Mansfield trustees set deadline for performing arts center deal

By TRACI SHURLEY

tshurley@star-telegram.com

A majority of Mansfield school trustees said they want to put a new $39 million performing arts and professional training center at The Shops at Broad Street, but they also set a three-week deadline for making the deal happen.

Under the proposal to build the center in the planned retail development at U.S. 287 and East Broad Street, the district would trade 12 acres it owns near Mary Orr Intermediate School for 12 acres inside the development that the city owns, Superintendent Bob Morrison said.

He said financial considerations the district would get for infrastructure associated with the project are still being negotiated.

Last month, trustees approved using construction money saved on a planned high school and interest from bond funds to build the 5,500-seat facility. In early September, the school district announced that Shops at Broad Street developers Forest City Enterprises had offered the district a donation of 23 acres in the shopping center. Forest City was hoping to spur interest in the 1.2 million-square-foot retail complex, school officials said.

Now, however, the focus of the deal is the land swap between the city and school, instead of a donation from the developers. The school district and city officials have been discussing the project in closed session for several weeks.

Accessible location

Officials have said The Shops at Broad Street would give the center an accessible location and provide opportunities for shopping and dining out nearby. They said parking, access roads and keeping the facility’s construction to its projected cost have been at issue in negotiations.

Late Tuesday, trustees voted 4-2 to make locating at the shopping development contingent on "the final resolution of a tri-party agreement" at the school board’s Nov. 17 meeting.

Trustee Mike Leasor said the message is clear: "Here’s where we want to put it . . . you’ve got three weeks to get your stuff together, and if you can’t get your stuff together in three weeks — sorry."

If a deal can’t be reached, the district will build the center on 25 acres it owns behind Ben Barber Career Tech Academy at 1120 West Debbie Lane.

Belinda Willis, spokeswoman for the city, said Wednesday that Mansfield officials wouldn’t discuss details of the negotiations.

Mayor David Cook released the following statement: "We see a tremendous benefit to the community by having the Performing Arts Center at The Shops at Broad. We will continue discussions and negotiations to reach a tri-party agreement. We will invite public discussion at the City Council meeting Nov. 9."

Morrison said swapping the land near Mary Orr school with the city would have benefits. If the deal is completed, the district would still have the land behind Ben Barber for future use and it would have whatever considerations were negotiated. The district has owned the land near Mary Orr since 1958.

Mansfield school officials have said they need to get started quickly on construction to take advantage of current market conditions. They hope to finish by March 2012.

Geological testing

Before voting Tuesday, trustees directed the district’s construction firm to begin geological testing at The Shops at Broad Street site and at the site near Ben Barber. If they decide not to locate at the retail development, the district will be out about $15,000 for those tests.

Trustee Terry Moore made the motion setting the Nov. 17 deadline.

He said officials from the district, the city and the developers have come a long way since talks began. He hopes the board’s action Tuesday will encourage negotiators to continue working toward an agreement.

Trustees Sandra Vatthauer and Beth Light voted against Moore’s motion.

During the meeting, Vatthauer said she believes the negotiations still have many unresolved issues. She was disappointed city officials had not brought the board a letter of intent or some other official document.

Light said Wednesday she had hoped for stronger language.

"I’ve very pro on The Shops at Broad, but I’m just very concerned that it’s taking a very long time to come to an agreement with all the parties involved," she said. "I guess I just wanted the wording to be stronger in terms of deadlines."

TRACI SHURLEY, 817-390-7641

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