America's Best Inn and Suites

CLARKSVILLE, Ind. (WDRB) -- The former site of America's Best Inn and Suites in Clarksville could soon transform into a new sports complex.

Clarksville's Redevelopment Commission issued a formal request for proposal (RFP), in which town officials would like to include volleyball and basketball courts for youth travel teams. 

"We're excited to have the opportunity to redevelop this site into something that's going to be an asset for the community going forward," said Dylan Fisher, redevelopment director for the Town of Clarksville.

The RFP specifically states the building has to use materials that "fit in" to the surrounding area, Fisher said.

The property is the "gateway" to Clarksville, the first thing visitors see when they enter the won off I-65. 

"The redevelopment commission decided we wanted to lease this property and hold on it, so that way this entrance to our community could be regulated moving forward to make certain it's always an attractive intersection and an attractive entry point to our community," Fisher said.

Fisher said the redevelopment commission decided on a sports complex because it would drive tourism, and the town would benefit from the operators lease, something it couldn't do if it sold the land to become a hotel. 

"When you're leasing the land, you excluded a number of users and types of users," Fisher said. "Hotel operators really can't work on a leased land scenario, nor can office users."

The motel was sold to the redevelopment commission in June, and about 100 people were forced to leave. 

The plan is to demolish the motel in November. Town officials hope to have a developer by January, and construction is scheduled to start in the spring. 

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