“It’s just a whole different ballgame that is being played here in the city,” Councilmember Stephanie Lynch said in response to comments from colleagues on past economic development efforts.
“What we’re creating here is an indoor wonderland,” said Orcun Turkay, who with Michael & Son President Basim Mansour is leading the $7 million project that includes a food hall, auditorium, mini golf and duckpin bowling.
Officials held a community meeting Tuesday to showcase draft recommendations amid talks between the county and an undisclosed developer who wants to build a mixed-use development on the former Southside Speedway property.
“Our first year was more than we anticipated for sure,” said Mark Lynch, the course’s vice president of operations.
Carefree Boat Club of Central Virginia leases several slips for its motorboats that its members use recreationally as a lower-cost alternative to boat ownership.
“We’ve all kited with a lot of people, but I think the four of us have depended a lot on each other in bad situations. This is definitely the A-team,” Jeff Friend said of the group that includes a fellow dental practitioner, a rock climbing gym co-owner and a real estate investor.
The East End course will see its last rounds played as its longtime owners are set to sell the property to a housing developer.
The city will now move toward picking a winning team for the redevelopment project, which one of the groups projected to cost up to $2 billion.
“It is able to be pulled off,” said the city’s project manager. “The first thing we need is someone to help us build it, and that’s getting the developer on board.”
The 20-acre property was the last piece needed for the university’s planned Athletics Village, which is to take shape next to the forthcoming Diamond District development.
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