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City staff lays out 2026 work plan for downtown sports-and-entertainment district, seeks council input on engagement and sequencing
Summary
City staff presented a multi-pronged 2026 work plan for the proposed Downtown Sports & Entertainment District, including a $30M offer for three federal parcels, planning grants for connectivity, and consultant studies on services, parking and financing; council members pressed for clear community engagement, timelines and accountability measures.
City officials on Wednesday outlined a multi-year work plan for a proposed Downtown Sports and Entertainment District that pairs expansion of civic venues with major infrastructure and development projects.
Ben, a city project lead, told the council the immediate priorities include an offer to acquire three federal parcels east of the Wood Courthouse (about 5.7 acres) for $30,000,000, work on a neighborhood-access grant for better connectivity across IH-37, and multiple consultant studies on district services, parking and finance. "We are proposing an offer of $30,000,000. That is based on an appraisal that we did on the property," Ben said, noting the GSA requested the city submit an offer by Jan. 26.
The offer would be accompanied by a contingency deed tied to the…
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