Wilmington City Council President Theo Gregory and Council President-elect Shabazz Tuesday praised Salesianum School for its willingness to raise as much as $20 million dollars in private funding for the renovation of Baynard Stadium
This came after the council and a state representative threw up an apparent roadblock that led the private school to withdraw its proposal for a 50-year lease in return for improving the stadium.
The withdrawal triggered a backlash in social media posts against the council.
Gregory and Shabazz stated that the council’s review process was intended to allow for a full community review of the proposed lease between the city and the school, which they said has been accomplished.
Gregory and Shabazz said the review revealed some deep community concerns about the current and future use of the stadium by community-based youth teams.
They stated that these problems will have to be resolved and added they are ready to assist in seeking a resolution. They noted that the issues surrounding community use of the stadium and the cost to use the stadium will have to be dealt with regardless of the when the renovation funding issues are resolved.
Critics claimed the council was looking for a way to cash in on the deal, even though the small stadium does not generate an appreciable amount of revenues.
Gregory and Shabazz said with Salesianum’s withdrawal of its offer to renovate and manage the stadium, which they understand and respect, that leaves the review process in the hands of State Rep. Charles Potter who has said that he will be able to find funding from the state for the renovation of the stadium and also ensure that community needs are met for its future use.
In a letter, Salesianum said it made the offer in recognition of the fiscal realities facing the city and state and needed to withdraw due to the objections affecting a fund-raising effort.
Finding state funding may be a long shot, thanks to the the estimated $160 million budget gap in the state budget. Potter risks being the fall guy for Salesianum pulling its offer. The city has few resources since it mainly relies on property tax revenues.
“We look forward to assisting Representative Potter and whatever form of a task force he is able to assemble to find future funding for the stadium which is in dire need of renovations,” said Gregory. “The representative and others were clear in their position that more study was needed and now we have every opportunity to study the issue without delay and find the funding before the stadium’s structural problems worsen,” said Shabazz.
