NEW HAVEN, Ind. (WAYNE) — New Haven’s efforts to generate revenue from youth sports may have more than an iceberg going on beneath the surface.
The 150-acre project boasts a 140,000-square-foot indoor multi-sport fieldhouse with a flexible layout of five basketball courts, up to 10 volleyball courts, in addition to an outdoor field, but that’s actually just the beginning. It’s just a department.
Market-driven retail, restaurants, entertainment, medical facilities, and an upscale luxury multifamily development are all slated to enhance the property into something that sounds more like a mini-city than a sports complex.
New Haven Mayor Steve McMichael said, “With an expected economic impact of $50 million, the city’s multi-sport arena and new and much-needed residential opportunities will maximize economic opportunities for the city.” We need this basic plan.”
Developer Card & Associates, Mayor McMichael and Grace Gathering Church were all in attendance Monday night when the project was proposed to the New Haven City Council.
The council unanimously introduced a resolution that, if passed, would establish a scope agreement for the project.
It’s unclear exactly what that means, but city officials say it’s the first step in partnering with Card & Associates to get the project done.
“I won’t go into too much detail, but there are a lot of ways this financial deck can come together to make this happen. Essentially, it brings together our expertise with landowners, the city, and through leveraging credit enhancements. …What ultimately benefits the city is the taxes that are collected when hotels and restaurants and other facilities come in,” Andy Card said. , owner of Card & Associates. “Everyone really thrives on these projects.”
And for Card & Associates, “everyone” includes Grace Gathering Church, which is providing much of the land for the project.
Rather than simply buying out of the church, Card told WANE 15 this is definitely a partnership that the church will benefit from in the long term.
“They’re going to be joint venture partners…That was important to me. I don’t want a developer to just come in and buy it at a price per acre and then they watch it on the sidelines. I didn’t want it to happen. I like it when the community rows together,” Card said. “They’re great partners and have great vision. There’s a spiritual twist to it, but I’m okay with that.”
“For us, it’s an opportunity to leverage the community partnerships and relationships we have for the purpose of expanding the kingdom of God,” said Levy Francois, campus pastor at Grace Gathering in New Haven. I’m always looking for it,” he said. “One of the things we envisioned early on was for our church to be used seven days a week.”
There is one other partner in development, but they are keeping quiet for now. Project officials call them a “catalyst” that will expand New Haven’s tourism potential.
“When you’re in a place for three or four days or even a week, it’s important to do more than just eat and shop,” Card says. “For example, in Indianapolis, it might be a children’s museum, a racetrack, and a Topgolf-type facility that we’re working on right now.”
Construction is expected to begin later this year after the resolution passes the Redevelopment Commission and Economic Development Commission.
Construction is expected to be completed by early 2026.