Ballpark chatter a show of vision

The News Virginian / News Virginian
Published: February 15, 2008

Far off is the day when spring brings not only its welcome blue skies and warmth but also the sound of baseballs slapping leather and the accompanying sight of downtown streets teeming with life. Still, with winter's gray skies lingering, the thought of minor league baseball in Waynesboro inspires hope for a different kind of spring in the River City.

A deal that would result in the construction of a $20-million, 4,000-seat ballpark on the South River is more concept than substance, at least for the moment. Although officials with a big-league team have visited town, according to people close to the talks, investors have been discussing the idea for 16 months without significant action.

That's likely the product of several factors. Among them is the fact that such projects take time to develop while investors work out details, seeking a favorable deal with local government. Ballpark investors want a public-private partnership that would have them split the building costs with the city and state. Some say that talks with city staff have bogged down on this point.

We suggest that the city push ahead. Tax rebates or tax increment financing could allow the city to provide its share of the money, about $6.3 million, provided investors are willing to consider that option. A deal also could include city Economic Development Authority and enterprise fund money.
Even without immediate tax money from the park, the city would pick up extra revenues from additional riverfront development - restaurants, shops and lodging near the park - along with a rejuvenated downtown. The city's return on its investment would far surpass the revenue drawn from maintaining the status quo.

Long negotiations, plenty of compromising and, most important, the actual rite of writing the checks must happen before baseball comes to town. The space between grand ideas and reality is sometimes wider than Wyoming and just as empty.
No less encouraging than the possibility of this particular deal coming to fruition is what it represents. Investors have peered beyond the patches of brown grass lining the South River and the seldom-traveled roads and streets that wind through that district and have seen what the area and Waynesboro could become.

Just beyond the river are the ends of two of America's most picturesque driving routes with more than 20 million travelers bustling up and down the roads each year, most in search of things to do. Within a 45-minute radius are more than 200,000 people - including residents of Charlottesville to the east, Staunton to the west and Harrisonburg to the north.

Investors imagine people loading up their families for rides down Skyline Drive, with stops at Shenandoah National Park along the way, wrapping up at the ballpark with a few hot dogs, a game and trips to dinner and stays at local hotels afterward. They see college students driving over from Staunton, Charlottesville and Harrisonburg for a night on the riverfront. They picture fans walking from newly constructed downtown lofts, homes on the tree streets and in other Waynesboro neighborhoods to catch a ballgame.

This is the kind of vision that transforms communities. We urge the city to press the case. While such deals take time, time also is what kills them, as investors tire of negotiations and move on to the next project. The city needs to take the lead in turning this fledgling idea into a grand reality.