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Proposed South High Stadium Divides NeighborhoodRelated Content
ANCHORAGE - A new stadium at South High School is closer to becoming a reality. More than $2 million has been set aside in the state's capital budget, and is awaiting approval by Governor Sean Parnell. But not all neighbors are excited about the noise that could come with a future stadium. Alex Slivka, President of the Turnagain View Estates Homeowners Association, says several of its homeowners feel betrayed by the city because it was told it would always be a practice field. "We feel that they made past errors, refused to acknowledge past promises made that this would always be a practice field, just because of its location," he said. "There is no way to mitigate the light or the noise." He says the Municipality of Anchorage is not listening to concerns from neighbors and is following its own agenda. "I have heard that concern to the extent that the homeowners weren't informed, they're certainly informed now, they've taken advantage, as they should, of all public comment opportunities," said Mike Abbott, assistant superintendent of support services at the Anchorage School District. Abbott says they realize they've had to make changes to the initial site plan, but have had overwhelming support from families and neighbors near South High School. "This is for the kids, and the kids have the right to have a field and stadium that they can play at amongst their friends, community, family," said John Lewis, head football coach for South High. For now, though, plans for the stadium are on hold. The association is currently appealing the revised site plan approved by the city. A hearing is expected sometime in June. |
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Concerned Neighbor said on Thursday, Apr 26 at 4:12 PM
Back in 2000-2001 when ASD held countless meetings to gain neighborhood support for embedding the school in the midst of existing homes, ASD acknowledged that due to the close proximity of existing homes to proposed fields (90'), the site would not support anything more than practice fields. The neighborhood was promised the fields would remain practice only with varsity games held elsewhere. Well over 100 homeowners adjacent to school signed a petition of overwhelming opposition and the request ASD honor their commitment. Very few homeowners adjacent to the school are in favor of the stadium. The vast majority of stadium supporters live far enough away that they will not be impacted by the cacophony of noise, traffic, lighting, etc. ASD's Mike Abbott stated that the facility will be maximumly scheduled as a rental facility. Homeowners will be inundated with continuous racket for the entire non-snow season. ASD needs to fund educational programs, not new facilities.
88973325Neighbor said on Thursday, Apr 26 at 4:22 PM
Over 100 homeowners in the area signed a petition in total opposition to the stadium and ask ASD to honor the commitment made to the neighborhood that athletic fields would not be developed further. The proponents of the project do not live near enough to be impacted by the installation of this commercial facility. They can attend a game, then retreat to the quiet sanctuary of their homes. Neighbors of South High will not have that luxury. By dismissing the promise made when they wanted community support to construct the school in the established neighborhood, ASD is setting an extremely poor example for the students they influence daily. The coach stated the kids have a right to have a stadium of their own. What about all the municipality's students' right to an excellent education? How many educational programs and faculty can be provided with the $2.2M for the stadium, plus the ongoing maintenance? Why cut critical summer school and other programs, then fund a stadium? Senseless.
88973945Robert Stanton said on Thursday, Apr 26 at 6:06 PM
Mr Abbott's comment that there is "overwhelming support from the families and neighbors near South High School" is erroneous. What is "overwhelming" would be the crowd noise of 1,600 fans, a sound system and stadium lighting within 90 feet of many homes in Turnagain View Estates. There is also inadequate parking at the school which would result in over-flow parking onto our neighborhood streets. As stated above, over 100 neighbors that actually live near the school have signed a petition opposing the stadium. The $2,200,000 in State funding was sponsored by Senator Lesil McGuire who does not represent this district. Our Senator, Cathy Giessel, opposes the stadium as does the Huffman/O'Malley Community Council. Surely there must be a better use for $2,200,000 in State funding.
88981354Turnagain Neighbor said on Thursday, Apr 26 at 8:53 PM
Follow the money, witness the priority. While teachers worry for their jobs and ASD administration begs for special funding for utilities, baseball and football stadiums complete with seating, lights, PA systems, concession stands and new turf are being planned and are funded for SAHS. I can sympathise with those affected by the closed Discus field, the canceled outdoor program at UAA, and the 2 baseball fields being paved... when commenters indicate users were caught unaware of changes coming to their neighborhood. The element of surprise habit seems to be catching on... keep aware for a change happening near you, your property taxes are at work.
88992996Brent Williams said on Friday, Apr 27 at 2:15 PM
Mike Abbott is a liar. He attended the same public hearing I did and, with few exceptions, the neighbors were strongly opposed to this project. The South High boosters turned out in force to give comment, as Coach Lewis put it, that they have a right to have a home field. I guess having money and political influence gives them that "right". The boosters pushed this as simply a stadium for South home games. Abbott and the school district did nothing to discourage this misleading sales pitch. In reality the ASD looks at this as simply another revenue source where they have a stadium to rent out to other groups, associations,etc. for sporting and non-sporting events. This is really a dirty, unethical project that the school district and boosters have been trying to get completed under the radar of neighboring residents that they knew would be opposed to it. They don't give a rat's behind for the people that would be negatively affected by it.
89063965TVEHA member said on Sunday, May 6 at 5:09 PM
I would like to note that of the 100 neighbors that signed the petition mentioned above, many were from the same household. 100 signatures does not mean 100 homes oppose the stadium. Turnagain View Estates alone has 163 homes. When you take into account TVE and all the other surrounding neighborhoods, 100 signatures is a very small percentage.
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