City Promotes New Years Event as Last :: fictional news article

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SOUTHSTAR GLEN:: SouthStar Daily Times
 Promotions for the New years Eve Bash event at the SouthStar Peace Terrace campus have drawn attention of citizens and others outside of our city as the adverts note the event will be the last of it's kind after this year. 

Six months of city and state debate ended Friday as the city reached agreements for future development within currently held lands owned by Greer Properties LLC., to whom the city's contract ends in 2020. The city's contract to gain income and host events on the former Glen Garden's land, which was purchased from the city under a very unusual contract allowing the city options to gain income without the cost of campus maintenance or event overhead, went under fire in June of 2018 as the city noted a decline in attendance to it's shows and less event's booked.  While the city still profits from the deal - it was suggested there was better use for parts of the campus which the city wished to buyback for development.  Such matters required all parties and the State of Arkansas to hammer out details and restrictions. 

On November 2nd, 2018; Greer Properties LLC agreed to the sale of the full Lakefront section of the campus  for a reduced $1.2 Million and a contract revision to update the ownership lines.  Greer Properties expressed in a returned email that there were many stipulations to the sale including the operation til the end of the year of the lakefront area as well as items which would return to the seller upon disassembly of the stage rigging.


This sale of course predated the city mayor elections in which Mayor Elect Susan Anderson's 3 year seat was taken by her opponent Ray Silverson.  Mr. Silverson's campaign ran on the heels of his affiliation with a more Socialist government style and had hopes of adding more green space and to start luring in green economy into the city.    The land deal was completed as a city hold lot until Silverson's proposal in late November for a green space retail and commerce development within the campus lot. 

The plans now passed thru Arkansas state boards and with the EPA received a nomination for Platinum Level LEED Status once completed.  Utilizing green space, living roof designs, and natural systems for light, HVAC systems, and Water are top on the list for what is being called a "Intensely Elaborate and Ambitious Project" by local officials.  The cost of the Project is budgeted at $1.9 Million as Bids are currently being received from across the state. 

The New Years Eve event will top off the final event within the Lakefront area with music from viral acts such as K/DA, Papa Roach, The Birthday Massacre, and more with Deadly Kosen's frontwoman Bethany Vixette overseeing the event.  The event has been pushed as a 4-day long event of local and big name bands, rides, attractions, flea markets, and a Countdown fireworks show put on by Johnny Bam Productions. 

Once the event finishes and crowds have subsided; city crew's will be locking off the grounds until work begins to dismantle stage equipment and begin grading the area.  Greer Properties LLC will be responsible for the tear down of the area and initial grading work per the city's plans before the city's hired companies will take over. When asked about her views on the steps the city was taking; the owner of Greer Properties, Jag Greer, stated it was unexpected yet sees it as a positive forward step expressing a desire to see more Green and LEED based influence within the city. 

The SSPT campus will close January 2nd to allow crews full access to the lot and will reopen the Botanical Gardens and Annex buildings by the start of February 2019.  Greer stated that her company had expressed a desire to take the LEED step with the city and told us that her company is investing $788,000 in the renovation of the Annex Hall with greenscape roofing and off-grid power systems which would be able to still handle the large power draws the building has during concert events with the vast lighting systems they use. 

"If I could make the thing {sic} breath I would" said Greer in talking to us. "Everything I have seen and done up to this point never had a eye to the environment and many promotions don't think of the impact we really have on our world" she added noting she is also looking into new vendors for paper products which will be used on campus during the events.  The Greer company also has issued a press release earlier this year stating the return naming of the campus to "Glen Gardens Campus" by next year due to the changes in campus space. 

New years Eve Bash tickets are for sale currently at the SSPT Ticket Office, At the Gates from December 29th - 31st, and at most SuperSavr Stores. Tickets cost $15 a day or $50 for the full event pass. VPTA trains will stop at the SSPT campus side track station all days during the event prior to the SouthStar Red Line closing for evaluation.