Velodrome back on Brownsville agenda
BROWNSVILLE – Velodrome plans are once again coming before Brownsville Borough Council. Council Tuesday is expected to decide if it will authorize the real estate management firm CB Richard Ellis to seek grant money for a full feasibility study for construction of the proposed bicycle racing facility. CB Richard Ellis, an international firm with offices in Pittsburgh and Charleston, last month presented council with an executive summary outlining the proposed project, what would be covered in a feasibility study and who would be working on it.
“The scope of work set forth in this proposal will be used to solicit the funding required to undertake the Feasibility Study,” the executive summary states.
The estimated cost of a feasibility study, including financial and economic income analysis, is $277,430, including a $29,700 fee to CB Richard Ellis for project management/coordination, the report states.
Council President Jack Lawver said the proposed resolution that council will consider will state that the project will only be considered if it can be done at no cost to the borough at any time. Lawver said he was also concerned that having CB Richard Ellis seeking grants for the feasibility study could jeopardize other grants the borough is seeking.
Lawver said David Durbin of CB Richard Ellis assured him that the firm would not seek grants from the state Department of Community and Economic Development or the Department of Conservation of Natural Resources, or other agencies the borough is currently receiving funding from.
“They won’t do anything to hurt funding for other projects,” Lawver said.
Lawver said he also has some concerns about where the funds will come from for construction if the project is deemed feasible. The state capital budget last year included $15 million for the Brownsville velodrome project.
“Because that item’s in the budget doesn’t mean we’re going to get the money,” Lawver said.
Even if the capital funds were made available, it wouldn’t resolve the funding issue.
“Usually, any state monies for projects like this require a dollar for dollar match and you can’t use other government monies,” Lawver said.
Lawver said he has asked Durbin if the study will compare the costs of public and private ownership of the velodrome, but he has not received an answer to that yet.
According to the executive summary, CB Richard Ellis initiated the dialogue on the proposed project with USA Cycling (USAC), the nonprofit organization that oversees national and international cycling competitions and Olympic training in the United States. USAC is currently headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., and utilizes an outdoor track for training.
According to the executive summary, USAC is interested in having an indoor, climate-controlled training and event facility. The only indoor velodrome in the United States is located in the state of California. There are 22 velodromes across the country, the executive summary states.
“At this stage, USAC’s expression of interest is not an unequivocal acknowledgement that USAC will relocate to Brownsville, but rather a level of encouragement to take the next step in discovering the feasibility of the project,” the report states. “The location criteria for a new USAC facility includes consideration for its proximity to major U.S. population centers and institutions of higher learning, natural terrain suitable for training purposes, and an affordable cost of living. The organization also looks favorably upon an area that would allow them to become an active member of the community, collaborating with local organizations and supporting community activities and growth.
“With the construction of the Brownsville National Velodrome, Brownsville and southwestern Pennsylvania can offer the USAC all of these qualities and more,” the report states.
The report goes on to list potential benefits of the velodrome, including an increase in the regional tax base, serving as a catalyst for future development, spurring on the housing, retail, service and hospitality industries and serving as an anchor for redevelopment and revitalization efforts.
“The facility would also provide a location to host additional revenue generating opportunities for the city and other community organizations, by providing a multi-purpose venue that can support large community and regional events such as trade shows, conferences and other sporting events,” the report states.
According to the report, an expert team has been assembled to conduct the feasibility study, including velodrome consultant Ralph Schuermann of Germany, Astorino, CB Richard Ellis, P.J. Dick, Pennoni Associates Inc., Professional Services Industries Inc., Trans Associates and Tripp Umbach.
“This diverse team of service providers includes real estate professionals; strategic urban planning, research and economic impact analysts; architectural and engineering firms; general contractors and construction management teams; engineering testing and inspection professionals and transportation, traffic flow and parking experts,” the report states.
The proposed development includes a parking garage. According to Lawver, Durbin said the downtown area will be given first consideration, but other sites in the area may also be considered.