What’s remaining of Cooper Stadium’s grandstand sat bleakly under a heavy gray sky last week. Large boards have replaced many of the picture windows in the suites that line the top of the grandstand. Tall weeds sprout from the field where outfielders once roamed.

It’s been five years since plans were announced that the former home of the Columbus Clippers would be transformed into a racetrack and automotive research center. Since then, though, nothing.

And that’s vexing to area leaders and residents hoping the area would blossom with jobs and a new life as the Sports Pavilion and Automotive Research Center (SPARC).

“It’s in very, very sad shape and it looks worse every day,” said Trent Smith, executive director of the Franklinton Board of Trade, a group of Franklinton businesses. Smith said he has tried to contact Arshot Investment about development plans for what was to be a $40 million project, but Arshot’s Bill Schottenstein has not returned calls.

“They have not gotten back to me to answer questions about the process, if it’s a dead deal,” Smith said. “We’re waiting for something to happen.”

“People in the neighborhood are very frustrated.”

Schottenstein did not return calls to The Dispatch, either. A reporter visited Arshot's offices last week and was told that Schottenstein was in a meeting.

Longtime resident Bruce Warner, a Franklinton area commissioner, opposed the project. He wanted the Clippers to remain in the area instead of moving Downtown. Now, he wonders whether anything will replace them at the site. He hasn’t talked to Schottenstein, either.

“I didn’t believe him. Never did believe him. I know I was right,” Warner said. “I wouldn’t trust him as far as I can throw an elephant.”

In January 2016, Franklin County Commissioner John O’Grady said he had met with project developers who told him then things were moving along and there would be a lot more activity in 2016.

That didn’t happen. O’Grady said last week that he had not talked to Schottenstein in awhile. “I’m not sure where things are. We’ll certainly check into it,” O’Grady said.

“It’s certainly an important and key place, and part of the community," he said. “I’m interested in seeing SPARC get its funding and developed.” Franklin County used to own the Cooper Stadium site.

Schottenstein, a principal with Arshot, signed a contract to buy the stadium from the county for $3.3 million in 2008.

The Clippers left for Huntington Park in 2009. The 47-acre site was annexed to Columbus; the City Council voted to rezone it for the half-mile racetrack in 2011. In 2012, the council approved a 10-year, 75 percent tax abatement for the project.

Most of the stadium was demolished in 2014. Plans for the track called for seating for 8,500, with an adjacent automotive research and technology building.

And as part of its Smart Cities application, Columbus said it planned on using the track to test driverless vehicles.

Stefanie Coe, who leads the Southwest Area Commission — the site is within the commission’s boundaries — reached out to Schottenstein’s office to set up a meeting. “Obviously, the longer time passes, the more concerned we are,” Coe said. “If it’s not that project, what?”

Charles Foster, who’s owned Charley’s bar on nearby Sullivant Avenue for 34 years, hoped he might get some extra business with a redeveloped Cooper Stadium site, maybe even an increase in property values.

“It’s sat empty for five years. It’s stupid,” Foster said of the Cooper Stadium site.

“The racetrack idea. That all fell apart. If you’re not doing anything, say you’re not going to do anything and forget about it. It’s just a waste, all that land over there.”

mferench@dispatch.com

@MarkFerenchik