Gazette
September 19, 2008
By Dave Dyer
Staff Writer
Southern Maine Community Recreation Center is planning changes to the YourSpace facility, a 50,000 squarefoot indoor sports facility formally known as the Gorham Sports Complex, on Narragansett Street in Gorham. “We opened the doors on March 1. We have already received donations, painting and maintenance. We’re booking up fast and furious as far as business for the fall season.” Adam Sturtevant, a member of the Southern Maine Community Recreation Center Board of Directors, said. Sturtevant said Southern Maine Community Recreation Center, a non-profit organization of Gorham business owners who banded together for the purchase of the YourSpace facility, recently obtained 501(c)3 status from the IRS, meaning the organization can now talk to businesses about funding potential additions to the facility. They have also received a loan guarantee in the amount of $1.18 million from the United States Department of Agriculture. “It’s not a grant,” Sturtevant said. “It’s a loan guarantee. What it means is we can take out a future loan with our bank, and if we were to default on the loan, the bank would have the property, which is already worth $3.3 million dollars, plus the loan guarantee of $1.18 million. But our revenue is already up 65 percent, and like I said before, we’re booked ahead of schedule for all of the fall season.”
The YourSpace facility was auctioned on Valentine’s Day, Sturtevant said. “The former owner recognized he couldn’t keep up with the cost of the bills,” Sturtevant said. “A gentleman bid at the auction on our behalf, with the other bidder being the owner of the Portland Sports Complex. He was there — and he told me this on the phone — to make sure the bidding on the facility was up, which made sense. We won the bidding at $1 million and the facility is worth $3.3 million so we still came away with a good deal.” Sturtevant said Southern Maine Community Recreation Center has plans for the future of the building beyond sports. “It’s not just for sports,” Sturtevant said. “We would like to have a conference center, with the potential for building a possible small theater. We really want a sense of community. I would personally like to see us do more with senior citizens of the area.” Sturtevant said the Southern Maine Community Recreation Center is planning a phase program that will continue to add to the facility. The fi rst phase would be to install insulation, which will take place in October and would cut the costs of heating the building in half. Phase two would involve the construction of various outdoor fields, including a multi-purpose field, an ice skating rink, basketball courts and walking trails. Sturtevant said possible ideas for additions inside the facility include a workout facility and a restaurant. Sturtevant said there is no timetable set for the future construction, as Southern Maine Community Recreation Center just received the 501(c)3 and have yet to present construction plans to the planning board. Sturtevant said the YourSpace facility is also working with different organizations, including organizers of Special Olympics to gage interest in using the facility for large events. “We have been talking with the Special Olympics, and we would love to have them use our center,” Sturtevant said. “We’ve also been working with Saint Joseph’s College with their sports management program, and the University of Southern Maine who have the same program.”
Gorham Recreation Director Cindy Hazelton said the YourSpace facility works well for the community. “It’s a tremendous resource,” Hazelton said. “We’ve partnered with them and have accessed their facility before. We actually moved our kindergarten soccer program inside the facility a week ago because it was raining outside.” Hazelton said the facility also helps the economy of Gorham. “It’s a regional complex,” Hazelton said. “People outside of Gorham use the facility as well, so they can stop by our restaurants and shop at our stores.” Hazelton said all Gorham residents, and residents of towns surrounding the area will be able to access the facility in some capacity. “Our theory is, 16,000 people live in the town, and there’s a place for all of them,” Hazelton said. “The only question is, how does everyone get a slice out of that pie?” Hazelton praised Southern Maine Community Recreation Center for their efforts with the YourSpace building. “The fact that a community non-profit group got behind it is a statement to the people involved,” Hazleton said.