Despite reports that construction of an NHL Skate
complex in Barnstable, MA, "may have hit a snag," local
attorney Patrick Butler, who "represented the NHL in the
permitting process," informed city councilors last week that
the NHL "was looking at two pieces of land they can provide
as permanent open spaces in return for building the rink,"
according to Mark Merchant of the CAPE COD TIMES. A "common
requirement of the Cape Cod Commission in approving projects
the size of this is that conservation land be offered by the
builder in return." The NHL "first proposed putting up a
twin rink facility" in Barnstable, but over the summer,
Family Ice, "which would do the actual construction and
operation of the rink for NHL Skate, decided to reassess its
position." Butler, after meeting with Family Ice, said the
company "had not made any decision not to do this project."
Butler added that there was "also talk about downsizing the"
$9M-plus rink from its current 500-seat capacity. Further
evaluation of the plan is needed because Family Ice "changed
the way it planned to finance the rink" over the summer,
opting for a non-profit status to "take advantage of tax
exempt bonds." Butler hopes to learn of the NHL's final
decision by the end of the year (CAPE COD TIMES, 11/19).
