Sports complex lease is signed
By John Joyce
Published in News on March 29, 2016 1:46 PM
The city of Goldsboro and the U.S. Air Force signed a 20-year lease Friday that paves the way for the construction of a 62-acre multi-sports complex on the perimeter of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.
The city and the base will share access to the facility which will consolidate several sports fields scattered throughout the community into a single, modern sports complex, according to an Air Force press release.
The city council approved the signing of the lease in November of last year, agreeing to eight multi-sports fields to be built on land owned but unused, by the Air Force.
City Manager Scott Stevens was unavailable for comment at the time of this report, but according to the lease the city will bear all costs regarding construction, installation, operation and maintenance of the facility.
The city will secure a minimum of $3 million through financing "from various sources," as well as from a 1-percent hotel occupancy tax to be approved by the city council as part of the lease agreement.
The space allocated for the P-4 Initiative Multi-Sports Complex lies off of Oak Forest Road on what is considered non-excess property.
Under an Enhanced Use Lease, or EUL, the city will develop and manage the facility, but the Air Force will have access to it on designated dates and times for league play, special events and the fitness of its service members.
A "joint-use schedule" will likely give the Air Force 40 hours per month and somewhere between 90 to 100-plus weekend dates per year for the life of the lease, according to earlier discussions by the city council.
The time allotted exclusively to the Air Force for its use of the facility will serve as rent paid in exchange for the city's otherwise full-time access.
As part of the agreement between the city and the base, SJAFB will receive considerations -- mentioned in the press release as "cash or in-kind consideration" -- including a 2,500-square-foot addition to its existing fitness center on base. The terms of the lease require the addition, paid for by the city, be of a value no less than $600,000.
The lease can be renewed at the end of its term for an additional 10 years, provided the city does not default on the agreement.
"This is another outstanding example of the strong partnership between SJAFB and our local community," 4th Fighter Wing Commander Col. Mark Slocum said.
"Within this shared area, we can now instill the importance of physical fitness in both of our communities. This project is indicative of how the City of Goldsboro and Seymour Johnson can put our strengths together to benefit the local citizens, airmen and families."