The Eanes ISD board of trustees on Aug. 27 approved the building of a 60,000–70,000-square-foot multi-purpose facility on nearly 6 acres of district property known as the Shriner tract as part of a partnership with a private group.
The unique agreement with Westlake Athletic Center LLP will result in the construction of a $5 million to $7 million facility, known as the Westlake Athletic & Community Center, that includes five to six regulation basketball courts, 10–11 volleyball courts and an indoor turf area. The center could also include a potential future aquatic center after the athletic center is complete.
Eanes ISD students will be given priority access to the facility for fine arts, wellness and extracurricular activities on school days between 6 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. and during the month of August.
Funding
Several residents spoke against the construction of the facility, stating the district proposed the construction of similar facilities in several past bonds, all of which failed.
"On two separate instances voters shot this down," said Al Cowan, co-founder of the political action committee Citizens for Academic Excellence in Eanes. "What is the downside if this fails? EISD accrues a marginal benefit for use of 1/3 of the tract. It could pose problems in the future."
Beau Ross, EISD board of trustees vice president, said voters turned down a proposal that would have cost area residents money. The agreement with WAC is at no cost to the district for construction, he said.
According to the agreement the WAC funds construction of the facility along with maintenance and operations and staffing of personnel.
WAC will operate rent-free at the site adjacent to Westlake High School for 10 years, after which the ownership of the building transfers to the district and the WAC will pay $60,000 in rent per year with a 2.5 percent annual escalation. The company must also provide the EISD board with annual financial reports.
Worst-case scenario
As long as the lease remains in effect—which is between 35 and 50 years—the WAC must pay for the maintenance and operation of the building, but should the company fold the district will take over those costs.
"The worst-case scenario is that we have the same land as before, but we have a facility on it, which we hope increases the value," EISD Superintendent Tom Leonard said.
Leonard said the district estimates the cost to close the facility would be $50,000 annually, and the cost to run it would be about $280,000 annually.
"The question then becomes, can the district make enough money [from the facility] to offset that?" he said. "I don't think there is a right or wrong here. Thirty years from now someone will tell us that."
EISD Place 4 board member Mike Frost said he is not worried about the company going bankrupt.
"This is not a typical deal," he said. "It's creative and I like that. I'm not concerned about bankruptcy, as it isn't something that is terrible for [the district]. We have to put the kids first."
Place 7 board member Ellen Balthazar said the district has wanted a facility similar to this for a long time.
"It has been in every master plan since 2001," she said. "We have failed two bond issues for similar facilities, but the voters said you can't raise our taxes for this facility. We are fortunate to have a group of people in this community to build this."
Construction and use
WAC General Manager Jeff Buch said he expects WAC to complete the permitting process and break ground on the facility by January. He said the target date for opening the athletic center is October 2015, but it could be done as early as June.
WAC has three years to finalize a plan for the proposed additional aquatics center—which would include a junior Olympic-size pool and supplemental pool for swim lessons and other aquatic activities—or the district can lease out the land to a third party to build an aquatic center.
"We expect to be about a year behind the athletics center with the construction of the aquatics center," Buch said.
The aquatic center is expected to cost about $3 million to $4 million, Buch said.
Although concerns arose about the profit capabilities of the center, Buch said the partnership is ideal for the two parties.
"Our model is predicated almost exclusively on youth sports," he said. "Our primary usage is evening and weekend. Our hours are completely different."
Buch said he expects the facility to be a place everyone can utilize in a safe and secure environment and will be a tremendous asset to the community.
EISD board President Rob Hargett said he thinks the facility will help more than 1,000 area children, and the agreement is what is best for the students and the district.
"Voters can give their opinion when it comes to electing who sits on this board," he said. "I think [passing this agreement] takes a bit of courage, and I'm willing to do that."
