Phase One of the concept, as outlined by ABCD President and CEO Steve McKnight in a public presentation, would encompass more than half of the 300-acre site.

“We’re looking at a potential K-12 athletic complex, which we understand is a need in the area,” McKnight said.

Spring Cove Superintendent Betsy Baker confirmed that she and School Board President Brian Gahagan had met with ABCD Corp. and the site owners and given initial information about Phase One.

Baker said that she and Gahagan told the group that they would be open to having more conversations regarding the redevelopment concept.

Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski Some of the buildings at the former Appvion paper mill in Roaring Spring have already had some of its siding removed.

“We definitely need a football field,” Baker said. “That was on the agenda for the feasibility study that we’re starting now.”

The complex would include a track, football and soccer fields, green space and trail connectivity, McKnight said, and would be “a place where folks could come and actively and passively enjoy.”

Phase Two of the concept is the construction of a public amphitheater, McKnight said, citing the lack of an outdoor venue that could “pull a significant amount of people.”

“A mid-Atlantic destination could sit on that site — the site can support it,” McKnight said.

In coming up with the concept, McKnight said that ABCD Corp. and the site owners recognized that reuse of the Appvion site “in a business or bringing in another type of operation in on it” would be “very difficult because of all the site constraints.”

The presented concept would utilize the entire site and its varying terrain, he said, adding that the next steps would be to have stakeholder conversations, perform investigations, “dive a little bit deeper into the scenarios here,” look into market feasibility and identify funding.

During the question and answer session with the public, SafeCo Environmental CEO Anthony Jordan, one of the site owners, said that they wouldn’t know the exact dollar cost of the concept until the plans were finalized.

“Hopefully, it reduces the tax implications for everyone,” said Nate Delaney with Newgate Global Resources, another site owner.

When asked if the proposed concept would bring jobs back to the area, Jordan said “that’s the idea” although wasn’t able to go into detail as the plans were in very early development.

McKnight said that the next at least 18 to 24 months will be focused on demolition, remediation and site preparation and that ABCD Corp. and the owners group would be able to provide updates. However, there was “no firm thinking on the timeline for the concept site,” he said.

Reception of the concept by community members in attendance was largely positive, with Don Myers, who has lived in Roaring Spring for 77 years, saying “it would be wonderful for the youth.”

“I think it’s a great idea,” Myers said. “It’s better than seeing nothing down there.”

Mack Igou said that he hopes something positive comes out of it and that he knows what they’re up against trying to get something in at the Appvion site.

“I’m not sure how they’ll do it, but they’ll find a way,” Igou said.

Ken Nolt said it would be a good opportunity that would give people in the community more things to do.

“The paper mill closing took away a lot of jobs, but we have to make the best of the situation,” Nolt said.

Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor is at 814-946-7458.