But one route the horse-training and sulky-trotting turf won't be taking is along commercial real estate row. Instead, the city has decreed most of the 100 acres will be used for public recreational purposes such as baseball diamonds, softball fields, a running track and possibly as an equestrian training area for non-profit groups.
Had it chosen to put the hallowed dirt on the market, some brokers feel the city could have grossed $100,000 per acre ($2.30 per sf) or $10 million at the least. Other brokers tell GlobeSt.com the land would bring in $200,000 per acre or $4.60 per sf for a $20 million windfall to the city.
"This is a judgment call the mayor and the council had to make as they listened to area residents for their takes on the highest and best use for the land," says Robin L. Webb, senior vice president and managing principal of Arvida Commercial Services Inc. "Developers understandably don't see it that way."
Riding on the city's decision at the end of the year are proposals on the real estate from various user groups.
For example, the YMCA and nearby Edgewater High School's 1,200 student population would like to see lighted baseball and softball fields and a running track.
Freedom Ride of Winter Park, FL wants 20 acres as a camp that would offer horse rides as therapy to children and adults suffering from a mix of disabilities.
Cannon Equine of suburban Heathrow, FL is willing to pay the city $40,000 annual rent to keep the oval clay harness racing track intact as a training area for horses.
Then there is Heidi Ericksen, an alternate on the 1988 US Olympic dressage team. She is asking the city to keep some part of the raceway to teach horse riding. Ericksen offers to pay yearly rent of $5,000.
The city is budgeting $4.3 million to put a new face on Ben White Raceway in 2001. What that face will ultimately look like is still being considered, say city planners.
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