Abandoned Building Torn Down to Make Way for Mountain View Field House

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Yesterday, the Municipality of Anchorage Code Abatement Department demolished a vacant and abandoned building across from Lions Park to make way for a new indoor baseball field house in Mountain View.

With the goal of better serving the neighbors living near vacant or abandoned properties in disrepair, the Municipality has been working with property owners to demolish nuisance buildings so the properties can be developed for more positive uses. With funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and other sources, the Municipality's Development Services has been working to tear down 10 of the most troublesome abandoned houses to create new opportunities in existing neighborhoods. The funding for this particular project was pieced together through a combination of bank fines on the property and a donation of the land by the lending institution to the baseball group.

"For about $20,000 in municipal funds, we addressed a major neighborhood concern, demolished a failing structure, and put the property in the hands of someone who will not only maintain it, but provide a tremendous resource to the kids in the neighborhood," said Chief Municipal Inspector Scott Campbell.

From left to right: Assembly Member George Martinez, RBI Alaska founder Jamar Hill, Assembly Chair Christopher Constant, and Chief Municipal Inspector Scott Campbell. ​

Assembly Member George Martinez added, "Lions Park is a huge asset to the Mountain View community, but it has been neglected for the past few years. I'm excited to see this investment by the Municipality to make the park safer and more enjoyable to use, and I thank Scott Campbell and everyone who worked to put this deal together."

Developed by Gamers Baseball Alaska / RBI Alaska, the Mountain View Field House will be a year-round community center across the street from Lions Park that will provide recreational sports activities for Mountain View residents. The project was one of hundreds of community projects funded by the Anchorage Assembly using federal COVID relief funds in 2022 that are now breaking ground or opening for operations two years later.

"This project has been in the making for 5 years," said Jamar Hill, former MLB player and founder of RBI Alaska. "Some of the dilemmas we faced were dealing with squatters and drug activity, which caused us to question if this was a safe area to direct kids. We are blessed to be able to have the support of the Municipality of Anchorage to acquire this lot, demo it, and eventually, it will allow us to expand this project and ultimately make a positive impact in the Mountain View community by giving kids a safe place for recreational activities year-round, with our indoor and outdoor facilities."

"It's been two years since the Assembly invested $51 million in federal relief funding into community projects, and across the city, from Chugiak to Girdwood, we are seeing the positive results of those investments," said Assembly Chair Christopher Constant. "We often talk about the Project 80s investments, but I think the ARPA projects will have an even greater impact on our community, especially in neighborhoods historically underserved by public investment. It's great to see the Field House take another step closer to opening their doors to the kids of Mountain View."

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CONTACT

​​Kenny Friendly | Public Involvement Coordinator, MOA Public Works
[email protected]

Christopher Constant | District 1, North Anchorage
[email protected]

George Martinez | District 5, East Anchorage
[email protected]​​