By Patrick McGroarty
Reporter Staff

News that two separate groups of investors are preparing proposals that would bring minor league baseball to Columbia Point was met this week by a wait-and-see attitude from institutions approached by the hopeful developers.

Boston attorney Alex Bok, president of Boston Baseball Field of Dreams LLC, and a separate group led by Jack Yunits, the former mayor of Brockton, both hope to unveil plans to build a privately financed 6,000 seat minor league baseball stadium on Columbia Point by the end of the summer, most likely on land owned by BC High.

Bok and Yunits are working independently but have shared information as their plans develop. According to Yunits, the ideal situation would be some kind of collaboration between both parties. "It hasn't been a competitive thing. We're really starting to come at it from the same angle," said Yunits.

Bok, meanwhile, said that while uniting behind a single proposal is still a possibility, so is a scenario in which the two could enter a bidding war.

"We're competitors, and we think we would be selected over them," said Bok. "There may be a way for some pieces of their group to work with us. We think we have an outstanding proposal and we're marching straight ahead."

The Columbia Point stadium would be the home field for a franchise team from either the Atlantic League or Canadian-American League. Both are independent leagues, unaffiliated with major league teams. The Atlantic League has seven teams, mostly in the New York area, while the Can-Am League fields teams as nearby as Brockton and Worcester. "We have a commitment from the Canadian-American league to invest in the site and bring a team there," said Yunits. Meanwhile, Bok said his plan includes ongoing discussions with both leagues.

BC High was one of a handful of locations both Bok and Yunits considered for a stadium, which will occupy roughly eight acres. A location near the Calf Pasture pump house was another possibility. Beyond Columbia Point, Moakley Park in South Boston and the Boston University campus were also considered.

"[BC High] is our first choice, but we're not ruling out another location," said Bok. "We haven't had full negotiations with the land owners, though we've talked extensively with BC High."

After the Boston Globe ran an article about the proposed stadium last Thursday, BC High spokesman Justin Holmes wrote in an e-mail to the community that no formal proposal has been received from either developer, and that any future development would only be considered with the support of other institutions and residents on the peninsula.

"At this time, our position is really that we don't have a position. Yes, we've sat down with two groups of investors, but in the absence of a formal proposal, I'm at a loss to discuss the details."

Holmes said the school is always interested in improving its grounds and facilities, and that the possibility of using an on-campus minor league stadium could fit into those plans.

Bok and Yunits have expressed a willingness to share the stadium with both BC High and UMass-Boston's athletic teams, an arrangement they hope might allow them to utilize parking at UMass-Boston.

UMass-Boston spokesman Ed Hayward said that the university had been approached by both groups but was also awaiting a final proposal.

"Any proposal would have to be considered in light of the many needs on our campus," said Hayward. "In addition, at this time, UMass-Boston would not be able to provide any additional parking for this facility."

Bok believes he will need between 1,000 and 1,200 parking spaces to support the stadium, and says he hopes to rely on some combination of UMass-Boston, Sovereign Bank, and the Bayside Expo Center to find the spaces.

Catherine O'Neill, who handles community relations for Corcoran and Jennison, said that she had spoken with Bok about the proposal, and that utilizing some of the parking at the Bayside Expo Center was a definite possibility.

"Anything that makes Columbia Point a destination, how could anyone in Dorchester not think that's interesting?" asked O'Neill.

Bok and Yunits said working with institutions such as BC High and Corcoran and Jennison was only the first phase of a community outreach project that would include extensive input from elected officials and affected residents as the project takes shape.

Civic leaders in the Columbia Savin Hill Civic Association and the Harbor Point Task Force said this week that their familiarity with the project was limited. Bob Donovan, president of the CSHCA, said that his organization would be open to considering the development if community access and parking concerns were adequately addressed.

"It could be positive, but the ramifications of parking and driving to and from the game and game time would be an issues to consider."

State Representative Martin Walsh, who has discussed stadium plans with Bok, said he is enthusiastic about the potential project.

"I know Mr. Bok wants to talk with the community once he talks with BC high and others a bit more," said Walsh. "I think it's a great idea. We're gonna work out the traffic problems and concerns. It's not Fenway Park. We have good infrastructure in that area, and the Red Line."

Bok and Yunits have emphasized that while they believe the stadium will be economically viable, their primary motivation is not to make a financial windfall.

"There's not a lot of money in this, it's for the community," said Yunits. "Minor league baseball is a perfect antidote to the summer doldrums for a working class family. If we can present a plan for a stadium of the quality Boston deserves, then we've got a homerun for the peninsula."