Cooper Stadium project stalls for 5 years as developer ducks questions
What’s remaining COLUMBUS — of Cooper Stadium’s grandstand sat bleakly under a heavy gray sky last week. Large boards have replaced many of the picture windows in the suites that line the top of the grandstand. Tall weeds sprout from the field where outfielders once roamed.
It’s been five years since plans were announced that the former home of the Columbus Clippers would be transformed into a racetrack and automotive research center. Since then, though, nothing.
And that’s vexing to area leaders and residents hoping the area would blossom with jobs and a new life as the Sports Pavilion and Automotive Research Center (SPARC).
“It’s in very, very sad shape and it looks worse every day,” said Trent Smith, executive director of the Franklinton Board of Trade, a group of Franklinton businesses. Smith said he has tried to contact Arshot Investment about development plans for what was to be a $40 million project, but Arshot’s Bill Schottenstein has not returned calls.
“They have not gotten back to me to answer questions about the process, if it’s a dead deal,” Smith said. “We’re waiting for something to happen.”
“People in the neighborhood are very frustrated.”
Schottenstein did not return calls to The Dispatch, either. A reporter visited Arshot’s offices last week and was told that Schottenstein was in a meeting.
Longtime resident Bruce Warner, a Franklinton area commissioner, opposed the project. He wanted the Clippers to remain in the area instead of moving Downtown. Now, he wonders whether anything will replace them at the site. He hasn’t talked to Schottenstein, either.
“I didn’t believe him. Never did believe him. I know I was right,” Warner said. “I wouldn’t trust him as far as I can throw an elephant.”
In January 2016, Franklin County Commissioner John O’Grady said he had met with project developers who told him then things were moving along and there would be a lot more activity in 2016.
That didn’t happen. O’Grady said last week that he had not talked to Schottenstein in awhile. “I’m not sure where things are. We’ll certainly check into it,” O’Grady said.
“It’s certainly an important and key place, and part of the community,” he said. “I’m interested in seeing SPARC get its funding and developed.” Franklin County used to own the Cooper Stadium site.
Schottenstein, a principal with Arshot, signed a contract to buy the stadium from the county for $3.3 million in 2008.
The Clippers left for Huntington Park in 2009. The 47-acre site was annexed to Columbus; the City Council voted to rezone it for the halfmile racetrack in 2011. In 2012, the council approved a 10-year, 75 percent tax abatement for the project.
Most of the stadium was demolished in 2014. Plans for the track called for seating for 8,500, with an adjacent automotive research and technology building.
And as part of its Smart Cities application, Columbus said it planned on using the track to test driverless vehicles.
Stefanie Coe, who leads the Southwest Area Commission — the site is within the commission’s boundaries — reached out to Schottenstein’s office to set up a meeting. “Obviously, the longer time passes, the more concerned we are,” Coe said. “If it’s not that project, what?”
Charles Foster, who’s owned Charley’s bar on nearby Sullivant Avenue for 34 years, hoped he might get some extra business with a redeveloped Cooper Stadium site, maybe even an increase in property values. “It’s sat empty for five years. It’s stupid,” Foster said of the Cooper Stadium site. “The racetrack idea. That all fell apart. If you’re not doing anything, say you’re not going to do anything and forget about it. It’s just a waste, all that land over there.”
A teenager wanted in connection to a murder earlier this month in North Carolina has turned himself in to the Montgomery County Sheriff ’s Office, according to sources.
Eric Combs, 17, was wanted for murder in connection to a killing in Mount Holly, N.C., on April 3.
Police there had issued a first-degree murder warrant for Combs in connection to the slaying of a 14-year-old Charlotte girl, who was found shot to death at a park.
Police also have arrested 18-year-old Darvon Fletcher in the case.
A Miami County judge Monday sentenced a Troy man convicted of attempted securities fraud and related charges to community control, but warned he would be “on a tight leash” the next three years.
Jeremy Moser, 37, was indicted in September by the grand jury on one count each of securities fraud, unregistered sale of a security, misrepresentation during sale of security and theft.
As part of a plea deal, prosecutors dismissed the theft charge and amended the other charges to attempted securities fraud, attempted unregistered sale of a security and attempted misrepresentation during sale of a security.
Prosecutors said they would recommend a community control sentence if restitution of $10,000 was paid before the sentencing. The $10,000 was paid April 7.
Moser was accused of soliciting and receiving $10,000 from an Ohio resident for investment in a startup business based, in part, that the business was affiliated with an established business. The claimed business was never incorporated, according to the state Department of Commerce.
The investor funds allegedly were used for personal expenses.
Defense lawyer Jeremy Tomb told Judge Jeannine Pratt that Moser had several convictions on his record but the most recent was more than 10 years ago.
Pratt reviewed Moser’s record between 1999 and 2004 including convictions for theft, bad checks and forgery, and noted he served two prison terms.
If he violates condition of the community control, Moser could face up to 18 months in prison on each of the three charges. for more than two hours.
A possible blown tire on a southbound red pickup truck forced it to veer into the northbound lanes and collide head-on with a minivan and another pickup truck.
The mother whose 10-yearold son, Dalton Kingsley, died from injuries suffered in a crash in which she was driving on Sunday has issued a statement.
The statement, signed by Carla Jo Powell, was released through her pastor.
In it, she encourages parents to not take their children for granted.
“Do not ever take a smile, a grin, or a question for granted. Never turn them down or away without acknowledging them and please don’t send them away saying ... you don’t have time. Nothing is worth losing that opportunity to share one more moment with your child.
“And lastly always wear a seat belt no matter how uncomfortable or in a hurry you are. Or you may be like us and not have ‘Our Child.’” ...
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, a car driven by Carla Jo Kingsley, 49, of Eaton, was northbound on Camden Darrtown Road when it drifted left of center, over-corrected to the right, slid off the east edge broadside and crashed into a ditch. The vehicle struck a wire fence, overturned and ejected 10-year-old Dalton.
Kingsley was using a cell phone at the time of the crash, according to troopers.
Kingsley and her 12-yearold daughter were taken to McCullough Hyde Hospital.
No one in the vehicle was wearing a seat belt.
Police in Dayton are talking to a “person of interest” after a man in his 20s showed up at the hospital suffering from a gunshot wound on Tuesday afternoon.
The alleged shooting happened in the 1100 block of Linda Vista Avenue.
The victim was shot in the back with “buckshot,” according to police at the scene. The victim showed up at Good Samaritan Hospital and from there he was transferred to Miami Valley Hospital.
Police said the victim has since been treated and released from Miami Valley.