The Janesville City Council locks in the Janesville Mall as the site for a proposed indoor sports complex.
They voted 6-to-1 to deem the mall as their preferred location with a property next to the current youth sports complex as an alternative.
Council president Rich Gruber voted against the motion after failing to pass an amendment to provide more direction for the private fundraising for the project.
The finalized location will allow the Janesville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau to prepare a preliminary design for the project and start trying to raise private funding.
The council’s vote also authorized city staff to begin negotiations with the Janesville Mall over where the complex would fit on the property.
The mall is offering the city the former JCPenney location for $1, but the city is also interested in the area in front of the former Sears store, to be more visible on Milton Avenue.
A number of community leaders spoke in favor of the sports complex during the public comment portion of the meeting, including Janesville Performing Arts Center Executive Director Nathan Burkhart, School District of Janesville Superintendent Steve Pophal and Johnson Bank Regional President Larry Squire.
