May 31, 2007 3 min read

As it seems plenty of questions remain unanswered about the proposed velodrome project in Brownsville, it’s good that council President Jack Lawver has agreed to schedule a public meeting to give residents a chance to provide input. We hope they’ll be able to ask questions, too, and get forthright and complete answers. First and foremost among the inquiries should be, “Who are the third-party funding sources that real estate management firm CB Richard Ellis intends to approach for funding a $277,430 feasibility study?” That’s basically the same question Fayette County Commissioner Angela M. Zimmerlink asked at the Tuesday meeting where council approved the agreement with CB Richard Ellis. The reply she got from firm representative Jack Norris was vague and insufficient: A variety of corporations and charitable foundations will be approached, but none were specifically named.

Zimmerlink deserves credit for asking that question -she’s correct in noting that it’s a matter of making all information public – and for asking for a public meeting on behalf of many residents who have contacted her with concerns about the project.

Zimmerlink isn’t alone in wanting to know more details on behalf of her constituents. Sister James Ann Germusko of Crosskeys Human Services, a major employer within the borough, said, “We’d like to know who some of the people who are involved in it (are).” That’s a reasonable request, too – and one that Norris answered by saying, “It’s my company that’s involved. There are no local partners. There is no Liggett.”

That reference, of course, was to Ernest and Marilyn Liggett, who basically own most of downtown Brownsville, where the proposed velodrome (and indoor bicycle racing training facility) would be built, according to prior storylines. Now, Norris is characterizing the Liggetts as “having nothing to do with this project,” and as people “who just happen to own some property downtown.”

Now, Norris is also saying that the downtown Brownsville area is but one site under consideration for the proposed facility. That raises some interesting questions: Realistically, what other parts of the borough, which is relatively small in geographic size, would be razed to build a velodrome? And how could the facility be built downtown without the Liggetts being involved, if only as the sellers or leasors of property? And what are the chances of a velodrome being built if they refuse to do either?

As to Norris’ claim that it is his firm that’s involved, a prior report listed some other members of the feasibility study team, including German consultant Ralph Schuermann, P.J. Dick Corp., Pennoni Associates Inc., Professional Services Industries Inc., Trans Associates and Tripp Umbach.

We’re all for something good happening in long-neglected Brownsville. But project planners and supporters shouldn’t be holding their cards so close to the vest, not when a significant chunk of public money – $15 million has been inserted into the state’s capital budget – could be used in the effort. Also, regarding the long-term cost, remember that the aforementioned state money usually requires a dollar-for-dollar local match. Where that money would come from is another question that should be answered now.