Letters voice support for velodrome project
Letters of support for the Olympic-style indoor bicycling track proposed for downtown Brownsville have been sent to USA Cycling, the official agency recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee to select and train U.S. cyclists for international competitions. Most of the letters have two things in common: they were requested by Ernest and Marilyn Liggett following presentations about the proposed public velodrome and surrounding private development, and they support the relocation of USA Cycling’s headquarters from its present location in Colorado Springs, Colo., to Brownsville.
The Liggetts, of Monroeville, are not part of the ad hoc committee of elected and community members established by Brownsville Borough Council to study the velodrome project.
Jack Norris, of the real estate management firm CB Richard Ellis, the company preparing a preliminary feasibility study for the project, said while the Liggetts own a considerable amount of property surrounding the velodrome site, they are not directly involved in the velodrome project itself. If constructed, the velodrome would be publicly owned, Norris said.
Two of the three Fayette County Commissioners, Joseph A. Hardy and Vincent A. Vicites, signed a letter that was sent to Steve Johnson, the executive director of USA Cycling. Commissioner Angela Zimmerlink said she was not approached about the project or the letter.
“The Fayette County Commissioners are very eager to lend a voice of support in the development of a new headquarters and training facility for USA Cycling in Brownsville, Pennsylvania,” the Hardy/Vicites letter opens.
Joseph P. Kirk, executive director of the Mon Valley Progress Council, said he sent not one, but two letters of support to the executive director of USA Cycling. One letter was sent Sept. 26, 2006, the other on Jan. 23, though he said they are not specific about a site. The letters support development in the Brownsville area.
“We welcome this opportunity to offer our support for efforts to develop a national velodrome, world-class BMX facility and USA Cycling support facilities in the Brownsville area,” Kirk wrote in his September letter.
In January, Kirk included support for the development of a new USA Cycling headquarters to the letter.
USA Cycling officials say they welcome the development of any velodromes in the United States, especially those that are enclosed.
“Currently, there is only one indoor velodrome in the U.S. and that’s in California. To have an indoor venue on the East Coast would be preferable,” said Andy Lee, the spokesman for USA Cycling. “It’s not the first time the developer of a velodrome has shown interest in attracting USA Cycling to their area.”
Pat McDonough, athletics director for USA Cycling, said moving the headquarters has not been formally discussed, though Dave Durkin of CB Richard Ellis in Charleston, W.Va., has been in contact with USA Cycling officials.
“We had some conversations with Dave Durbin just regarding what our operations are like here. Certainly, there’s been no formal proposal from Brownsville to us. To move the headquarters of this company is not something that would happen in secret. We’re not the Baltimore Colts,” McDonough said.
The former National Football League team moved from Baltimore to Indianapolis, Ind., in the middle of the night in March 1984.
Lee and McDonough said questions have been asked about the size of the USA Cycling office, which currently employs about 45 employees, including five or six field staff members who do not work out of Colorado Springs.
Educational institutions in the area also have sent letters of support for the Brownsville velodrome project.
Dr. Lawrence Golembiewski, superintendent in the Brownsville Area School District, said he sent a letter of support directly to Steve Johnson, the executive director of USA Cycling, after hearing a presentation by the Liggetts about the project.
“I’m supporting the velodrome. I also want it to be noted that I’m not disparaging anyone or any projects at BARC (the Brownsville Area Revitalization Corp.),” Golembiewski said. “I’m supporting the velodrome if it will bring jobs for our young people.”
Dr. Angelo Armenti, California University of Pennsylvania president, also sent a letter of support for the velodrome, seeing it as an economic opportunity for the borough as well as for the university. Cal U has programs in health science and sports studies and the project could provide internship possibilities for the university students.