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Heath EDC explores feasibility of equestrian facility on city land
Summary
Board members described ongoing work to develop a business case for an equestrian facility on Heath-owned land near the planned DPS station, including cost estimates from Old Star Building Solutions, projected stall demand, event revenue potential and concerns about operating costs and impacts on nearby businesses.
Members of the Heath Economic Development Corporation discussed preliminary feasibility work for a proposed equestrian facility to be located on city-owned land behind the planned DPS station.
Board member Miles, who led the update, said the project team has been developing a business model and obtaining construction-cost guidance from Old Star Building Solutions. "I've been working with Old Star Building Solutions. I'm kind of getting some cost analysis on what it would cost to build the infrastructure of the project," Miles said. He told the board the model examines revenue streams such as boarding stalls, lessons, events and retail, and includes operating costs for staffing, insurance, horse care and facility maintenance.
Miles described a model built around roughly 48–60 stalls; he said private facilities in the region are full and that a city facility could draw local demand. "From everyone I talk to, there's not near enough and, you know, we show around 50 stalls in this model here. I think that would be filled up fairly quickly," he said. The presentation included layout sketches placing the facility and parking near the DPS building and noted a need to plan for temporary stalls and trailer parking for larger events.
Board members raised questions about competition with existing private operations, school partnerships, odor mitigation near restaurants, and the scale of upfront capital and operating subsidy the city might need to provide. One board member asked whether the school district might partner for team uses and overflow parking; staff noted facility-usage fees the district charges for parking and staffing.
No formal decision was made. Board members said the next steps are to finalize a detailed cost analysis, confirm local demand through outreach and surveys, and refine the public–private partnership structure before returning a recommendation to the board.
Old Star Building Solutions was cited as having constructed similar facilities; board members discussed market-rate boarding fees and referenced a possible monthly boarding fee in the $1,000–$1,100 range for higher-end stalls based on examples presented.
The board characterized the effort as early-stage and emphasized the need to “prove out the business case” before committing city land or capital.
