By Fernando Alcantara/Garden Grove Journal
Active residents of Garden Grove looking for a sports facility complex to be built may have gotten an early Christmas present.
Two requests for code amendments to build two indoor sports facilities, one at Western Avenue and Lampson Avenue and another at Acacia Avenue and Knott Street, were officially made during Tuesday night’s city council meeting.
The code amendment would allow industrial warehouses to be converted into a sports complex.
Brethren Christian High School student Sarah Yusevi supports the possibility of an indoor sports facility being built.
“[It would be] a great addition to the community,” she said. “It’s a good way for communities to develop and creates a camaraderie [among residents]; especially students that could benefit from the facilities.”
Garden Grove city planner Erin Webb said that after several years of searching for a location to build a gym, The Mat Facility Sports Partners found a warehouse space and are requesting a code amendment to operate such a facility.
Council member Kris Beard was curious of the request to transform an industrial warehouse into a sports facility.
“Is this the coming wave for reuse of facilities like this?” Beard asked.
Webb said that this was not the first request as many others have made inquiries to build such a complex.
“It does seem to be in demand,” Webb said.
The first location for the indoor sports facility is proposed at 12552 Western Ave. and the second request was made for 12821 Knott St., a 6.8-acre lot.
Both requests will undergo public hearings before any further developments are to occur.
Tuesday night’s meeting also saw the Boys and Girls Club of Garden Grove awarded with a 2011 Education Grant of $20,000 from the Southern California Gas Company.
“Each year competitive grants are awarded in our service territory,” Alex Kim, public affairs manager of the Southern California Gas Company said.
The city council also nominated and voted Council Member Dina Nguyen as the next Mayor Pro Tempore of the Garden Grove City Council. Current Mayor Pro Tem Steve Jones, made the nomination.
