May 30, 2007 By Christine Haines 4 min read

BROWNSVILLE – Brownsville Borough Council Tuesday voted to enter into an agreement with the real estate management firm CB Richard Ellis to seek funding for and conduct a feasibility study for a velodrome in the community. Jack Norris of CB Richard Ellis said his firm has been looking into the possibility of a velodrome in Brownsville for nearly a year, with both he and David Durbin from the company’s Charleston office both working on it.

“Dave’s the one who knows the USA Cycling people. I’m the one who thought about Brownsville. We’ve met twice with USA Cycling. They won’t do anything until we show them there is a feasibility study that makes sense,” Norris said.

USA Cycling (USAC) is the organization responsible for identifying and training U.S. cyclists for international and Olympic competition. Norris said the USAC is currently headquartered in Colorado Springs, Co., in the U.S. Olympic complex, with a need to move out of the facility within the next two years.

Council voted to enter into the agreement with CB Richard Ellis with the understanding that the firm not approach the state Department of Community and Economic Develop or the Department of Conservation of Natural Resources for funding for the $277,430 study, since those of two of the borough’s main funding sources.

“There’s no cost to the public associated with this,” Norris said.

Fayette County Commissioner Angela Zimmerlink asked who the third party funding sources are that CB Richard Ellis will approach for funding, but Norris declined to name specific entities. He said only that there were a variety of corporations and charitable foundations that would be approached.

“It’s not a matter of public money, it’s a matter of public information,” Zimmerlink said.

Norris contended that all of the information about the velodrome proposal was presented at a public meeting with the borough council, with numerous people present. There were more than 35 people at Tuesday’s meeting, with many standing in the hallway.

“How many people here were at the meeting or knew anything about it?” Zimmerlink asked.

No hands were raised.

Following the meeting Council President Jack Lawver clarified that while council was invited to a meeting set up by an ad hoc committee appointed by the Greater Brownsville Area Chamber of Commerce in August, the borough council had not had a public meeting involving a presentation of the plan by CB Richard Ellis officials. Approval for a preliminary feasibility study at no cost to the borough was approved at the September council meeting.

“Brownsville needs something. If you do not generate money into this community, you’re going to have more crime,” said school board member and borough resident Stella Broadwater.

About half of the public comment in the two hours prior to the feasibility study vote was related to complaints with crime, quads and juvenile delinquency in the borough. Most of the rest of the comments had to do with the velodrome proposal.

“We’d like to know who some of the people are who are involved in it,” said Sister James Ann Germuska of Crosskeys Human Services.

“It’s my company that’s involved,” Norris said. There are no local partners. There is no Liggett,” Norris said, referring to downtown Brownsville property owner Ernest Liggett.

“We’re not against progress at all, but you hear rumors and sometimes these rumors materialize. I will protect our consumers,” Germuska said.

Crosskeys provides a variety of services, and has several facilities in Brownsville including day and residential mental health services.

“We were affected before when the Liggetts came in and we had to move,” said Louise Hicks, also of Crosskeys Human Services. “We are one of the largest employers in the borough.”

“It’s time for people to understand that the Liggett family has nothing to do with this project. They just happen to own some property downtown,” Norris said.

Norris said there are more than 30 different property owners in the downtown area that is one site under consideration for the velodrome project.

Norris agree to attend a public meeting Lawver said he would call to give area residents a chance to provide input on the velodrome project while the feasibility study is being prepared. A date has not yet been set.

Council members Lawver, John Hosler, Robert Pritts, Tom Bush and Tracy Sheehan Zivkovich voted in favor of the agreement with CB Richard Ellis, with Zivkovich clarifying that her son works for one of the companies listed as being involved in the feasibility study. Zivkovich said she was able to vote on the issue Tuesday, since the borough is not spending any money on the study. Councilmen Charles McMaster and Edward Rohrer were absent from the meeting.