Economic development target area named at Intertech

By Ashlee Hoos | KPC News - The Herald Republican

A recommendation made Thursday by the Angola Economic Development Commission will be going to the Common Council to designate the area in Intertech Park owned by volleyball legend Lloy Ball as an economic development target area.

The property in question is 200 Intertech Parkway, which is owned by Ball and is the home of his proposed Ball Sports Complex.

Commission member Kim Tubergen said he is excited for the project.

“This is a wonderful thing. Angola should be excited to have it,” he said before giving the motion to approve the resolution.

With unanimous approval from the EDC, the recommendation will be forwarded onto the Angola Common Council.

Ball is not the first person to own the property. It has changed hands a number of times and growth on it had seemingly ceased prior to Ball acquiring it. Ball came to the city earlier in the spring with the project idea and presented construction plans to city planner and economic development coordinator Vivian Likes in June.

An MS-4 storm water permit has already been granted on the property so dirt could be moved to work on drainage, Likes said.

Ball has already been before the city board of zoning appeals, plan commission and common council about the project.

Ball has requested a four-year tax abatement on the real estate only. It will not be for any of the contents of the building.

Ball’s attorney Henry Najdeski said most projects this size go for a much longer abatement.

“Typically, projects go for a 10-year abatement. We’re going for four. For the right project, the tax revenue is being built,” he said of the project.

The abatement will not impact real estate taxes according to Najdeski. He and Ball hope and believe the project will trigger other things to the area, including restaurants and hotels.

“This project is Lloy’s dream,” Najdeski said.

Likes read the resolution, and it said establishing the economic development target area will best serve the development area in question.

Ball is a former champion volleyball player on the collegiate, Olympic and professional level. He was a member of four USA Olympic teams, captaining three and winning a gold medal in the 2008 games and now runs training programs.

He and his family makes their home at Lake James.