Mesquite Sports Resort

Thursday's announcement that the Desert Falls project was being cancelled was like the end of a TV medical drama. It appeared the patient had flatlined, all that was left was for someone to pull the plug.

Speculation that the amateur sports complex proposed for west Mesquite was DOA reached fever pitch after the developers failed to show up for a mandatory report to the Mesquite City Council on Sept. 28.

On Thursday morning, Mayor Susan Holecheck, City Manager Tim Hacker, and City Attorney Cheryl Hunt held a press conference at City Hall to break the news that the Desert Falls developers and the city had agreed to dissolve the Joint Development Agreement.

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The Desert Falls Sports Complex is officially dead.

Mesquite officials announced on Thursday morning that the city and the Desert Falls developers have agreed to dissolve the Joint Development Agreement.

"We proceeded forward knowing it was a tough environment," Desert Falls managing partner Josh Olmstead said in a press release. "We feel that Mesquite is the right place to build a sports resort and the demand for amateur athletic tournaments is there. However, because of a number of factors--including the timing of certain actions and other market forces working against us--we thought it was best to re-evaluate our plans."

According to City Attorney Cheryl Hunt and City Manager Tim Hacker, the $316,000 down payment currently in escrow for the project will be refunded to Desert Falls, Kent Kirchof, and the other investors who put up the money.

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Representatives for the Desert Falls Sports Resort were a no-show at Tuesday's city council meeting.

The developers of the proposed sports complex were scheduled to appear at the meeting to give an update on the progress of the project.

"I'm disappointed that, although we had a previously established date for a report, representatives from Desert Falls will not be in attendance, and they have asked the item to be pulled," Mayor Susan Holecheck said at the beginning of the Tuesday council session.

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A question from the audience about the status of the Desert Falls Sports project was referred to Bryan Dangerfield, Economic Development Director.

"The project directors have selected an architect during the first week of July and are proceeding with the design phase," he said. "I have seen the final plans and they are ready to go. The first phase of the project will be completed by November, 2011."

Mayor Holecheck added that the project directors must appear before the city council in early September to give a full report of the projects status.
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"[...] The City of Mesquite entered into a Joint Development Agreement with Desert Falls in February of 2009, selling city-owned land at bargain basement prices.

Ordinarily, the source of a land-buyer's money is nobody's business.

When it involves land owned by the taxpayers, and a development partnership with the municipality, that makes it the public's business.

The city's involvement gave the project an instant legitimacy and credibility that is usually earned only when backed by the dollars necessary to make the dream a reality.

Before city officials gave the project that kind of credibility, they had the obligation to the people of Mesquite to do their homework and know the exact source and stability of the funding.

It appears the city failed on that front.

When the city agreed to accept a post-dated check at the 11th hour of the deadline set by those officials, it should have set off warning bells. [...]"

"[Mayor] Holecheck was asked about the status of the Desert Falls project.

The Mayor said she was meeting with the principals of that project next week, indicating there might be a problem with that project going forward.

Citing confidentiality, she would not comment further."

"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."