Post by TONY Q.C.I.S. on Aug 6, 2008 15:51:16 GMT -6
Resort plan revealed to residents
Proposed resort pitched as ‘economic development project’
By Russ Corey
Staff Writer
SHEFFIELD
Last Updated:August 04. 2008 11:34PM
Published: August 05. 2008 3:30AM
From Oswald T. Sousa's point of view, the proposed golf course and resort he plans to build on the Tennessee River in Sheffield is - above everything else - an economic development project.
Sousa, director of development for Trophy Golf & Resorts, presented conceptual drawings of the project to the public Monday night as an overflow crowd gathered for the Sheffield council meeting.
"This project is an economic development project, it's not just going to be the development of a resort area," Sousa said.
For many, Monday's meeting provided their first glimpse of the project that has been discussed often in recent months.
Developers have not stated when construction would begin on the project or how long it would take to complete.
The project, if plans proceed through completion, is expected to give the city a huge economic boost.
The detailed color drawings of the project depicts a 104-room riverside resort, with retail shops, restaurant, pool, marina and a pier that provides boaters access to the resort.
The hotel complex would include a water slide, spa and health club, video arcade, children's area, meeting rooms and a pool side bar and grill.
The resort will also have another 151 two- and three-bedroom apartment style residences that will be sold. That section of the complex will include a swimming pool and recreational area, a concert lawn and bandstand.
Trophy Golf & Resorts, of Hobe Sound, Fla., is working with Jack Nicklaus Design on the 18-hole public golf course. Local tourism officials say the course will complement the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail complex in nearby Ford City in eastern Colbert County.
Visitors to the hotel will be able to walk out of the east side of the resort to the first tee. The conceptual drawings show the course wrapping around through a portion of Park West in Sheffield then back to the resort. The 10th tee will be accessible from the opposite side of the resort.
The resort will be situated on the river to the west of Riverfront Park and the historic Tuscumbia Landing, an area that has been designated a part of the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail.
Other conceptual drawings of the project, including the resort, were also on display in the city hall auditorium.
Sousa said the project would further identify the Shoals as a tourist destination.
He stressed that the ongoing redevelopment of downtown Sheffield is an integral part of the project.
Sousa said having downtown adjacent to the resort is a plus for the project, as is the proximity of the Tennessee River.
"Downtown Sheffield is worth being preserved," Sousa said.
Mayor Billy Don Anderson said local tourism bureaus from Colbert and Lauderdale counties were involved in talks, as was the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association.
Meetings were also held with the Shoals Chamber of Commerce, Shoals Economic Development Authority and with Neal Wade, the executive director of the Alabama Development Office, the state agency for economic development.
Sousa estimated that 95 percent of the people who purchase residential property would be from outside the Shoals, which would bring additional economic benefits to the area, including additional sales and property taxes.
It would also become another component of the area's overall tourism
structure.
Sousa conceded that the associated jobs would not fall in the high-paying category, but the project would be another factor that could help lure industry to the Shoals.
Anderson said the project has been in the works about a year, when three local developers approached him with the idea. Those developers - David A. Steenson, Ron Riley and Bill Campbell - were all present at Monday's meeting.
One resident asked if the project would impact Tuscumbia Landing and if the proper environmental and cultural resources studies had been completed.
Sousa said those aspects of the project would be forthcoming. Anderson said the Tuscumbia Landing site would be left in its present condition.
The Southeaster Anthropological Institute has plans to develop an educational center at the landing.
"I'm excited about it," said Jim McDivitt, general manager of the Webster Hotel & Suites in Sheffield.
He said the construction of the Shoals Marriott Hotel, Spa and Convention Center in Florence has boosted his motel's business. He said he would expect the same from the new riverside development.
Sousa said there is a workshop planned for Aug. 13 in Sheffield that would include the other members of his project design team.
Russ Corey can be reached at 740-5738 or russ.corey@TimesDaily.com.
Proposed resort pitched as ‘economic development project’
By Russ Corey
Staff Writer
SHEFFIELD
Last Updated:August 04. 2008 11:34PM
Published: August 05. 2008 3:30AM
From Oswald T. Sousa's point of view, the proposed golf course and resort he plans to build on the Tennessee River in Sheffield is - above everything else - an economic development project.
Sousa, director of development for Trophy Golf & Resorts, presented conceptual drawings of the project to the public Monday night as an overflow crowd gathered for the Sheffield council meeting.
"This project is an economic development project, it's not just going to be the development of a resort area," Sousa said.
For many, Monday's meeting provided their first glimpse of the project that has been discussed often in recent months.
Developers have not stated when construction would begin on the project or how long it would take to complete.
The project, if plans proceed through completion, is expected to give the city a huge economic boost.
The detailed color drawings of the project depicts a 104-room riverside resort, with retail shops, restaurant, pool, marina and a pier that provides boaters access to the resort.
The hotel complex would include a water slide, spa and health club, video arcade, children's area, meeting rooms and a pool side bar and grill.
The resort will also have another 151 two- and three-bedroom apartment style residences that will be sold. That section of the complex will include a swimming pool and recreational area, a concert lawn and bandstand.
Trophy Golf & Resorts, of Hobe Sound, Fla., is working with Jack Nicklaus Design on the 18-hole public golf course. Local tourism officials say the course will complement the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail complex in nearby Ford City in eastern Colbert County.
Visitors to the hotel will be able to walk out of the east side of the resort to the first tee. The conceptual drawings show the course wrapping around through a portion of Park West in Sheffield then back to the resort. The 10th tee will be accessible from the opposite side of the resort.
The resort will be situated on the river to the west of Riverfront Park and the historic Tuscumbia Landing, an area that has been designated a part of the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail.
Other conceptual drawings of the project, including the resort, were also on display in the city hall auditorium.
Sousa said the project would further identify the Shoals as a tourist destination.
He stressed that the ongoing redevelopment of downtown Sheffield is an integral part of the project.
Sousa said having downtown adjacent to the resort is a plus for the project, as is the proximity of the Tennessee River.
"Downtown Sheffield is worth being preserved," Sousa said.
Mayor Billy Don Anderson said local tourism bureaus from Colbert and Lauderdale counties were involved in talks, as was the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association.
Meetings were also held with the Shoals Chamber of Commerce, Shoals Economic Development Authority and with Neal Wade, the executive director of the Alabama Development Office, the state agency for economic development.
Sousa estimated that 95 percent of the people who purchase residential property would be from outside the Shoals, which would bring additional economic benefits to the area, including additional sales and property taxes.
It would also become another component of the area's overall tourism
structure.
Sousa conceded that the associated jobs would not fall in the high-paying category, but the project would be another factor that could help lure industry to the Shoals.
Anderson said the project has been in the works about a year, when three local developers approached him with the idea. Those developers - David A. Steenson, Ron Riley and Bill Campbell - were all present at Monday's meeting.
One resident asked if the project would impact Tuscumbia Landing and if the proper environmental and cultural resources studies had been completed.
Sousa said those aspects of the project would be forthcoming. Anderson said the Tuscumbia Landing site would be left in its present condition.
The Southeaster Anthropological Institute has plans to develop an educational center at the landing.
"I'm excited about it," said Jim McDivitt, general manager of the Webster Hotel & Suites in Sheffield.
He said the construction of the Shoals Marriott Hotel, Spa and Convention Center in Florence has boosted his motel's business. He said he would expect the same from the new riverside development.
Sousa said there is a workshop planned for Aug. 13 in Sheffield that would include the other members of his project design team.
Russ Corey can be reached at 740-5738 or russ.corey@TimesDaily.com.
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