Minutes - 20041021 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Rod Visser introduced Whit Morrow, an Orange County resident and a member of the Recreation and Parks Advisory Council. He also works with Lincoln Harris, which is a real estate development and property management firm which is trying to sell the Sportsplex property. Jeff Thompson is the Executive Director of LEDAHF (Linked Economic Development and Affordable Housing Foundation). Chair Jacobs recognized members of the Friends of the Orange County Central Senior Center and also said that Commissioner Carey is not here this evening because he is in Florida with his mother, who has been ill. Jeff Thompson said that LEDAHF was founded in 1994 in Lowden County, Virginia as a substitute for a housing authority to allow people to have affordable housing. Since that time, it has expanded into commercial development and community facility development. It has three primary focuses: One is to affect and promote economic development in the markets; second is to promote and affect affordable housing; and third is to relieve the burden of government. They try to use as much of the public sector facilities as possible to bring together programs that may solve problems. He said that he was introduced to this project by John Stock with Ice Ventures, who runs about 80°~ of all the ice facilities in the Carolinas. He said that he is very interested in this. He said that there is a land plan that has problems with operations, but also has a significant opportunity for other uses such as affordable housing, senior housing, and other public uses. Jeff Thompson showed a slide presentation. Concept Review October 21, 2004 Jeff Thompson, LEDAHF, Inc Senior Center/Sportsplex Objectives: SportsplexlSenior Center Integration • Concept Approval • Authorization to Move Toward Proposal • Review and Educate Benefits of Concept Components • G2&A Overview: Integrate Central Orange Senior Center into Sportsplex • Appr. 8500 SF of New Construction, Provide 15K SF of Dedicated Senior Center Space • Purchase Existing Facility From Eaton Vance • Apply Favorable Financing Programs For Purchase and Operation • Achieve Higher Operations Efficiencies • Superior Facilities to Seniors and Sportsplex Users Orange County Obligation for Sportsplex • Subsidy with No Ownership Benefits • Not in Control of Facility • Owner (Eaton Vance) Actively Marketing Property • Desire to Continue Pool Availability to All Citizens Existina Operatina Condition for Sportsplex • General Overhead Too Expensive • Absentee Management • Site Plan Not Efficient (Excess Space) • Excess Real Estate Around Building Underutilized • Ice and Fitness Profits Help Subsidize Aquatic Center Costs