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.
42 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.
It would take every dump truck in this state, working 24/7 for 5 months to haul in enough rock and dirt to bring this swamp up to a habitable level.
There seems to be an issue currently with the relocation of utilities on Hwy 51 south of the intersection. Just across the RR tracks to the west has the same flooding problems as well as south along the parkway for a good distance. The legacy of Elvis is alive and well…
Side note from a contractor....you don't just dump dirt and rock into a wet area to make it stable for construction. You get the water into pipes underground and drainage ditches above ground, thus controlling it and drying out once wet land. It's not rocket surgery.
Also, most ball fields are in areas that flood. I'm not taking the time to explain why this is and why it really doesn't matter much to the overall use of the property.
All that said, dude is a scam artist. I'd require a massive massive mobilization fee....like half the estimated cost of the project, before i touched one twig on one branch of one tree.
How’s the same/similar 8:28 project in Borger, TX progressing? Interesting that all the project renderings on the 8:28 website still seem to reflect a development in China or some other Asian country.
https://www.newschannel10.com/2024/10/23/borger-approves-pre-construction-phase-multi-million-dollar-sports-complex/
Published: Oct. 22, 2024 at 9:42 PM CDT
“BORGER, Texas (KFDA) - Borger’s planned $100 million sports complex moved one step closer to reality as the city approved the scope of work for the pre-construction phase.
The Borger City Council approved the economic development corporation’s payment of $100,000 to 8:28 Sports Development Group.
The design phase has been completed and 8:28 Sports Development’s architect gave a presentation at today’s meeting which included the addition of a grocery store, apartments and condos.”
The support for the project from USAID has been pulled?
828 has some doubters in Texas!
With a population of a little over 12,000 and a cobnvenient location about 20 miles NE of booming Amarillo you couldn't find a better location to build a sports mecca that could draw as many as 1.5 millio0n visitors a year!
Right?
Just now find the neighboring Texans refer to the booming metropolis of Borger as Boogertown.
Fools and their taxpayers money...
They should have obtained one of those Biden federal grants before DOGE came along.
“Fraud is the daughter of greed”
11:09 Where in the hell are you gathering your information? Some of it is in the 100-year flood zone, but as with most 50-acre tracts in that area it will require site prep. Would be perfect for some kind of recreational/sports use, to minimize site prep, but could definitely be developed with structural improvements.
The man made pond that was there, has been drained for at least 10 years.
Please tell us your source.
"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...."
So that's four people, with a combined 50 years of experience, for an average of 12.5 years each. That does not impress me.
The surrounding neighborhoods are all opposed to this development. The mayor of Gluckstadt has been suckered into supporting this. Each time this comes up at city council meeting , residents attend and try to have input. We have been put in our place, telling us that we have NO input since neither Wildwood nor Twin Cedars are in Gluckstadt, (nor do we want to be). I absolutely hope this eventually falls flat on its face.
These people are big time operators!
The big investors with the money are all lined up.
It's a done deal.
🤡
Correct! Don't blame you for not wanting that at your front door.
12:38, No it’s not. When it was a pond, it was less than 4 feet. Proper drainage and that corner is worth a lot of money. That size development would require a retention pond anyway.
Seven years ago, a Board majority snatched away some of Steen's road-plan money to raise Weisenberger Road right next door to this location, because it was under water four times a year.
Five years ago, the area was up in arms of yet another gas station being added across 51 from this dry pond, folks complaining about the added traffic problems if the gas station were to be added (it has been).
Firemen at the fire station at this intersection have complained for years about lines of traffic causing them to not be able to get out of the station in emergency situations.
If you fill a swamp with dirt and build on it, where will the floodwater go?
3/15@6:20- No wonder the City of G did not incorporate the two neighborhoods east of Hwy 51. They knew what they were doing from the start.
It’s not a fucking swamp. Yall have no idea what you’re talking about. There would be no floodwater if a retention pond is in place. For the love of Jesus, please stop thinking this place is any more wet than across the street.
that's correct!
Or "those" neighborhoods preferred to not be in a city-- any city.
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