Council previews proposed Garland soccer complex; TIF 3 amendment, bond plan draw council questions on South Garland

City staff and TIF 3 leaders presented a preliminary site plan, budget and financing approach for a proposed professional and youth soccer complex — anchored by a USL Championship club — on Feb. 3 and asked council to consider related amendments to the TIF number 3 project and financing plan.

Staff said the city acquired 64 acres near Holford and George Bush and that roughly 14 acres are unencumbered and available for commercial use and stadium development. The conceptual space plan shown to council indicated about 4 acres potentially for a stadium site, roughly 10 acres for commercial use and a larger area for a professional and youth soccer complex and supporting parking and parks.

The project budget presented totals $111,800,000 for all activity in the area. City staff broke sources into: land (city-owned; land acquisition cost cited as about $10,800,000), stadium funding (a proposed $43,000,000 from TIF 3, of which staff said approximately $39,000,000 would be financed with a TIF revenue bond and $4,000,000 would be a TIF cash reimbursement), about…