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02/27/2023 04:39 PMA multi-use development project, which currently includes a 165,000-square-foot sports complex, with another 53,000-square-foot stand-alone medical building and 120 condo townhomes, is seeking approval from the Inland Wetlands Commission (IWC), and project officials will present their plans at the IWC meeting next month on Wednesday, March 8. The project has several partners working together and advocating for a mixed-use retail, housing, and athletic complex that will also house a restaurant and bar, among numerous other amenities and programming.
According to project CEO Doug Shaw, the sports site is slated to be called the Ben Callahan Community Complex (BC2) and is named in memory of Ben Callahan and to honor the Callahan family of Branford. Ben was just 10 years old when he drowned in an accident in 2017.
“He was a tremendous little boy. After Ben passed, I and his father began talking about how to honor Ben. We had some discussions, and I decided to take a leap of faith and leave my career at the Y [YMCA]…and try and bring another facility to the shoreline,” said Shaw.
Shoreline residents may remember Shaw from his efforts on behalf of the Soundview YMCA in Branford. Many credit Shaw for making that project a reality, and he is currently leading the charge for the Sports Complex.
According to Shaw, the project will encompass numerous amenities and services for a wide variety of uses and clientele.
“It’s still early still in the process. There is still a lot to finalize, but we are on the right track,” said Shaw. “We still have a long way to go. We have to get through the permitting process, but we have an option on the land…and we’ve done our due diligence, so we know the land can handle the project that we envision.”
The project calls for indoor adaptable basketball courts, pickleball courts, a wellness center, a babysitting service, rentable party and banquet facilities, a restaurant and bar, a fitness center, and a teen center. It also calls for a number of playing fields, including five indoor multi-purpose fields, one full indoor turf field, and three outdoor fields, all of which can be configured for a range of activities such as lacrosse, wrestling, field hockey, cheerleading, dance, volleyball, and martial arts. Shaw said large competitions in almost any field sport could be accommodated, making the site a unique and attractive site for multiple skill levels and categories of athletics.
Shaw said the facility is not a luxury but a critically needed venue.
“It is a necessity, and it is incumbent upon us to provide our youth and adults with state-of-the-art resources that allow them to explore their talents and reach their full potential,” Shaw said.
According to the project’s website, the site will focus on the large sports community in the region.
“BC2’s complex will be an invaluable resource for all sports—both in and out of season. It will put the shoreline communities in the enviable position of being able to meet the true year-round training and conditioning needs of elite athletes—all while supporting individuals, young and old, who are looking to stay healthy and pursue their own personal goals. BC2 will be setting a standard for communities throughout the region to follow.”
Shaw said that once constructed, the cost of maintaining the building would be offset by memberships, rental fees, and fees paid by sports and programs. He estimated that more than 7,000 residents would benefit from the facility.
“We estimate that 7,000 plus shoreline residents will utilize this new facility on a regular basis, which represents nearly 20% of all households in the area,” Shaw said.
Shaw said he hopes to eventually partner with municipal sports programs in the surrounding communities and Connecticut Sportsplex of North Branford for some events.
“What I’m excited about is what this is going to do for the community,” said Shaw. “We are remembering Ben and honoring the Callahan family; they truly are a tremendous family. But as the ‘Y guy,’ I know what a facility like this can do for the shoreline. We are going to be hosting tournaments. When you talk about hosting tournaments, the economic impact of this facility over 10 years will be up to $80 million. You’re talking about beds when folks come into town for tournaments; they will stay at local hotels and eat at local restaurants, and of course, shop at local stores.”
Shaw added that the complex could employ as many as 125 employees year-round and 200 during summer.
“I am very excited. I don’t over-promise or under-deliver. So, we still have to get through the permitting process and raise more money…but it really is exciting,” Shaw said. “We’ve had multiple meetings with the town, and everyone is doing a tremendous job in keeping this project moving. We are really looking forward to what is ahead.”
The proposed site is across Route 1 from the Tractor Supply store, just east of the Branford line. Although Shaw said changes are likely to occur to the current design, site plans and a full description for the project are available at bc2sports.org.