Horse arena plans still on track at Cloverdale

Monday, May 22, 2006

Crossroads Arena co-owner Jim Skinner said plans for a new horse arena in Cloverdale are right on track.

"We're moving forward still," Skinner told the BannerGraphic Monday.

Skinner, a CPA in Greencastle, co-owns Crossroads Arena with local horse trainer Steve Jackson. The two have progressed steadily since approaching the Cloverdale Redevelopment Commission earlier this year with plans to construct a horse arena, located off Stardust Rd., west of the Stardust Hills entrance in Cloverdale.

On Monday, Skinner said plans were made to go to the state for a building permit. He said the company could approach the Cloverdale Plan Commission by its June 1 meeting to ask for a city building permit and the company could be ready to face the Cloverdale Town Council by its June 13 meeting.

However, Skinner said the company is still in need of investors.

Crossroads Arena -- in conjunction with Cloverdale resident Eric Hayman -- recently got the OK from the Cloverdale Town Council to rezone a portion of Hayman's property from residential to business. The plot of land is planned to be used for the proposed horse show arena.

Plans for the horse show arena call for a 192,000-square foot building to be used as an exposition center and horse show arena.

Blue prints for the arena call for two indoor show arenas, two outdoor arenas, 500 horse stalls, access for recreational vehicles and horse trailers, and a restaurant. The indoor facility will also be heated in order to conduct horse shows during winter months.

Earlier this year, Skinner approached the Cloverdale Town Council and said the company planned on breaking ground for the project in April, while the arena could possibly be ready for use by 2007.

However, Skinner told the BannerGraphic on Monday that bad weather and lack of investors has caused a delay in breaking ground for the project.

He said the company is looking at a few dates in June to break ground for the project.

"We've got a couple things in mind," he said.

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