A major mixed-use development proposal featuring entertainment, retail and residential could have a transformative impact for O’Fallon and its Family Sports Park, city officials say.
Park Place has been proposed by Bruce Holland of Holland Construction, Rich Gorazd of State Construction and Michael Hamburg of Pier Property Group, who plan to create “a vibrant, dynamic hub for residents and visitors to enjoy,” they stated in a formal announcement.
The development would adjoin the Family Sports Park and include a hotel and upscale housing options among its other entertainment-focused amenities.
It may be the biggest development of its type to be constructed if approved, Mayor Herb Roach estimated.
“It will be close in investment to that of the St. Elizabeth Hospital when it was built here in O’Fallon. That was close to $300 million,” Roach said.
This project will be required to go through multiple public steps before any decision on approval takes place.
“Of course, it will have a significant long-term economic impact for O’Fallon. It is hard to give a number at this time because there are many things to be finalized,” Roach said. “We are extremely pleased to know the background and history of the three major developers involved in the project. Their reputations for quality work are very good.”
Park Place will be located near the O’Fallon Family Sports Park and include:
- A state-of-the-art golf range like TopGolf, which would offer fun and entertainment for all skill levels
- Unique, experience-based retail spaces that offer something for everyone
- A full-service hotel for out-of-town visitors
- A diverse selection of restaurants
- Upscale apartments, townhomes, and single-family villas for a range of lifestyles and preferences
- Scenic walking trails designed for relaxation, fitness, and enjoy nature
- A pedestrian tunnel connecting directly to the O’Fallon Family Sports Park, offering easy access to one of our community’s premier outdoor spaces
The Family Sports Park itself is a major economic driver for O’Fallon, according to a recent study. The park generates more than $9.6 million in gross revenue, mostly from the approximately 1.5 million annual visitors who travel for baseball, softball and soccer tournaments. Construction and expansion of the park was funded in large part by a city-imposed hotel-motel tax.
Roach said the city has had discussions on this concept for a little over a year, but received the proposal only last week. The city posted the announcement to its social media accounts almost immediately so it could involve the public in the approval process.
“We have posted this almost as soon as we received the formal application, so that people would be aware of it and we could get feedback on it,” said the mayor.
Before the city approval process begins, it is hosting two open houses on Feb. 13, for residents living near the project site, and Feb. 19, for anyone. Both begin at 6 p.m. and will be held at Fire House No. 4, 1215 Taylor Road.
“These are to inform the public of the proposed project, answer questions and take feedback,” said Roach.
“There are numerous other public meetings involving our Planning Commission, Community Development Committee and our full City Council over the next few months to review and give feedback on the project,” he said.
Roach said the city staff have been working with the developers to shape the project and mitigate traffic, noise, crime, and other concerns for the nearby residents.
After the open houses, the project will make its way through the normal channels:
- March 11: Planning Commission public hearing and review.
- March 24: Community Development Committee review.
- April 7: City Council first reading consideration.
- April 14: Community Development Committee review.
- April 21: City Council second reading consideration.
Editor's note: This story was originally published by the Belleville News-Democrat. Lynn Venhaus is a freelance reporter for the Belleville News-Democrat, a news partner of St. Louis Public Radio.
