AUBURN – A planned sports complex could come to the southwest part of Auburn.
Draft plans for the Auburn Sports Complex, located at Auctions America’s location at 5538 CR 11-A, were recently submitted to the Auburn Plan Commission by Todd Bauer of ForeSight Consulting LLC of Fort Wayne, with JT Fisher Properties LLC of Auburn as the developer is listed.
Joe Fisher of JT Fisher Properties LLC said he was still working on completing the purchase of the property. He hopes to close the property in the next week and a half.
Fisher, who sold his business, Fisher Specialties, after 31 years, said the gentleman told him he was not ready to retire yet.
“The Lord wanted me here,” he said of the purchase of the property and the conversion into a sports complex.
Fisher, who co-operates JT Fisher Properties LLC with his wife Terri, said the park’s vision is to be a place of growth for the community.
“If Auburn hasn’t already been on the national map, we hope it is,” he said. “I grew up here in DeKalb County. We see this as a fundamental need of the community. “
He said the process started last October.
The development will, upon completion, span both sides of CR 11-A and include an area for commercial development on the south side of CR 11-A.
The design plans for the project envisage eight baseball fields, four outdoor soccer fields, an indoor soccer field and a main pavilion that is to be converted into basketball courts.
Fisher said the renovated indoor pavilion will have 10 basketball courts, including an NBA court, and nine volleyball courts. The soccer fields can also be used as lacrosse fields.
He said they are also considering setting up a splash pad in the park that will not only be used by those attending the games but will also be open to the general public.
If all goes well, he hopes to host basketball tournaments at the complex by February 2022.
“We have already booked tournaments for the next two years,” he said. “We hope it will be a big draw for Auburn.”
After the Fishers close the property, the next step is to approve the proposal by the city of Auburn and the county.
A city statement said that both the city and the county are currently working to review the information submitted as part of the application.
It goes on to say that the Auburn Plan Commission’s inclusion on the agenda for a public hearing is pending due to some unfulfilled requirements.
Currently, the project is not on the agenda for the next Auburn Plan Commission meeting on August 10th at 6pm.
The northern stretch of land currently home to Auctions America is 150.45 acres and the southern stretch of land is 52 acres.
Auctions America Auburns Parks, LLC purchased the property on September 10, 2010 from Dean Kruse’s company for $ 4.25 million.
The auction park has hosted the Labor Day classic car auction since it was founded by Dean Kruse. This year’s auction will take place on the property from September 3rd to 6th.
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