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A proposed $291-million mixed-use redevelopment of the Belmont Golf Course will not occur.
The proposal is "off the table," Henrico Recreation and Parks Director Neil Luther told the Citizen Wednesday.
The massive plan – which proposed an indoor arena, an outdoor adventure sports center with a whitewater course, an amphitheater and a number of residential, office and retail buildings – was one of five full proposals Henrico County received from private companies in response to its August call for proposals for an indoor arena.
The Citizen was first to report about the proposal Saturday, and reaction was swift from Lakeside residents – many of whom seemed opposed to the concept, worrying that it would ruin the small-town feel of the area and lead to higher property values and therefore higher property taxes.
A committee (chaired by Luther) charged with reviewing the proposals narrowed the list Tuesday and presented its recommendations to County Manager John Vithoulkas, Luther said. Vithoulkas is expected to release the short list of proposals today.
Henrico officials want a private group to build and operate an arena that could be used for a variety of indoor sports and activities, including high school graduations. They requested proposals through the state's Public-Private Education and Infrastructure Act of 2002, through which localities can partner with private developers on a variety of projects.
The PPEA is designed to foster faster completion of such projects by allowing private groups to fund them in whole or part initially and recoup their money through agreements with the localities.
The benefits to localities: new facilities, completed faster than they likely would have been otherwise, payable over time, with a reduced financial risk.
Less is known about the other four proposals, because key details of each were redacted in the versions made public earlier this month.
One, made by Eastern Sports Management, seemed to indicate a preferred location of Richmond Raceway for an arena.
Another, made by MEB General Contractors, hinted at Glover Park in Glen Allen as its potential site.
The two other proposals – one from The Rebkee Company/Houring Development and the other from S.B. Ballard Construction Company – did not give any indication of preferred sites.
A fifth proposal, from Riverstone Properties, suggested that the arena be built on some or all of a 109-acre site known as Scott Farm, located near I-295, Parham Road and I-95 and held by Riverstone.
Henrico officials this summer made public their conceptual rendering of the type of arena they envision – one that would contain nearly 195,000 square feet, enough space for 12 basketball courts, team rooms, concession space, spectator viewing space and 1,200 parking spots.
An arena built through such an agreement likely would be owned and operated by the private company, which would rent it to Henrico and potentially other groups.
