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Developers outline $600 million Good Life District plan and ask Hall County for support
Summary
Developers representing a proposed Good Life District described an 875‑acre, state‑supported development including a sports complex, aquatics facility, lake expansion and mixed‑use construction; they asked county commissioners to encourage city council cooperation as the project moves toward a May city council agenda item.
Developers seeking to build a large mixed‑use development around the former Veterans Home site presented an overview to the Hall County Board of Commissioners, asking the board to support the project as the city of Grand Island considers next steps.
Drew Snider of Sony Real Estate said the state‑designated Good Life District captures a portion of state sales tax that can be pledged toward bonds and described an 875‑acre district that includes retail, mixed‑use housing and a first phase focused on a sports complex. "The bond sizing today is probably going to end up being around 70 to $80 million," Snider told the board, and he said the full project the team envisions is "about a $600 million project." He emphasized the district’s ability to attract out‑of‑state visitors and generate lodging and sales taxes to support bonds.
Snider and fellow developer Mitch Holland said the district would allow capture of state sales tax on major retailers included in the boundary and that those revenues were intended to pledge toward bonds for initial infrastructure and a sports complex. The presentation mentioned an application approved by the state and earlier city council support; the developers said the city retains approval rights and that a mayoral committee is being formed to negotiate details. Snider said the development would be phased over about 10 years and could include an expanded Eagle Scout Lake, hotels, restaurants, an amphitheater and multifamily housing.
Commissioners and attendees raised process concerns: business owners near the mall expressed frustration about what they called a slow, secretive process and questioned RFP handling. Developers acknowledged the RFP rollout had drawn criticism and said they prefer direct negotiations to resolve open issues. A county mayor and other local officials urged the board to encourage city council members to move negotiations forward to avoid losing state support.
What happens next: the developers said they expect a development agreement to appear on a May 12 city council agenda; commissioners asked staff to stay engaged with city counterparts and to request any additional details needed to evaluate county impacts.
Quote: "We were awarded one of the five and the unique thing on this district is it's 875 acres... it's about a $600 million project," Drew Snider said while describing the planned uses and bond strategy.
Ending: Developers asked county leaders to use their relationships with city council members to help move negotiations forward given state involvement and funding timelines.
