Offers Roll In For Tennis Stadium

Between seven and 10 potential suitors have lined up to take a crack at the Forest Hills stadium, either to save and restore it or turn it into something new, the president said in an interview. Just what is most likely to happen at the site, however, is still anyone's guess.

Ken Parker, president of the West Side Tennis Club, said that while the process is still in its somewhat early stages, there is definitely continued interest from buyers in the club's tennis stadium.

"We're going to see who's really qualified to make a proposal and then we'll go over and see what those proposals are once we get them," Parker said.

 The possible sale of the stadium, which the club is considering as an alternative to raising member fees, has been a sticking point for the membership. Members last month not to sell the stadium to local developer as part of a deal to create condominiums at the site. Parker said that Cord Meyer has not changed its proposal from the one that was put forth in August 2010 and rejected by members in October. That proposal was for between $8.1 and $9.36 million.

In the days since the vote, some locals, including historians and others, have advocated for the of the stadium, a process that's likely to be even slower and more protracted than its attempted sale — and much less lucrative.

Parker made it clear that the club's board didn't have any plans on turning the stadium into a charity case, saying that they wouldn't spend any time discussing fundraising efforts to restore the aging structure.

"We're not interested in getting involved in a fundraiser for them to raise capital," Parker said. "They have to be in a position to come across with some viable ideas and the financing behind it."

Parker denied that there was an official deadline of Nov. 15 for potential buyers to come forward, saying the date was only meant to indicate a starting point for a renewed request for proposal process.

He said that the board is deliberately treading very carefully on the issue.

"We're proceeding through this in a steady fashion, and we're going to do it the proper way," he said. "There is no timeframe on this, it's not like this has got to be done by the second of January. … We're going to see who's interested, what their interest consists of and then we'll go ahead and make a decision whether or not any of these are viable projects."