Westfield Washington Schools is looking to partner with the city to increase economic development within Westfield and expedite construction of the new community stadium.
On behalf of the school district, Supt. Dr. Mark Keen told the Westfield City Council on April 28 that for $2.5 million, the city could turn school land into assessed value and taxes. The funding allows the district to accelerate its timetable to sell 9.6 acres to developers, build a new football stadium and provide the city with a new tax base, projected as $40 million.
“You will start getting back your investment within two and a half to three years and then will be going forward with additional revenue,” Keen said. “The $2.5 million does not build a stadium. It gets us off the ground so the land can be developed.”
“It’s not a handout or a gift,” said Nick Verhoff, WWS executive director of business and operations. “This is economic development in the purest sense. It regenerates itself.”
Earlier this year, the district agreed to sell 14 acres just east of the U.S. 31-Ind. 32 interchange to a group of local Westfield investors. On the 9.6 acres west of Shamrock Boulevard, development plans include a three- to four-story office building and a hotel, whose name has not been released. The area is the current site of the school district’s football stadium and track and a baseball diamond.
“The value of the construction is approximately $40 million and they want to commence construction as soon as possible. The buildings could impact 2016 payable taxes,” Keen said. “Land taxes would generate $80,000 and taxes on the commercial structures would generate $900,000.”
Verhoff said the 4.5 acres east of Shamrock Boulevard is where the administration office is located. He said the district has the ability to remain in that space for five more years.
Officials said the football team will remain at the current stadium until the new one is built, which Keen projects to be during the season. While the stadium will not be completed, it will be capable of hosting games.
“We hope some football games will be played there this fall. Not in August, but some playoff games,” Keen said.
Mayor Andy Cook said the proposal offers direct and indirect impact to the city. Directly, Cook said the 12-acre parcel can be developed commercially. “Indirectly, of our four quadrants this will be the first to be developed in a quality fashion. What we’ll see is other development coming,” he said.
Cook said funding for the project will come from the proceeds of the utility sale. He said the city would pay $1.5 million now and the other $1 million “when vertical improvements have begun.”
“The goal of the proceeds is to make investments in the community. Mostly roads, infrastructure improvements and trails,” he said. “When it was first proposed, the council was very skeptical.”
Councilors have been meeting with school board members to discuss ways the two could work together on economic development.
“It’s a great exercise that never really happened before,” Cook said.
“I know the stadium is 54 years old with old stands; the locker rooms are terrible and the track is shot. We need a remedy,” City Council President Jim Ake said.
Ake said the proposal is a win-win for the city and school district.
“That corner is very valuable – it’s a gateway to the city and the edge of Grand Junction. It’s an opportunity for us to put it on the tax roll and a huge return on the investment,” he said. “We want to hear from the people what their thoughts are.”
City councilors can be contacted at [email protected]. Ake said the council will hold a public hearing on May 12. The proposal also will be up for adoption that evening.
