Developers of a proposed 60,000-square-foot indoor youth athletic complex hope buying some city land next to its project will allay traffic concerns of residents near the 104th Street and Milwaukee Avenue project.
It came before the City Council twice Tuesday afternoon – for a second vote on a zoning change and for the sale of three acres of city-owned land. Both were approved on the council’s “consent agenda” without further discussion.
The council approved the zoning change unanimously on June 23, but it requires both a first reading and second reading. The council’s first zoning vote followed the Planning and Zoning Commission’s approval, but on a 5-3 vote. That went against a recommendation from city staff against the project.
The Forge Athletics, under private development by Milwaukee 104 LLC, announced on Facebook the facility is coming in early 2027.
“The Forge will feature six full-sized basketball courts and nine volleyball courts,” a June 6 social media post said.
Last week The Forge released an artist rendering of the inside with a message, “We are working with some amazing people across Lubbock to bring the absolute best to The Forge Athletic Complex! Here is a sneak peek at the inside.”
One of the partners in The Forge, Tyler Gentry, asked for a zoning change. He said the project could have gone without, but Gentry explained to city officials he thought it would make the sports complex better.
Gentry’s company, Seventeen Services, LLC, applied for the zoning change on behalf of the property owner, Milwaukee 104, LLC.
LubbockLights.com left a message for Gentry by phone the day before publishing this story. He has not responded.
The zoning issue
City staff opposed a zoning change for The Forge at both a June 6 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting and a June 23 City Council meeting.
City councilwoman Christy Martinez Garcia – who would later vote in favor of the zoning change – asked Kristen Sager, director of planning, “Kristen, can you please give a little bit more understanding of why staff recommended denial?”
Sager answered, “… All of the access is going to be coming and going from 104th Street right in front of those residences.”
The 15-acre tract for The Forge does not border Milwaukee (for now) but is about 60 feet to the west. That could change as we’ll explain below.
The location was zoned about a year ago as “neighborhood commercial.”
“Neighborhood commercial – we were okay with last year because it is appropriate adjacent to residential. It is smaller-scale retail. That’s typically what you see in Tech Terrace where you have J&B coffee and that small commercial development,” Sager explained to the council.
“The proposed zone change is not compatible with the zoning ordinance and not appropriate at the proposed location,” Sager said.
She cited nearby houses.
Gentry asked for “auto urban commercial” – a less restrictive zone.
“What we’re currently planning is an indoor basketball, volleyball, youth athletic complex. … The height restriction [in neighborhood commercial zoning] is 35 feet. The building – the preliminary plans we’ve got at this point – we’re trying to get to 39 or 40 feet for adequate clearance and screening of rooftop equipment,” Gentry said to the P&Z commission.
“We can work without it. I think it’ll just be a better facility,” Gentry said.
Commissioners approved the change on a 5-3 vote. However, James Bell, P&Z chair, was among the ‘no’ votes.
“I’m going to lean heavily on staff, and I know we see lots of stuff coming in and there’s not many times that the city staff is requesting denial of one. I tend to like to give them credit. … I’m going to listen to that a lot,” Bell said.
One change in the works, one opponent
Milwaukee 104 made an offer to buy 3.27 acres of city-owned property – which would the give The Forge direct access to Milwaukee Avenue. The property was appraised at $360,000 according to official city records. But the offer is just above $100,000.
The city’s entire parcel is in the flood zone according to both city records and the FEMA flood zone map.
P&Z commissioners also made note of the flood zone issue – saying it’s difficult to develop a portion of land north of 104th and Milwaukee because of the floodplain.
An image from The Forge on social media showed the building on the highest part of the property. The parking lot was depicted by a FEMA map as being in the flood hazard area.
Documents related to the city-owned parcel briefly mentioned “cut and fill” – a technique which is intended to improve drainage and reduce the flood risk before construction begins.
Kevin Kenny, a homeowner, had an entirely different concern. He asked the council to vote against the zoning change.
“I am a resident of this area. Our residence is directly north of the proposed change. And I would like, if possible, that we could remain as a neighborhood district instead of an auto urban commercial,” Kenny said.
“It would be more in conformity to the neighborhood. People would be happier with that,” Kenny said.
