NKY
Devou Park clubhouse plans trimmed back for neighbors
Dave Malaska
COVINGTON – Plans for a long-discussed clubhouse upgrade and a new events center in Devou Park inched forward this week, but whether they will ever come to fruition is still a coin toss.
City commissioners voted unanimously March 18 to approve an updated site concept plan for the project so planners could begin estimating its cost.
Original estimates – when discussions began in 2011 – placed the price tag in the $3.5 million to $4 million range.
Barbara Drees-Jones, chair of Devou Properties, the entity that oversees profits generated by the Drees Pavilion and their use for other Devou Park projects, presented the new plan to commissioners at the meeting.
Stressing the need for the project, she said the new plan, which features a reduced footprint from earlier versions, fewer parking spots and more landscaping to separate the new construction from nearby residences – a sticking point in earlier iterations of the project – is still in its early stages.
"This is not a commitment to go ahead with construction," she said. "We need a site plan and location to be approved in order to come up with how much the design and cost estimates will be. Once we have those, we will present them for approval. This is just to move the process along."
The concept plan, called Site Plan F, is the result of several meetings with neighbors to address their concerns about the project. Originally, plans were to replace the park's dated clubhouse and build an events center that could host golf outing crowds and compliment the upscale Drees Pavilion. It included an events lawn and 146 parking spaces, which drew concerns from residents.
New plans include only 105 parking spaces, removal of the events lawn and moving construction 50 feet farther from residences.
That's a step in the right direction, but residents still have concerns about the increased traffic, noise and litter the project will bring, said Chris Carle, who lives on Audubon Road.
Carle, an executive with St. Elizabeth Healthcare, said neighbors emailed details of Site Plan F on Thursday.
"The city, especially Mayor (Sherry) Carran and Natalie Gardner, has been very transparent and open to dialogue up to this point, which we really appreciate. I hope we'll have input on (Site Plan F), but we're asking that the project be moved as far away from residents as possible," Carle said.
"It's still right in our front yards, so to speak."
On Sunday, the park hosted a large golf outing. The litter left behind was "astronomical," Carle said. If the project goes ahead, neighbors fear worse for their quiet neighborhood.
"We're behind the park 100 percent. We want to see it continue to grow and be utilized by everybody," he said, "but there are other places within the park where a new clubhouse and welcome center make more sense."
The project also faces financial roadblocks.
Covington-based Hub+Weber Architects is working on the revised cost estimates. Commissioner Steve Frank said after the meeting that unless that revised figure comes in much lower than anticipated or a benefactor steps up, the project is unlikely to move forward.
"If a new Mr. Drees shows up and is willing to donate $1 million to put his name on it, then we'll have something to talk about," Frank said.
Otherwise, the city would be asked to shoulder more of the cost or the project will have to pay for itself. That's a nonstarter, he said – the events center couldn't host enough events to pay that sort of bill and the golf course is barely breaking even now.
"That leaves the city paying a greater share and probably having to keep putting money into it to keep it afloat once it's built. That's money that could be better spent. We have more pressing needs," he said. ⬛