Monroe bowling center back on track

Published 10:42 pm Sunday, April 11, 2010

MONROE — A Navy veteran said he’s back on course with his plans to open a bowling alley on N. Kelsey Street.

Ed Fasso met with interim city administrator Gene Brazel on Wednesday to discuss a series of changes in the city that caused the developer to briefly tap the brakes on his project.

“He allayed my concerns,” Fasso said. “We will move forward.”

Fasso, 54, said he intends to go to California in late April to secure $11.4 million in financing for a family fun center called the Monroe Sportzzone.

Earlier this year, Fasso was negotiating with the city to buy about 4.5 acres of land for a 30-lane bowling alley. The facility also may include laser tag, a 70-seat restaurant and bumper cars.

The April 2 firing of Monroe community development director Hiller West had Fasso rethinking his plans, however. West had been Fasso’s main point of contact with the city.

Mayor Robert Zimmerman said a change in leadership in West’s department was needed, and projects such as Fasso’s wouldn’t be delayed.

Still, the dismissal gave Fasso pause, particularly when combined with other challenges facing the city.

Budget cuts have shrunk the size of West’s department, leading Fasso to wonder if his project would move ahead as quickly as originally expected.

Fasso, a retired lieutenant commander with the Navy, sat down with Brazel to talk through the issues.

“He was just concerned that there wasn’t going to be support at the city now that Hiller was gone,” Brazel said. “I assured him that wasn’t the case.”

Fasso said he now wants to be ready to break ground by this summer. He hopes to be open by early 2011.

“Hopefully we can get through this process in an expeditious manner and get this open,” he said.

Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455; arathbun@heraldnet.com.