The southwest corner of the intersection of Highway 51 and Weisenberger Road in Gluckstadt remains wilderness as no steps have been taken to build a $100 million sportsplex developers passed a year ago.
The city of Gluckstadt announced in a press release in January 2024:
8:28 Sports Ventures and Turn Key Properties have entered into an official land agreement on a 43-acre site for the future home of the proposed $100 million travel sports destination Gluckstadt MegaDome Sports Complex in the city of Gluckstadt, Mississippi, the parties announced today.
The acquired land belonging to Canton Academy alumni and Gluckstadt residents, Stuart and Katie Warren, owners of Turn Key Properties in Madison, Mississippi, is located near the requisite I-55/I-20 corridor and will be the future home of the massive Gluckstadt MegaDome sports complex which will include a multitude of indoor courts (basketball, volleyball, pickleball), fields (football, baseball, softball), swimming pools, meeting space, on-site hotel, unique Mississippi-curated restaurants, just to name a few of the amenities....
828 Sports Ventures brings a combined 50-plus years of professional experience between Chief Executive Officer and renowned NBA certified player agent, DeAngelo Simmons and Mississippi-native and longtime private equity investment executive and Chief Investment Officer, Larry Fortune, Chief Operating Officer, Brandon Williams and Director of Sports Tourism, Don Staley....
“On behalf of 828 Sports Ventures, DeAngelo Simmons, the Warren family and Turn Key Properties, this land agreement is a monumental step forward to bringing our vision of making the city of Gluckstadt, Mississippi the premiere sports tourism destination in the country,” Fortune said. He added, “None of this would be remotely possible without the unwavering support of Stuart and Katie Warren and Mayor Morrison, and for that we are forever grateful.”
After numerous meetings with the city of Gluckstadt Mayor, Walter C. Morrison IV, spanning over a year’s time, 828 Sports Ventures unveiled a comprehensive plan and execution strategy on the benefits and forecasted economic impact for the Gluckstadt community and the state of Mississippi....
It is a year later and the trees continue to stand tall on a tract of land resembling wilderness more than a development. There are no trucks, no bulldozers, no action at all as the land sits uncleared. A project held up by what else but ...... a pipeline.
Boardwalk Pipelines owns a natural gas pipeline situated on the west side of Highway 51 in Gluckstadt through its subsidiary, Gulf South Pipeline. The pipeline was built many decades ago when the area was nothing more than frontier. An easement accompanies the pipeline and therein lies the problem. One will see gas pipeline marker after marker right by Highway 51 when driving through the area.
Isolated the pipeline may have been but that would change as settlers moved into Madison County, bringing civilization with them. As civilization expanded, developers obtained zoning approval from the city of Gluckstadt to build the sports plex.
Boardwalk can't completely bar access to the property but it can refuse access that will damage the pipeline. In this case, the conundrum is heavy construction equipment. Nothing will be built over the pipeline.
The pipeline sits shallow in some areas, buried little more than a foot deep into the earth. The constant driving of construction equipment across the easement might damage the pipeline.
Boardwalk informed the Warrens they would have to pay over $270,000 to weld reinforce the pipeline with composite wraps. The Warrens own the property where the sportsplex will be built.
Stuart Warren protested, arguing it should not be his full responsibility to replace a pipeline he claimed was 90 years old, did not meet current standards, and was neglected. He asked for a better quote but the company refused to budge.
The Public Service Commission and Mississippi Department of Transportation are aware of the standoff but their power to intervene is limited, if it exists at all. Gluckstadt Mayor Walter Morrison tried to negotiate with Boardwalk but the company refused to bend at all in a short meeting.
This is not the first time this issue has arisen. Another company tried to develop a property nearby on Highway 51 and ran into a stone wall on the easement issue. It appears if developers want to develop on the west side of Highway 51 in Gluckstadt, they will have to pay some vig to Boardwalk.
23 comments:
270k seems to be a drop in the bucket and is probably a pretty wise thing to do. Pay the bill and get it done.
The lack of $270,000 stalls a $100 million project?
There must be more to this delay than this.
It's the economy, stupid.
Hmmmmm a natural gas pipeline under a sportsplex.......
If this was in the county I would think that some palms were a little dry.
Sure, unless you’re the one being asked to put up the money.
Is the pipeline even in service?
If the developers can't come up with $270K, how can they guarantee a $100 million development? Gambling with other people's money?
Nothing in the article said they would be building on top of the pipeline. That is not allowed. The concern is the weight of the construction equipment on top of the line. There is a high pressure pipeline right through the middle of Eastover, but it is not under any structures. If anyone remembers the pipeline explosion at the reservoir may years ago, then I would avoid this area in question if construction actually begins.
The acreage in question is a sump when it rains like they say it will this weekend.
Boardwalk is cooking with gas-
One of the personalities involved in this is known for bluffing, to put it politely. I highly doubt this is ever going to come to fruition.
@11:48 is correct, that area is under several feet of water when a flash flood hits.
Another Mississippi flim flam.
I smell cash flow problem.
Looks like a wetland to me
Here's your answer, Chief Investment Officer, Larry Fortune.
Another company has the same issue as you eluded to. It is Morgan's Stone from the Brandon area. They wanted to build another location.
Pssst Mister, I've got some waterfront property in Mississippi for sale where you can build a sports complex. It's guaranteed to turn a huge profit. Trust me. //Nigerian Prince//
Here is a news report for a pipeline explosion near the reservoir in 1986 in case you were wondering about the potential problem at the Gluckstadt site.
https://www.facebook.com/MississippiMemories/posts/do-you-remember-when-the-pipeline-exploded-in-rankin-county-see-more-pictures-an/757741966392301/
Here is a bit of advice. If you ever consider purchasing property that has an existing pipeline, don’t. Pipelines and fiber optic cables can stall construction projects quicker than you can imagine.
The place is a swamp! They're going to have to move half of Madison into that sinkhole.to make it useable.
Drain the swamp.
Someone track this-- who paid for the portion of pipeline that HAS been moved due to road construction or development between the cities? Hint: It was not a city, the county or developer. The complex isn't going to happen. The news drop by that guy Mr. Fortune was to reel in investors with deep pockets. A lot of info was shared about him during and after the news came out to the community. None of it good or supportive of his involvement. Certainly don't wish anyone to fail on this development but it most likely has done that. The Warrens took a big chance. Cannot blame them for trying. It was residential. R-1 zoned. Sat there for years. Nothing at all wrong with a decent neighborhood, larger lots and homes to develop there on the land that is usable. A Big ole lake! The Warrens will come through this. If you have it in your heart, pray for them as they navigate it.
Post a Comment