campus with Southeast Missouri State University is the most recent project.

The sports complex has been touted by the city as a way boost economic activity in the city, particularly during the winter months.

Julia Thompson said to the crowd of more than 50 people at Tuesday night's public meeting that past studies by consultants showed the facility could bring 4,000 to 5,000 additional room nights in the city's hotels and generate "several million dollars in economic impact."

West Cape Development

The proposal by the Heartlings came with one bonus unavailable to the other groups: an existing facility. Larry Heartling explained they own a facility at 1823 Rust Ave. that could be renovated to fit the city's needs. The 120,000-square-foot building was constructed to serve as a distribution center. The building and some parking sits on 6.93 acres, with 4.07 acres available for more parking and 7.53 acres available for expansion.

The city's request for proposals asked for a minimum site of 7 to 10 acres that could accommodate a facility at least 100,000 square feet.

Barbara Haertling pointed out the location is advantageous because of ease of access from Interstate 55 and Highway 74.

It is near the Shawnee Park Center, already a well-known facility, she said.

The location places visitors near midtown and downtown, offering access to "more than just the interstate area," she said.

"No extensive site work is needed. Utilities are in place. We're ready to get started," Barbara Haertling said.

South Kingshighway Investment

The presentation by Sander and Bannister focused on building a facility near South Kingshighway and Southern Expressway. The land belongs to a private owner, and the 18 acres would be purchased, with 9 acres needed for the building. Bannister said the facility would be "a catalyst for development" in the southern part of the city and easily could spur growth in the area. The plan includes signage advertising the facility to passers-by.

Benefits to the location include three entrances, easy access to major roads and room for expansion. Bannister said the plan is to remain flexible to build the facility based on the interests of the city and residents. He's also confident like all of his past projects, this one could be completed under budget.

The city estimates the project budget at $12 million including the land, design and construction. The operational budget is expected to fall between $500,000 and $700,000 when fully operational, which could be within three to five years. It's expected to be self-supporting within five years of operation.

"We know that we can easily, easily be under the budget for this project and deliver a first-class project," Bannister said.

MidAmerica Hotels

MidAmerica Hotels sought input from local engineering companies and outside groups such as consulting and design services firm Pinnacle Indoor Sports to draw up its plan. The proposed location is on U.S. 61 at the intersection of Interstate 55, the area between Cape Girardeau and Jackson known as Center Junction.

MidAmerica is proposing to donate 10.27 acres at fair market value, Neikirk said, to be used for the construction of the facility and parking areas. He said grading already has been done at the site over the years to get it ready for development.

Its plans call for the sports complex to be built in the corner of the land farthest from U.S. 61, leaving an adjoining 19.12 acres.

The plan lays out options for additional acreage for outdoor facilities to be acquired through purchase or exchange of ground owned by the city of Cape Girardeau, possibly at the nearby Greater Cape Girardeau Business Park.

The proposed facility is 120,982 square feet and goes beyond the city's requests. It would include two indoor soccer fields, four drop-down indoor batting cages and space to convert three indoor baseball/softball training fields.

For convenience and flexibility, Neikirk said the facility would include electronic basketball goals, volleyball standards and divider curtains to separate floors during tournaments. It benefits from proximity to county parks, where families can visit during any tournament downtime, he said. The facility's location near key infrastructure could "easily make it a beacon" from the interstate with proper lighting and signage, said Neikirk.

The next step of selecting a partner for the indoor sports complex is taking the three proposals, along with public input shared at the meeting, to the city council at its May 18 meeting.

The process of vetting entities so far -- a list of eight was whittled to three based on factors such as site viability, creativity, economic viability and team experience -- has been completed by a committee that consisted of Thompson, assistant city manager Molly Hood and Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce president and CEO John Mehner.

Thompson said going through the information and making a decision would take time, but there's hope the council could come to a decision within four to six weeks.

If so, the sports complex could be designed, built and operated within the next 18 months.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

1823 Rust Ave., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

South Kingshighway and Southern Expressway, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

U.S. 61 and Interstate 55, Cape Girardeau, Mo.