Wednesday, February 21, 2001
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Wednesday, February 21, 2001 |
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Expansion of tennis center proposed to PTC council By JOHN
MUNFORD
Expanding the Peachtree City Tennis Center with seven covered courts (to battle the elements) and more office space comes at an estimated price tag of $2.4 million. But, as Tate Godfrey told the Peachtree City Council Thursday night, such an expansion will help the facility attract more prestigious tournaments and bolster the economic benefit to the community. For instance, the weekend tournaments help fill up hotel rooms that normally are vacant, he added. Godfrey estimated the current that the tennis center brought an extra $4.4 million into the city economy last year. With the expansion, that number could jump to as much as $10 million a year, he added. The expansion would bring the number of courts at the facility to 25. It would also add more than 9,500 square feet of office space that can be used for administration and a pro shop, Godfrey said. Currently, the tennis center leases office space off site, Godfrey added. The expansion could also be funded by increasing the city's motel and hotel tax from its current 3 percent to 5 percent, he added. "We presented this plan to council at its retreat two years ago, and now we feel the time is right," Godfrey said, speaking for his fellow members of the Peachtree City Economic Development Authority, which oversees the tennis center and the city's amphitheater. The tennis center currently has 620 members and 31 employees, and it also hosts play for various leagues such as the Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association. Under the direction of Virgil Christian, the 1998 Georgia Tennis Professional of the Year, the center has grown in renown since its inception, Godfrey added. The city's hotel-motel tax is incredibly low as it stands now, Godfrey said. The city of Atlanta's is set at 17 percent, he said. Councilman Robert Brooks said it was a good idea to expand the tennis center to bring more prestige to Peachtree City. He believes that south Fulton County will boom with several golf courses in the coming years and Peachtree City needs to set itself apart. The tennis center also has played an integral role in the community by offering classes for high school coaches and hosting events for local youths, Brooks added. "It's a world-class center," Brooks said, "... and this is something that would not be subsidized by the local taxpayer." Council did not commit to the project, but Mayor Bob Lenox said it would be a good idea to check with area hotel and motel operators before proceeding the plans.
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