DeKalb OKs incentives for Atlanta United FC’s $30-million soccer complex

Public gets little say in decision to offer incentive package

In a 4-3 vote Tuesday without any public input, the DeKalb County Commission approved a $12 million incentive package to coax Atlanta United FC to build its $30-million training complex in the county. 
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? The county’s interim CEO Lee May led a press conference with AUFC’s owner, Arthur Blank, Club President Darren Eales, and the county’s board of commissioners — well, the ones who supported the controversial proposal — after the elected body narrowly approved the deal to woo the club.
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? Each speaker said the soccer club’s complex, proposed to be built on property south of I-285 near the county jail and sanitation department, would kickstart further development along the Memorial Drive corridor. “This catalytic opportunity will really jumpstart the momentum for this entire corridor,” May said.
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? Phase one of the complex will consist of a 3,500-seat stadium, three practice fields, exercise facilities, locker rooms and offices for the club’s headquarters. Phase two is contingent upon the success of the initial projects but could introduce an indoor practice facility and three additional soccer fields.
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? DeKalb will give AUFC $2.33 million a year for three years to facilitate the complex’s construction. The county wants some office space in the headquarters for its parks and recreation department in exchange. The incentive package also includes $5 million to clear land for the developments. 
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? County officials say funding for the complex won’t affect property taxes. AUFC will pay the county 15 percent of the revenue from the complex’s naming rights and events held at the facility.
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? If the new complex brings additional commercial development, the local Tax Allocation District would draw some income for DeKalb, according to the county’s projections. DeKalb is betting on a 150 percent return from Blank and his soccer investments and anticipates the nearby property values could increase nearly $100 million over the next 30 years (which also happens to be the length of AUFC’s lease). After which, the property and all its developments will fall back into DeKalb’s possession.
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? Blank said the growing excitement from the soccer community will be enough to prompt economic growth in the region. “The vibrancy and energy and enthusiasm of soccer will be converted to dollars,” he said. 
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? The commissioners who voted against the proposal, which was only unveiled to the public last week and was passed without allowing any public comment, stayed off the stage Tuesday. Commissioner Nancy Jester, however, expressed her disappointment after the press conference.
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? “It’s a bad deal for the taxpayers and $12 million is incredibly underestimated,” she said, adding that she thought the price-tag for clearing the land is more likely $10 million. Cash that could go to paying AUFC would be better spent on other county needs, Jester said.
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? “Our water and sewer system is in terrible disarray,” she said. “We have such a backlog of potholes and roads in need of paving and now we’re not likely to get to that for another 20 years. But we found $12-20 million just laying around to give to somebody who can afford to build all this on their own.”