Bellingham Developer: Put Me In Coach
IMAGE/COURTESY
An artist rendering of a proposed sports complex in Bellingham.
A growing need for athletic playing fields has led a Westwood company to plan a $40 million, multi-sports playing facility on Maple Street in Bellingham.
The Bellingham facility is to be one of several the company wants to build in the state, with an eventual national launch, according to Ted Doyle, chief operating office for the developer, BCL Premier Sports LLC. BCL is also planning a project in Bridgewater on Route 24.
The company will use 63 acres of a 144-acre parcel for the Bellingham project. It bought the land from EMC Corp. in 2007 for $11.4 million.
Company executives are in the process of arranging financing for the project, and once that is done, it plans to break ground this fall and be open for the summer of 2010.
Development Details
The complex will feature a 270,000-square-foot indoor facility with two soccer fields that are each 115 yards by 70 yards with 60-foot ceilings. It will also have three basketball courts that can double as volleyball courts. There will be baseball pitching and batting tunnels as well.
Outside there will also be six more full-sized soccer fields with lights, which will all have artificial turf, Doyle said. The company expects the soccer fields, indoors and out, will also be used for lacrosse and football games.
Bellingham officials approved the project last fall, according to Stacey Wetstein, the town's planner.
"I think it's an interesting concept," Wetstein said. "In some ways, it's preferable to a large, industrial complex."
The developers are donating 11.7 acres along the Charles River to the town for open space, and they're providing $80,000 toward road work on Maple Street, $30,000 for police equipment and $120,000 over 12 years to the town for needed projects along Maple St.
The complex will have Catz Sports Performance practice on site, which helps injured players regain their playing abilities and trains amateur athletes. Also part of the package will be RBI Baseball Academy of Foxborough, which offers baseball instruction for youth.
BCL Premier Sports LLC, is part of LIG Development Co. LLC of Westwood. It was started by Michael Stoller and Stephen Puliafico, who made their fortunes in the assisted living industry with Newton Assisted Living.
When the company was sold in 2005, it was the 16th largest assisted living company in the country, Doyle said.
And now they want to do for athletic facilities what they've done for assisted living centers.
"This is an industry that's about to explode," Doyle said. "Right now it is extremely fragmented, with many being mom and pop businesses. We see this complex as being a platform opportunity, and one that can be replicated across the country."
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