This is an artist’s rendering of proposed expansion in Camp Jordan.

Camp Jordan could potentially become a major player in the world of mega sports complexes.

The mayor recently proposed a potential $15 million dollar expansion to the park.  The expansion would be paid for by partnering with Hamilton County to create a TIF, tax increment financing program.  Essentially, what this means is that the City and Hamilton County would agree to limit the property tax funds they receive to current levels.  Any tax revenues above current levels would be used to finance the Camp Jordan Project.

Let me try to simplify this a bit and explain how it works.  

Currently the property taxes for the undeveloped commercial properties on Camp Jordan Parkway paid to the city come in at a total of about $4,700.  The property taxes on the Bass Pro property were $59,944.09 last year.  The America’s Best Hotel paid about $4,000 last year.  This is all according to the Hamilton County Trustee Website.

So basically what would happen is that should the rest of the property owned by Exit One, LLC be developed the city would only collect the $4,700 it has been collecting.  Any incremental increase in the property taxes would go to fund the Camp Jordan project.  Essentially, all we are collecting tax on right now is a dirt pad and all we would continue to collect tax on is a dirt pad.  The tax due for anything built on top of the dirt pad would be earmarked for improvements to Camp Jordan.

As you can see, the taxes on Bass Pro alone are roughly $60,000 per year, with another $116,000 owed to the county.  If we can get them to match us on this project (which for it to be successful we must do) we could potentially push hundreds of thousands of dollars a year towards paying off the debt incurred by the project once the property surrounding Bass Pro is developed.  

This would allow us to greatly enhance Camp Jordan and use it to attract more soccer tournaments, more baseball and softball tournaments, increasing the visitors coming to our city and the number of people driving up Camp Jordan Parkway right past the developing properties owned by Exit One.  They will see an increase in traffic, which in retail is always good.  The hotel they are building will theoretically stay busy which is good and bring more head and bed taxes to the city.  Of course, the idea is all of these people being shuttled into Camp Jordan will spend more time in surrounding East Ridge and Hamilton County leading to increased tourism and sales tax dollars.

So will this project have the intended effect?

The problem is there hasn’t been a scientifically valid study done on the true economic impact of the park.  A study presented to the council last year was found to have many inconsistencies and deemed “not perfect” by its author.

I’ve been told by many businesses near the I-75 corridor that they see an uptick in their business  when a major event or tournament is going on at the park.  They see a substantial influx of business during these periods.  You also must admit that many cities are building these mega sporting complexes and continue to spend money on them so they must deem them beneficial.

Of course, another problem is the “Gateway” to Tennessee and the City of East Ridge is also the “Gateway” out of East Ridge.  After Phase 2 (the reconfigured northbound exit off I-75) is complete it’s going to be easier than ever to come to East Ridge, visit Camp Jordan and leave East Ridge without leaving Camp Jordan Parkway.  Our city has a lot of “leakage,” meaning it’s really easy to leave East Ridge and spend money.  This is something that’s cited in the research provided to us by Retail Strategies, a firm hired by the city to promote to recruit businesses to East Ridge.

Ultimately it comes down to dollars and cents.  If the increased traffic means increased retail sales in the city of East Ridge will the increase be enough to offset losses from the property tax?  If it will and if Hamilton County will join us in covering half the cost then it means the City of East Ridge will be creating a major sporting complex for little to no out of pocket taxpayer expense.

Of course, the one question that should be asked that most likely never will be is simply: Is a bigger Camp Jordan what the citizens and taxpayers of East Ridge want or need?