All 15 owners of parcels in a core group of land needed to locate a proposed soccer complex in Burns Bottom have agreed to sell their property to the county for its appraised value.
The Lowndes County Board of Supervisors had been negotiating with the largest Burns Bottom landowner, Becki Propst Vassar and her sister, who initially asked for more than the appraised value.
Vassar Friday said the family agreed to sell their roughly 15 acres land to the county at the appraised value, $79,000.
Details still must be worked out before the agreement is signed, likely before the supervisors’ next meeting Nov. 13.
“I’m real proud they’ve come to the decision they’re going to sell their land to the county and carry on the tradition of their family of being able to help the quality of life in Columbus and Lowndes County,” said Board of Supervisors President and District 1 Supervisor Harry Sanders, noting Vassar’s uncle earlier donated the land on which Propst Park was built. “I’m real proud for the family; they’ve been real conscientious, good citizens.
“It’s a relief to know we’re going forward with this program,” he added. “Once we get it under wraps, then we can start working on the neighborhood parks. The property that’s necessary for us to go forward (with the Burns Bottom soccer complex) is all under control. We really appreciate all the landowners and their cooperation.”
The supervisors and members of the Columbus-Lowndes Development Link now will begin talking to 31 landowners whose property is on the perimeter of the core property on which the soccer complex will be located.
“And we’re going to get with (Dispatch Publisher Birney) Imes, who has agreed to fund the landscape architect,” said Sanders. “We’ll see if we can get him started on drawing up the plans.”
The City Council earlier voted to donate 14.9 acres of city-owned property and provide water and sewer infrastructure already in place, as well as in-kind services, for the soccer complex, which has been likened to a downtown park and is to be located on 70 acres in the Burns Bottom area.
The total appraisal for the 70-acre Burns Bottom properties came to about $288,000.
Kristin Mamrack is a staff reporter for The Commercial Dispatch.
Dave | 11/6/2009 3:15:00 PMmark as inappropriate soccer field in a flood zone. Good move, it can serve a dual purpose (water polo) during the spring.
Can''t Beleive it! | 11/6/2009 4:02:00 PMmark as inappropriate Now that everyone has decided to make the worst decision for the use of Burns Bottom in relation to downtown. I beg Birney please, make sure the landscape architect makes the very most out of the area. Greenspace, Parking, Lighting, Safety, Style, Image, Signage, type of fencing, proper field drainage, a tunnel to access the river walk, bike trails leading to downtown, etc. We need regulations and strict codes, like the town of Madison Ms would incorporate with such a project. Its got to be Impressive! I can't believe the Vasser's did not Hold Out, a little upset about Burns Bottom, but with Birney in control of it, there is some hope for Columbus.
Slate | 11/6/2009 4:37:00 PMmark as inappropriate That of course is the plan "Can't Believe", the Vassar's were always going to sell, never in doubt. Tremendous opportunity to extend downtown, it's going to be a park with soccer fields and tie into the RiverWalk. Same naysayers said the RiverWalk wouldn't be a success.
Gary | 11/6/2009 4:42:00 PMmark as inappropriate Years ago when I worked on a comittee with Jack Marshall to get a soccer park on the scale of Ballard Park in Tupelo, I felt Burns bottoms was a nature location. It should add traffic to the downtown area and bring plenty of out of town soccer families into the economy of Columbus. Beyond the possible economic impact of the park, it is a statement of the community's recognition of the needs of the youth of Lowndes County. I congratulate the folks who are bringing this about. I know Birney remembers the bus tour our committee took to sites in North Mississippi and the grand soccer parks we visited. If the park is developed to incorporate an adequate number of fields and facilities an were envisioned in the architects concepts back 9years ago and if the parks admistrators will deliver several invitational tournaments each fall and spring the merchants, hotels and restaurants of Columbus will be praising the park as a very smart move.
Anyone aware of Ballard Park in Tupelo knows what a plus to runners, walkers, bicyclist, and youth athletes the park can be. Ballard Park even includes a park for skate boarders.
Bravo Columbus!
me | 11/8/2009 4:12:00 AMmark as inappropriate Another plus for this location is this: When they aren't able to use this location for soccer due to flooding, they can always have the Bass pro fishing tournaments there so they won't lose any of that out of town money windfall that they are dreaming will happen. Or better yet, they can put the soccer fields on stilts so they would have a one of a kind spectical, and they could charge admission for people to come and look at the ninth wonder of Mississippi.
Can''t Beleive it! | 11/8/2009 4:57:00 PMmark as inappropriate To Me: Don't hold your breath, this is Columbus they have never done anything that would be a spectical that anyone would want to pay to come look at! Columbus is the ninth wonder of what? The ninth ward
Walter | 11/9/2009 12:25:00 PMmark as inappropriate Lowndes County endowed with some of the most intelligent and creative minds to be found any where in the world. As long as they remain united and respectful of each other, they can build anything they want constructed of bricks, iron, woods and all other building materials. and, they can build it strong enough to withstand the test of time and appealing enough to please even the most discriminating eyes.
People can think whatsoever they will. As for myself, I'm having difficulty comprehending why some seem to harbor so much doubt. Why the reluctance to believe that elected and appointed officials can and will produce a monument of high standards, befitting the residents of Columbus and Lowndes County now and way into the future.
Let the soccer complex be a concrete symbol reflecting the commitment of all within the county and city to embrace a brand new day of harmony and healing from decades and centuries of misguided ill-will and division along racial and class lines. Let it represent your/our acceptance that we are, in actuality, one people. Let it be your gift to future generations, challenging them to build upon what you have started...The integrity and overall character of those directly involved will determine whether or not the complex is a success, not the proclivity of the Tenn-Tom to periodically flood its banks.
Tim | 11/9/2009 12:38:00 PMmark as inappropriate Well too bad this horrible idea is going to happen. Maybe when everyone actually see's what a failure it is we can finally get rid of the childish, under qualified and ignorant supervisors like Sanders and Brooks.
Walter | 11/9/2009 1:25:00 PMmark as inappropriate Perhaps, if the soccer complex can be viewed as simply an intermediary step toward greater utilization of the waterway as a vehicle for recreation and commerce, then, it would be easier for doubters, with vision, to accept it.
If families living in the area of BB between the Tenn-Tom, 82 (new and old) and 45 are gradually moving out (due to flooding), why not began the process of converting the land for greater public use? A use that combines the land with the waterway would have great promise for future generations, 20, 40 or more years from now.
Alaska and Louisiana Purchases were viewed at the time of their purchases as being pure folly. But, whose laughing now? Where else in all of Lowndes County is there a more natural boundary of land (highways on three sides) and encompassing the waterway that can be shaped to fulfill any visions for it that the residents are creative enough to imagine, than Burns Bottom. Find the proper ways of using the waterway, and residents will have a natural producer of revenue and recreation for generations to come.
Stop the petty bickering and get on with the business of developing ideas to mesh the land and the waterway. If you act quickly, maybe a few of us will be around to see the end results. If not, at least get the ball rolling enough to help make the effort less streneous on those who'll carryon after we've departed.
Bob | 11/9/2009 2:42:00 PMmark as inappropriate Walter, Get serious..Wake Up, Take a good look at our other parks, because they are what the soccer complex will look like in 10 years.Its already a badd area for crime.
walter | 11/10/2009 12:31:00 PMmark as inappropriate Bob, individuals aren't the only ones to change, so do communities, cities and societies. The election a year ago has demonstrated to me that what has been for what seemed an eternity, isn't necessarily what will persist in the future.
As far as my waking up, Bob, even when I sleep I think more precisely, realistically, and consciously than many. I don't know you. Therefore, I would sound quite ignorant saying that the preceding statement would include you, as well. However, whether knowing you are not, I can say this: There is a reason for the crime situation in Clumbus and else where throughout America. There are intelligent ways to change it. To do so requires more intelligent and decent individuals in our state and national legislative and judicial bodies dedicated to bringing about the desired change.
As strange and sick as it is might sound, there are some with vested interests in maintaining the status quo. They win, only if you and I allow ourselves to become thoroughly convinced that those with shallow, obsolete ideas and selfish motives are invincible and that the masses of the people are not capable of effecting change for the better.
As for myself, I believe in the basic decency and raw intelligence of many natives of Columbus. Like a sleeping giant who one day awakens, the people in Columbus and throughout Lowndes County are going to rcognize what and who are denying them their finest hours. When they do, there will be hell to pay.
