CC Board of Ed approves purchase of athletic complex land

By Kate Hayden, khayden@charlescitypress.com

Two hours after settling paperwork between seller and buyer, the Charles City Board of Education approved purchasing 20 acres of land for the district’s future baseball/softball athletic complex.

The land is owned by the Sherman Nursery Company, and is located north of Washington Elementary School, outside of city boundaries and to the east of Shadow Avenue.

The initial price is $8,000 an acre, or $160,000 for 20 acres, but that does not include fees, land survey costs and other associated prices, Superintendent Dr. Dan Cox told board members. The final price will likely be closer to $183,000.

“That would be to purchase the property, and obviously then we will have to do development as well. The soonest you would be playing would be the summer of 2018, and that’s if we get going this spring,” Dr. Cox said.

Stewart Realty has been working with the Charles City Community School District for more than three years to find suitable land for an athletic complex, owner and broker Dean Stewart told board members. The Sherman Nursery parcel of land, owned by the Bailey family, was identified in fall 2016 as a potential solution for the district.

“I’m pleased today to say we’re looking at the best case scenario on a preferred site,” Stewart said.

The site is located outside of city limits and will require a conditional use hearing from the Floyd County Zoning Department before the purchase is closed in early April. The site is located north of the 100-year flood plain. There is no public sewer or water lines on the site.

The district will conduct a land survey to define the borders of the parcel from the rest of the Sherman Nursery’s 70 acres of land, Dr. Cox told the Press. The land must meet other zoning and assessment contingencies before the district can complete the deal, bringing the final sale cost up from $160,000 to about $182,950.

“That’s part of our due diligence,” he said.

Development costs on the future athletic complex is dependent upon “how much you want to do,” Dr. Cox added. Water lines, paved parking and other features will likely be projects for down the road.

“One baseball field, one softball field –– we know what those costs roughly would be,” Dr. Cox said. “That’s where the price really can depend on where you want to go with it.”

“It will be something that we grow into. What we need is a place to play that isn’t flooded,” he added.

The land is close to the existing Sportsmens’ Park, which when usable could allow Charles City to host baseball or softball tournaments with the expanded facilities. In the past, Charles City teams have been left without a facility to play or practice at after Sportsmens’ diamonds flooded out during the season.

“It’s our first win without even starting practice for this year,” Head Baseball Coach Tyler Downing said. “We’re very excited for the future of our program and school district –– to have that and play and practice on a regular basis.”

Flooding at the Sportsmens’ Park facilities have been an issue for players for “close to 15 years that I’m aware of,” Downing added, and he thanked the board, Dean Stewart and former head coach Rick Gable for their work on the project.

“(Gable) put in 10 years and an enormous amount of time at Sportsmens’ looking for a solution,” Downing said.

Board member Jason Walker called the sale a “phenomenal opportunity” during the meeting.

“We truly express an appreciation for the Bailey family to work with us and come to an agreement here. It comes to the great benefit of our district and our community,” Walker told the Press. “It’s an exciting time, and we couldn’t do it without them.”

The board’s approval was met by applause from the public audience.

-20170124-