Up & Coming Weekly

August 29, 2017

Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.

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AUGUST 30 - SEPTEMBER 5, 2017 UCW 13 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Pre-construction demolition of Fayetteville's minor league baseball stadium begins in a week or two, following last week's ceremonial groundbreaking. There are no buildings to be razed; just driveways, sidewalks and a huge parking lot to be removed. Deputy City Manager Kristoff Bauer noted the rear of the property has to be elevated because it's in a f lood plain. It's the general area where two railroad lines form an inverted V. "The culverts be- neath the tracks will not be enlarged," he said. So contractors will have to raise the rear section of the former Sears parking lot, which locals may remember from decades ago. The $33 million minor league ball- park will be modeled somewhat after a larger stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. One feature borrowed from Columbia includes a 360-degree concourse that will encircle the play- ing field, making it possible to walk around the entire facilit y. Seating will var y from a grandstand to a lawn picnic area and part y-st yle tables and chairs. Initially, there were plans for the stadium to have two entrances. Those plans have been adjusted to keep the construction budget in line, and there will be only one entrance. The sta- dium capacity is set at nearly 4,800. While the Houston Astros organi- zation hasn't said, tickets will likely range from $5 for general admission to $12 for the grandstand. Officials say construction should take about 18 months. The first ballgame will be in April 2019. "The team name won't be decided on until December," said general manager David Lane. Names under consideration include the Fat Backs and the Jumpers. Local officials believe the stadium and adjoining Prince Charles Hotel renovation, along with new hotel construction, will have the kind of positive downtown development im- pact that the opening of the Airborne and Special Operations Museum had in 2000. "This is the true definition of what a successful public-private partner- ship looks like," Baseball Commit- tee Chairman Mitch Colvin said. He and other members of City Council have pledged that property taxes will not be raised to finance the new stadium. The Astros have contracted to have a minor league team play in Fayetteville for a minimum of 30 years. "Just look around. This is what I love about baseball," Astros Presi- dent Reid Ryan said at the ground breaking ceremony. He's the son of major league hall of fame pitcher Nolan Ryan. The multimillion-dollar renovation of the defunct Prince Charles Hotel is expected to begin soon, said PCH Holdings project manager Jordan Jones. "It will have 62 high-end apart- ments and 13,000 square feet of retail space," Jones said. The eighth f loor ballroom will be converted into a luxury penthouse that will lease for $3000 a month, he added. Also in the year ahead is construc- tion of a four-story hotel that Jones said will share a wall with the adja- cent railroad station. It will be topped off with a four-story parking deck for hotel patrons. City officials don't seem to be concerned about the loss of dozens of public parking spaces at the railroad station. Stadium Construction Underway — Sort of by JEFF THOMPSON The $33 million minor league ballpark will be modeled somewhat after a larger sta- dium in Columbia, South Carolina. NEWS Gates Four Golf & Country Club Friday, Saturday & Sunday September 15 – 17, 2017 • A 54-hole stroke-play event. • Open Divisions plus New Women's Division & Super Senior Division ighted after 36 holes. • All amateur entrants must be 16 or older and reside in Cumberland County. • Past CC champions who are not golf professionals are eligible. • Golfers 50 years of age or older are eligible to participate in a Seniors' Flight, unless they declare to play in the Open or Championship ights. • Entry fee of $165.00. Includes: 3 rounds of golf, a practice round*, tournament gift range balls, food, beverages, trophies, prizes, and admission to Champion's Reception & Pairings Party** • New 2018 USGA Rules in will be eect. • $10,000 hole-in-one prize on HOLE #11. • No preferred pairings. • Gates Four Country Club requires collared shirts and denim is prohibited. • Field Limited to 144 participants. • *Green fees only, cart not included. Practice rounds are limited to weekdays and after 1 p.m. on weekends seven days prior to tournament after fees are paid. Please call (910) 425-6667 for tee time . Cumberland County's Premier Golf Event! Champion's Reception & Pairings Party ** Thursday Sept. 14th 6:00 – 8:00 PM Hosted by: Gates Four Golf & Country Club Player Gifts, Contests and Door Prizes! No charge to participants / Guests $15.00 Early Bird **Register by September 1st and receive 5 FREE FOURSOME ROUNDS OF GOLF AT • Deadline to enter is September 13 th at 6 p.m. • NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE ALLOWED Open Division (To be ighted based on number of entries.) Senior Division (Age 50 - 65.) Super Senior Division (Age 66 & above.) Championship Division (To be played from the back tees.) Women's Division (Flighted after 36 holes) REGISTER ONLINE at CumberlandCountyGolfClassic.com or Return Application by Sept 13th with Entry Fee to: Scooter Buhrman, PGA Pro sbuhrman@gatesfour.com • 910-425-6667 ext. 224 • FAX 910-425-6661 Make checks payable to Cumberland County Golf Classic 208 Rowan Street Fayetteville, NC 28301 (910) 391-3859 CCGC: Supports the Kay Yow Cancer Fund & Kidsville News Literacy & Education Foundation (501C3 Non Prot) T H E R I C H A R D S O N F I R M T R I A L A T T O R N E Y S C H A M P I O N S H I P C L A S S I C Mike Bordone

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