This is the issue. Newberry has the opportunity to acquire Canterbury in a deal with the County similar to the deal we did with Nations Park. In other words, the complex would be purchased with bed tax dollars, money that comes in from people who visit Alachua County and stay in our hotels.
From the County’s perspective, they would get a venue to run the County fair that is, for the most part, already built and ready to begin operating immediately with very little additional capital investment. Canterbury already has a 2,000 sq ft arena and multiple barns that would serve the fair’s needs perfectly. Right now, the fair has been experiencing financial difficulty. The location for the County fair is right next to the airport. It’s located in a section of Gainesville that has been identified for business growth, and recreation doesn’t fit that model very well. The County could also help keep the equestrian center open and continuing to bring revenue into the County. So, the County could, in a very real sense, not only save money but make money with this project.
But, the advantages don’t end there. The proposal is to acquire Canterbury and the wooded land, about 45 acres, just to the west of the actual Equestrian Center. In this project, we are looking to also bring in a multi-sport complex that could include a velodrome, a competitive bicycle arena. Now, it’s early in this process, and it may end up being some other type of complex, so don’t hold me to a velodrome. However, the University of Florida has shown some interest in a Velodrome, and I think we can all agree that that would be a fantastic partner to bring into Newberry. This multi-sport complex would be built on the land to the west of Canterbury, so Canterbury would stay virtually the same. This is a very important point because Canterbury needs all the open fields around it to operate their competitions, and as long as part of the argument is that we are doing this to keep Canterbury an active revenue generator, we have to remember their needs. But, whatever type of sports complex Newberry ends up bringing in, the impact of the potential economic development, both on Newberry and on the County, is immense, easily as transformative as Nations Park is projected to be and Easton Archery has proven to be.
Virtually every economic development study I’ve read has upheld the strategy of creating “corridors.” A corridor is basically a fancy way of saying that Cities and Counties should be organized into sections for business, recreation, medicine, etc. . .. This makes perfect sense for multiple reasons; however, it is often difficult to implement because it takes a long term vision, and too often, narrow and short term interests derail that vision. There are a lot of things to consider about this proposal, and we are a long way from this becoming a reality. However, I think that, when we look at this project with the good of the entire County in mind, it looks like it could be good for everyone involved!
The Newberry City Commission will be hosting a town hall meeting Monday night, September 19th, at 6 at Oak View Middle School to discuss this proposal. The goal will be for everyone to have a chance to express their thoughts, but if you aren’t able to make that meeting or if you’re there but don’t get a chance to speak, please, share your thoughts with me in the comment box below. I’ll make sure they get back to the rest of the commissioners. This is a County wide issue, but it will impact us most directly. So, let your voice be heard!
Bill, I am concerned to hear that a ruteasrant is playing music so loudly that neighboring residents are disturbed. I do not live near the noise, but I have to weigh in because this is a matter of right and wrong. The ruteasrant should not be playing music so loudly that neighboring residents are disturbed by it. To play music that loudly is selfish and disrespectful, to say the least. It is wrong for someone to exercise their rights for pleasure when it violates someone else’s right to be able to function in the essentials, such as getting enough sleep at night, or hearing oneself think while in their own house. I, for one, will distance myself from establishments that choose a higher profit margin over the well-being of their neighbors. Prolonged loud or irritating noise can effect the quality of people’s lives in a negative way. It is able to cause stress and damage to health that cannot be circumvented by one’s simply developing an attitude of tolerance toward it. And the music that emanates from business establishments is typically not brief like the pealing of the church bell on a Sunday morning. It lasts for hours and late into the night. Music is not a one style fits all type of thing. It is not amoral or incidental like a train whistle or a cheering crowd. Music communicates attitudes and values. It affects people deeply and unavoidably on all levels mental, spiritual, and physical. A style that makes one person happy can make another person ill, miserable, and stressed. I hope Newberry is not allowed to develop a saloon-like atmosphere from the type of sounds that emanate from its business establishments. I agree with you that this is preferably an issue worked out between neighbors. However, if that is not working, a reasonable and enforceable noise ordinance is a proper role of local government. There needs to be some enforcable decibel standard, and there ought not be any loud music playing on a regular basis late into the night if it is disturbing residents. There needs to be orderliness and decency exercised here.
Thank you for your comment. I absolutely agree, and we are working on the noise ordinance as we speak. And, just to clarify, my name is Jordan.
That’s a great concern, and one I shared with you until I made sure that’s not what was being proposed. Canterbury would continue under its own management. Our parks and rec. would continue under Richard, and the new sports complex would run under its own separate management. I appreciate you leaving this comment though because I should have put that information into the main text. Thanks for helping me keep everything out there! I do want to add, though, that tonight’s meeting is really more of a large concept discussion and overview than it is a detailed plan. We don’t really have a detailed outline at this point. We still don’t know what the County is ultimately going to say, and that will, of course, make or break this idea. I think tonight is going to be very important, but I don’t want people showing up expecting business models, drawings, management details, etc. . .. I hope to see you as well!
I have a couple of concerns about the acquistion of this property, none of the things you have mentioned, more of how it will be managed and operated. As an accounting professional, and a management specialist, I know all to well that you can’t expect one man/woman to oversee so many projects, especially putting extremely large projects on in this case Richard at a time, that would be 2 large projects added to his already full schedule. My biggest concern is the management plan and business plan for the facility and I certainly hope that is available for review by the citizens on Monday night. Thanks & hope to see you there!