Mesquite Sports Resort

"According to a press release issued by the City of Mesquite on Thursday, the Desert Falls International Sports Resort LLC has paid its 5% down payment for the large tract of land in West Mesquite that it is purchasing from the city.

"The purchase includes 864 acres near the city's regional park near Hardy Way and Falcon Ridge Parkway.

"Bryan Dangerfield, Mesquite's Director of Economic Development, confirmed that the city received a check in the amount of $316,002.50 on Aug. 25, one day before the deadline. [...]"

"It's nearly time for the developers of the Desert Falls Sports Complex to put their money where their mouth is.

"The half-billion dollar project slated for west Mesquite is nearing an Aug. 26 deadline for making a $316,002.50 down payment on the land they negotiated to purchase back in February of this year.

"Even that deadline appears to be steeped in controversy. [...]

"Originally, the Joint Development Agreement called for Desert Falls to purchase 925 acres in between the city's Regional Park and Mesa View Regional Hospital.

"Following completion of the survey, the size of the parcel was reduced to 864 acres. [...]

"At closing, Desert Falls must pay the full balance on the $7,820,050 total before they can take possession of the land. [...]

"The agreement does not set a date or time limit for the closing, meaning Desert Falls can tie up the land for another two years. [...]"

"The Desert Falls International Sports Resort received the changes in zoning that they needed in order to bring their half-billion dollar dream to life. [...]

"Much of the zoning involved a downshift, as 477 acres of land currently zoned residential or commercial were rezoned as Park and Recreation Open Spaces (PUD-OS), creating a total of 615 acres of park land. [...]

"According to city officials, the developers still have not provided the Design Standard Handbook which will be required before the new owners can pull permits for the project, although they have provided revised layouts of the property.

"The version shown during Tuesday's city council meeting appears to have stripped out the nine-hole golf course shown in the original plans, and moves some of the softball fields closer to Falcon Ridge Parkway.

"According to Dangerfield, the first phase of the project is expected to be built within 30 months, although neither the city nor the developers have disclosed where the $500 million needed to fund the project will come from. [...]"

"One of the largest proposed amateur sports and recreation facilities in the country is a step closer to becoming a reality with the signing of a joint development agreement on Wednesday, Feb. 25, between the City and developers of the project.

"At the signing ceremony, Mayor Susan Holecheck and City Manager Tim Hacker introduced the principals in the Desert Falls International Sports Resort group including A.C. Green, Paul Morris, Mark Meersman, Josh Olmstead and Larry Becknell.

"The facility, proposing to host large tournaments, will be housed roughly on the west and north sides of the Mesquite Technology and Commerce Center. The concept map shows the approximate placement of 20 softball diamonds, 24 soccer fields, 16 tennis courts, swimming pools, indoor and outdoor stadiums, athlete training facilities and related retail and commercial development."