History and Impetus

 Ultiplex: Project History & Impetus

There are a finite number of athletic fields available for use in the Triangle, and all of them belong to someone other than us. So, while we have every right to ask for fields from local P&Rs, schools, and athletic associations, we often get treated like second- class citizens, receiving leftovers while soccer and youth programs get first dibs on fields. Costs are also a significant factor, although we continue to pay what we need to pay in order to run our leagues and tourneys.

But even as we try to grow, we find that the field situation seems to grow just slightly WORSE with each passing year, and the options seem increasingly LESS desirable. Even with a new soccer complex opened in Efland, it is located at the far edge of our physical community, making it a poor site to serve everyone. Womble Park in Holly Springs once had such a distinction as being a less-than-ideal location, but we've somewhat acclimated to making the drive. So, obviously, with limited field options, we don't have the summer or winter evening leagues that we'd love to host.

What's the solution?

Back in 1993 it became clear to those involved in the running of Winter League that we were going to run into problems if we did not develop our own set of fields. MaryMolly Taylor proposed in the very first issue of the "HomeSpun" newsletter that we needed these fields in order to avoid difficulties with renting, re-scheduling due to bad weather, and for revenue generation. We've come to call this dream of a dedicated set of ultimate fields the "Ultiplex," and it *IS* the answer to the several problems we currently face in terms of enlarging the number of options for play, cost effectively managing the leagues that we have, and for actually generating revenue for TFDA so that we can support and subsidize programs, teams, and individuals.

In 2001, Tom Reid, Chris Roessler, and Christian Schwoerke began to actively work on finding property to build our ultiplex. We wanted to rouse folks in the community, and we began with a campaign to elicit both donations and pledges (over a 5-year period). After looking in Orange, Durham, and Chatham counties, we finally struck what seemed like gold in 2003.

With the help of Christoph and Alton Boshoff, TFDA located a piece of property in northeastern Durham county that was easily accessible to north Raleigh. This property was located on Cheek Rd, near the southern edge of the Falls Neuse watershed. There were 196 acres associated with the property, and it was the scheme of TFDA and the newly formed Cheek LLC that they would buy the property, then resell all but forty acres in the northeastern corner of the lot, which would then serve as the field site for the Ultiplex. In 2004, LLC participants (Christoph Boshoff, Alton Boshoff, Mike Soo, Scotty Soo, Jon and Mel Proctor, and Garrett Dyer) purchased the land with every confidence that this venture would be profitable for all concerned.

Unfortunately, when the bottom fell out of the real estate and land market, home buying and building sales plummeted in 2005. Efforts over the next two years to resell the land to developers and individuals came to nothing. Even appealing to local ultimate players with the prospect of an ultimate community (with lots of open space, and the Ultiplex adjacent) did not generate enough commitments. The land, however, was optioned by a group in 2008 that to this day (February 2011) still has not made a final purchase.

In 2006, with land in hand, and the prospect of imminent development - which would mean garnering loans for construction and purchase - TFDA's very lax governance was brought in line with its articles of incorporation, and the organization's board was re- instituted to generate more ultimate opportunities for local players, increase the organization's perception as a solvent money-generating entity, and to initiate fundraising as an ongoing activity.

As late as Spring 2008, TFDA was still expecting to be able to use the 40 acres from the Cheek Road property, and the organization cleared enough space at the property to make two fields to hold the Spring League semis and finals games, as well as hosting a Spring Carnival. The Carnival included food, beer, a variety of activities, and an auction, all done with the purpose of increasing the visibility of TFDA's efforts to develop the Ultiplex. However, even with an energizing response from the community, the Cheek Road LLC could not generate any re-sale of the property. As the purchase and development of the 40 acres designated for the Ultiplex was dependent on the sale of at least a large portion of the property, and because the cost estimates for the road leading to the 40 acres were prohibitive, TFDA began to search elsewhere for a new property to become home to the Ultiplex.

In October 2008, TFDA found a 22-acre property in another part of northern Durham county, near Chewning Middle School. The property's two chief selling points were its road-side access and its low cost. TFDA optioned the land and has since worked with a civil engineering firm, Milone and MacBroom, to evaluate the property, to create a master plan for the Ultiplex development, and to help usher the plan through the various legislative boards. A lengthy rezoning case ensued, with two hearings before the Durham County Board of Commissioners in April 2011 and September 2011.  The second hearing saw a 4-0 decision in favor of TFDA's Ultiplex proposals.

Because TFDA invested a considerable portion of its development funds in the Cheek Rd. property over a two-year period from 2004 to 2006 - and awaits, like the LLC, a re-sale of the property to recoup this investment - fundraising efforts, including seeking loans from similar organizations, have increased significantly.

We continue to appeal to those in the Triangle who understand how valuable our game is to us. We cannot proceed in the development of the Ultiplex without you!

Last updated September 21, 2011