MEDIA-This Week 10-8-08

A representative of a local group opposed to turning Cooper Stadium into a motor-vehicle complex said last week it is raising money for a sound study.

Redevelop Our Area Responsibly Columbus, a group made up of local businesses and residents near the stadium, expects a sound study will cost more than $20,000, said founding member and German Village resident Regina Tobin.

"We know that it's going to be more than $20,000 and there will probably be incidental fees that we'll just have to prepare for," Tobin said.

Earlier this year, Arshot Investment Corp., agreed -- following certain contract contingencies -- to buy the old ballpark for $3.3-million.

The corporation is planning its own sound study; however, ROAR members want to undertake their own study. ROAR members fear a track will diminish the quality of life in the area and cause a downturn in property values.

Tobin said the sound study will cost more than what the group initially planned because they do not know what type of motor vehicles Arshot plans to use.

"It would make it cheaper if (Arshot president Bill Schottenstein) said we are going to have these vehicles race and stick with it," Tobin said. "There's a difference between a drag racer -- those vehicles are very loud compared to other vehicles. If we don't know that, we are going to have to test for all of them."

Attorney Joe Sugar, general counsel for Arshot, said in an e-mail message that the facility would not be limited to motor sports.

"It's intended to be a multi-use facility, with an ability to accommodate motor-sport events," Sugar said. "As a multi-use facility, it should also be able to accommodate cycling races, extreme sports and various other outdoor events that are unrelated to motor sports."

Sugar said the corporation, at the county's request, is participating in a public process to find a qualified sound consultant.

Sugar said it was his understanding that the qualified participant will be identified by a committee made up of representatives from the city and the county development departments, Columbus City Council, the Southwest Area Commission, the Franklinton Board of Trade, and the developer.

Once a consultant is found the sound study can proceed.

"The sound study will help us design the facility in a way that mitigates sound levels and should go a long way in addressing concerns that have been voiced to date," Sugar said. "We do not intend to pursue land-use approvals until our facility design has been finalized."

Tobin said her group does not oppose selling the stadium, but would like to see a different use.

"We want Schottenstein to buy it and we want him to put something up that will be both profitable to him and benefit the community at large," she said.

Tobin said her group has received $12,500 in donations from the real estate community. Among the donors are Midtown Area Real Estate Association, of which Tobin is president, and the Ohio Association of Realtors.

Nonetheless, Tobin said there is no timeframe for when the group will move forward with its study. She said the group wants to have money in hand before starting.

In June, the German Village Society sent a letter to the Franklin County Commissioners stating it had sound concerns.

Bill Curlis, a society trustee and chair of the Civic Relations Committee, said at this point the society is waiting for more information before it takes a hard-line stance on the issue.

"I think the whole point that we were trying to make was that we just have to have some facts," Curlis said. "Once we have the facts we can take a position on whether we can support that or not.

"If there is going to be noise only once a week that's not a real problem," Curlis added.

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