Group proposes to revitalize Anchorage's Chester Creek Sports Area, providing land for housing and retail

A group advocating for a new Mulcahy Stadium has proposed a broader plan to state lawmakers with a vision to revitalize the aging Chester Creek Sports Complex.

Steve Nalland, president of the American Legion Baseball Support Alliance in Anchorage, said the initiative covers much of the area that includes Sullivan Arena and other facilities near 16th Street and Seward Highway in downtown Anchorage. He said he aims to make more effective use of the .

The group's plan would free up prime city-owned land, which already has public facilities, and provide opportunities for new housing and commercial space.

But this proposal faces major hurdles.

Funding will require support from lawmakers and Alaska voters. The group also hopes the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation can be involved to create a master revitalization plan for the area and coordinate any future development that may occur, Naland said.

The idea is at the center of an ongoing conversation in Anchorage about rebuilding a city that some say is in dire need of a reset. New housing units and improved public facilities could help Anchorage deal with population decline and a shrinking working-age population, proponents of the idea say. It could draw more residents to an area that has long grappled with issues related to homeless encampments along the Chester Creek Trail.

According to the plan, the organization aims to replace the 60-year-old baseball field with a new stadium about 500 feet to the west. That would eliminate the other two ballparks in the complex, but free up land for new development.

The plan would also remove the Anchorage Football Stadium, which was built 56 years ago but is now largely unused as the high school built its own artificial turf field.

The indoor Ben Bouquet Ice Arena, which seats about 1,000 people, is still buzzing with activity, and Naland's group thinks it should remain, he said. The nearby outdoor Bonnie Cusack Memorial Ice Rink should also survive, he said.

There are also questions about the future of Sullivan Arena, which was built with public funds in the 1980s when Alaska was rich in oil and has struggled for years.

[University and Seawolf booster group explore options for a new UAA hockey arena]

Events are beginning to resume at the 6,300-seat arena, which served as a low-barrier homeless shelter for much of the pandemic. But many say its future is in doubt as the city builds new venues and many activities have been canceled.

“We're not saying we're going to demolish (Sullivan) today, but over time we'll probably find a higher and better use for that land,” Naland said.

He said if the state housing agency could be involved in revitalization efforts, it could help address issues such as the future of Sullivan Arena and other facilities at the sports complex.

[Below: Scroll through the conceptual plans to overhaul the Chester Creek Sports Complex being pitched by the Alliance for the Support of American Legion Baseball in Anchorage.]

Sullivan manager Steve Agni said the group's overall idea has value.

“I think we need to do more to create activities that make Anchorage attractive to young people, and that includes active recreation and entertainment,” he said. I did.

But Sullivan shouldn't be excluded, Agni said. It's still in generally good condition and able to offer many of these events for young people, he said.

“Sullivan should be part of that strategy,” he said.

[Earlier coverage: After a pandemic repurposing, Sullivan Arena is about to reopen. What’s its role in Anchorage now?]

Anchorage Improvement Plan

Mulcahy's relocation and rebuilding plan could cost $35 million, Naland said.

The stadium is heavily used in the summer and may continue to serve as home for the Anchorage Bucks and Glacier Pilots, youth baseball games and other events.

It will also be upgraded as an outdoor winter destination. A heated indoor pavilion and heated outdoor seating will be built, and there will be plenty of lighting, Naland said. The design would allow the field to be filled with water to create an ice rink, he said.

The Alliance manages youth baseball programs and advocates for better sports facilities in Alaska.

About 10 years ago, the company proposed a similar idea to relocate and rebuild Mulcahy, which was designed to free up much-needed parking space at Sullivan Arena at the time. The idea was part of a municipal bond package that included the Russac Library proposal. He lost by 14 votes out of 46,000 votes cast.

Naland said Alliance leaders, including co-founders Don Winchester and Bob Sheik, helped develop the latest plan.

In addition to housing, the project will also offer retail and hotel space, according to a slideshow from the organization.

While Sullivan Arena served as a shelter, neighbors reported an increase in safety issues, including drug use, arson, theft, and harassment. When the city closed, there were few alternative shelters and nearby camps mushroomed.

Nalland said Alliance hired security guards to deal with Mulcahy's break and enter. He said housing would attract residents who would help monitor the area.

big hurdle

Mr. Naland met with dozens of members of Congress during the past two legislative sessions to sell the plan.

He proposed that the money could be included in a statewide general obligation bond if lawmakers support its creation.

Naland said the alliance didn't pursue municipal bonds this time because it didn't want to advocate for large-scale projects that would usurp Anchorage's smaller park projects, which often win voter approval. Stated.

Statewide general obligation bonds are He said the state's limited capital budget in recent years provides an opportunity for legislators from across Alaska to propose capital projects that have not been built in their areas.

It would require legislative approval and the governor's approval before it can go before voters.

Naland said funding for projects across the state could be spent steadily on a project-by-project basis over the next several years. That happened with the last statewide general obligation bond in 2012, a $450 million measure for transportation improvements.

Leaders of the House and Senate Finance Committees said last week that there are no committee plans for general obligation bonds at this time.

Sen. Bert Stedman, Republican co-chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said the idea of ​​funding improvements to the gridiron is unlikely to happen this year. He said the state has other needs, including addressing deferred maintenance at public education facilities across the state.

Stedman noted that general obligation bonds will require payments from the state in the future. But he said Alaska's finances will become even tighter in the coming years.

Naland said he expects a bond package to begin this year or even in the near future.

The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation is aware of the alliance's ideas and is always willing to work with local organizations, the agency said in a statement.

“We participate in the bond market multiple times each year, so the idea of ​​participating financially is not a new concept for us. But (general obligation) bonds would require a vote of the people. ” the statement said. “To get there, we need the support of local and state legislators, including the governor.”

“I have shared my experience in this area with Steve (Nerland) and have indicated that we will speak with all of these people,” Brian Butcher, head of the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, said in a statement.

Anchorage city officials could not be reached for comment.

“Great” idea

State Rep. Zach Fields, whose district includes Fairview, where the sports complex is located, said he generally supports a statewide general obligation bond because of its history of funding good projects. Stated.

He said he would support specific bond proposals to rebuild Mulcahy and revitalize the Chester Creek complex, but there is no timeline for what will happen to the other facilities there.

“It's a great proposal,” he said. “Modernizing the stadium and increasing recreational opportunities is obviously a very positive thing.”

He said plans to introduce housing into sports complexes were worthwhile. He said homes closer to parks and trails will help make Anchorage more competitive, and trail users will feel more comfortable with more residents nearby.

Anchorage Bucks general manager Sean Maltby said Mulcahy's condition continues to deteriorate and he is open to any ideas to improve the sports park.

“People go to the games, They come in and they're like, 'Hey, this is old.' This is ugly. This is terrible. 'We need something fresh,' he said.

“The city needs to buy into this, the state needs to be involved, and we can really revitalize the area, and I think that's what we need,” he said.

Daily News Sports & Entertainment Editor Chris Bieri contributed.

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