Bass Pro superstore moving forward

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eomaha
County Board
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Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2003 10:29 am
Location: West Omaha

Bass Pro superstore moving forward

Post by eomaha »

Bass Pro store moves forward in Council Bluffs

COUNCIL BLUFFS - Plans for a new Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World superstore, announced last June, marched a step forward Monday.

The Bluffs City Council, on a 4-1 vote, adopted a resolution amending the development plan for the area around the Mid-America Center to allow construction of the 133,000-square-foot, two-level store on a 19-acre parcel south of the convention center-arena.

The project will cost more than $20 million, shared by the city, county and private foundations and Bass Pro.

The plans include a small lake southeast of the building, a boat display area to the northeast and a restaurant. About 700 parking spaces have been laid out on the west side. Bass Pro officials say more details about the store and its amenities are yet to come.

Features will include a large indoor aquarium, museum-quality fish and wildlife mounts, and artifacts from the region.

The outdoor retailer sells boats, guns, boots, fishing tackle, camping gear and gifts to anglers, hunters, bird-watchers and other outdoor enthusiasts.

The superstore, scheduled to open in 2005, is seen as an economic development and tourism boost to the region. Local officials say it will help fill in an emerging entertainment corridor.

Councilman David Tobias opposed the resolution. He has expressed concern about Bass Pro's impact on existing businesses.

The store is expected to bring restaurants and shops to The Plaza, a proposed retail area next to the Mid-America Center. Initially, four buildings were proposed. The Bass Pro complex will occupy part of the space originally laid out for that development.

The city still has to weigh in on several other aspects of the development, including building permits and landscaping plans.

The city owns some land that will be used for the project and will be deeded additional land by the Southwest Iowa Foundation and the casino-funded Iowa West Foundation.

The Council Bluffs Community Betterment Foundation will obtain a $20 million loan to build the store and then deed the structure to the city.

The city will lease the building to Bass Pro and repay the foundation loan through selling $17 million in urban renewal notes and through an Iowa West grant.

In return, the city will receive sales tax revenue from the store and a lease payment, which is based on a percentage of sales.

To pay off the notes, the city has pledged $7.5 million over the next 13 to 15 years, and Pottawattamie County has pledged $2.5 million. Iowa West would cover any shortfall in payments.
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