An Oxford resident with an idea to turn a dilapidated old industrial facility owned by the village into a privately-operated indoor sports training facility is currently negotiating a lease agreement.
‘It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do,? said Dan D’Alessandro, who recently approached council with a proposal to use the village-owned facility located at 98 S. Glaspie St.
D’Alessandro, who runs a consulting business from his home, would like to transform the 20,000-square-foot building into a place where individuals and teams can practice baseball, softball, soccer and possibly golf.
‘It would be a year-round field,? he said, noting he’d like to have it up and running by late fall.
To accomplish this, D’Alessandro’s prepared to invest up to $300,000 to improve the building and bring it up to code plus another $100,000 to equip it with artificial turf, machines, nets, etc. He estimated the renovation would take about 1? months.
Village officials purchased the former industrial building, along with the 3.42 acres it sits on, for $700,000 in 2006. The property used to house Smith Silo, Spearing Tool & Manufacturing and Sea Link International.
Council expressed support of the proposed project at its July 8 meeting and D’Alessandro is negotiating a lease with village President Chris Bishop and Councilman Tony Albensi. When completed, the agreement will have to be approved by council
‘I feel it’s a good idea, good use for the building,? Bishop said. ‘It’s a way for the village to get it cleaned up without spending taxpayer funds.?
However, Bishop wants to make sure the lease spells out all the specifics of what D’Alessandro’s proposing.
There are some zoning issues that must be dealt with. The property is zoned single family residential (R-1), which doesn’t permit privately-operated recreational uses.
Village Planner Seth Sphargel, of the McKenna Associates, suggested the village could either adopt a zoning ordinance text amendment to allow for such uses in the R-1 district or conditionally rezone the parcel to C-2, which permits indoor recreational facilities. In either case, a public hearing before the planning commission and final action by the council would be required.
A resident of the area for 30 years, D’Alessandro knows ‘sports is kind of big in Oxford? and it’s continuing to grow.
The Oxford Recreational Baseball Association has added three teams to each of its age groups, he noted.
During the winter, many parents are forced to drive their kids as far as West Bloomfield or Genesee County so they can continue practicing their sports indoors.
D’Alessandro knows this because he’s the parent of a baseball player.
‘We’re traveling quite a distance,? he said.
Such a facility would not only be used by Oxford residents, but people from surrounding communities such as Lake Orion, Clarkston and Ortonville, according to D’Alessandro. ‘All those areas need something like this,? he said.
Having a regional indoor sports training facility fits well with the Oxford DDA’s efforts to make its downtown district a ‘regional attraction? for dining, entertainment and shopping, D’Alessandro noted.
The facility would welcome both walk-ins, who wished to pay each time they used it, and those with memberships.
‘It’s not going to be like a Bally’s health club or anything like that,? D’Alessandro said.
Memberships will be for frequent users, even entire teams.
‘If they use the facility five times in a month, they should get a discount,? he said.
D’Alessandro realizes the existing building is ‘old and decrepit,? but its proximity to the Scripter Park baseball fields is ‘ideal.?
While many people would probably say the building should be demolished, D’Alessandro sees things differently.
‘Everybody wants to tear things down and build something new,? he said. ‘I don’t think we need to take that type of approach with it because now you’ve got to take all that stuff and throw it in a landfill.?
He said the ‘smartest? approach, as far as saving time and money, is to simply use the building that’s there.
‘I’m just looking at a wide open space and that fits the bill,? said D’Alessandro, noting he doesn’t need offices.
D’Alessandro said his biggest concern right now is the poor economy.
‘Are there going to be enough people in the area to support it?? he said.
But if the facility is managed right and is clean and inviting, people ‘will come back.?
‘I really hope that it can take off,? he said.
D’Alessandro is currently seeking investors for the project. He can be reached by calling (586) 713-5184.