New partner joins efforts to develop Hamilton mill into sports center

The group behind one of the largest indoor sports centers in the country — Spooky Nook Sports in Manheim, Penn. — has joined talks to help redevelop the former Champion Paper mill into a sports facility, the city of Hamilton announced Monday.

The proposed indoor, multi-field sports complex in Hamilton could look similar to Spooky Nook, which is a 700,000-square-foot property that hosts sports tournaments, meetings and family fitness outings and includes a hotel, according to its website, www.spookynooksports.com.

In Hamilton, plans are to convert the former Champion Paper mill property on the west side of North B Street into a youth sports complex, fitness center, hotel, restaurants, brewery, meeting and event space, and other entertainment venues, according to the most recent update on the site plans released Monday by the city. The facility will also house medical tenants such as orthopedics, pediatric dentistry and other services, according to the city.

Once financing commitments are secured, construction is still on track to start later this year, according to the city.

After completing a due diligence period, Spooky Nook could reach an agreement to become an owner/operator of the Hamilton center, said Jody Gunderson, Hamilton’s economic development director.

“They bring instant credibility to what this project is and what it could be,” Gunderson said. “That’s a company that’s already in the business of what we’re proposing on this site.”

“Our next steps are going to be working with them on a redevelopment agreement as well as them putting together the financing on the project,” Gunderson said.

Spooky Nook is interested in buying the Hamilton site because the location would not overlap with the tournament games it currently draws to Pennsylvania. Also, Hamilton serves as a regional draw to bring visitors from Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, Indiana and other surrounding communities that’s an ideal location to open a new sports center, said Jason Long, business director for Spooky Nook.

“In terms of jobs and economic development it’s in an essential location,” Long said.

PROJECT HISTORY

The development team behind the Butler County project consists of: Moses B. Glick, owner of the property under his company Green Reclamation LLC; local architect Mike Dingeldein of Community Design Alliance; community volunteer Jim Fitton; and Frances Mennone, a board member of The Great Miami Rowing Center.

The indoor facility is just one piece of a larger development plan involving sports and entertainment attractions at the site.

Renovations are also planned at The Great Miami Rowing Center at 330 North B St. — now managed by national firm RowAmerica — which is also part of plans to redevelop the former paper mill property, Mennone said. The rowing club has existed since 2007. In 2014, it opened a boathouse in the former SMART Papers/Champion Paper cogeneration station on the river.

Another piece of redevelopment plans is to build a stadium with potential to become home to a minor league baseball team, the summer collegiate team the Hamilton Joes, Little League teams, and/or possibly a professional soccer league.

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