Big Sports Plans In Hazelwood
All elements are in place for the final approval for the game-changing mega sports complex, POWERplex at the site of the St. Louis Outlet Mall. The Hazelwood City Council gave its unanimous and strong vocal support at its September meeting for the redevelopment of the former Mills Mall for the huge sports complex, described as the largest youth sports complex in the country.
All sides in the financing should be in place when the city council takes a final vote for approval at the Oct. 17th council meeting.
Construction should start before the end of the year with the first tournament by next spring. Developer Dan Buck of Big Sports Properties estimates more than 2.6 million visitors annually, providing a major economic boom for not only North County, but the entire metro area.
The resolution passed by city council on Sept. 12 states that Big Sports Complex will provide $49.6 million from bank financing, the St. Louis Cardinals and several investors. The St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission would provide $6 million and St. Louis County will put up $2 million for roads, parking lots and sidewalks. Hazelwoods portions of the estimated $62 million project is $5.6 million loan to Big Sports.
http://www.flovalleynews.com/big-sports-plans-in-hazelwood
Happy to see new life being pumped into this former outlet mall as it is repurposed into a sportsplex. This mall came online just as malls were falling out of favor for shopping in general. It never had a good mix of retail outlets and with the shakeouts of the Great Recession and The Retail Sector in general it never had much of a chance. At this point all that remains are a few retailers and a theater. Food court is closed as are some outlet restaurants.