By: Deborah Johnson Wood
A planned enclosed tennis and track facility that was to be attached to the northeast side of Calvin College's gymnasium now will be moved. The new design places the 61,000-square-foot addition—part of the $35 million Spoelhof Fieldhouse project—on the northwest side of the gym. And that places 20 percent of it within the East Grand Rapids city limits.
No problem. Except that the rest of the nearly 400,000-square-foot sports and recreation complex is in Grand Rapids.
The solution? A land swap between the two municipalities.
"As we reviewed that area for fire safety access and visual and aesthetic impact on the college, we felt it would be prudent to move the indoor track and tennis facility," said Henry DeVries, vice president for administration and finance information services at Calvin. "Because we have to have room for four tennis courts and a 200-meter indoor track, the length and width of the building are fixed."
Having one building in two cities raises some issues.
"If there's a fire, who responds, East Grand Rapids or Grand Rapids?" DeVries asked.
Other practical considerations include zoning issues and jurisdiction over building permits and approvals.
The Grand Rapids Planning Commission has approved the new design.
The two municipalities are exploring an agreement to move the boundaries of both cities: Grand Rapids would acquire the tennis and track facility and adjacent north parking lot, and East Grand Rapids would acquire an undeveloped area of equivalent size.
DeVries did not know when the transaction will be completed.
The college hopes to break ground on the fieldhouse in May. The complex includes a 5,000-seat arena, a 50-meter pool, a health center, aquatic center, and a student/faculty fitness center.
Source: Henry DeVries, Calvin College
Deborah Johnson Wood is the development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be reached at [email protected].
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