Press Release
Should The Centre and Land be Included in a Hotel Deal?
Evansville, September 19, 2013: Our Group has been watching the latest developments in the downtown hotel saga with riveted interest. We are pleased that as of this writing we have SIX declared “no†votes on the hotel as currently proposed. We wish to thank and congratulate these six council members for their wisdom and good stewardship of taxpayer interests!
However, it has come to our attention that HCW is attempting to change the details of the deal at this, the 11th hour, in an attempt to get a deal of some sort passed. While we admire HCW’s persistence, we feel they are still missing the mark with a 225 room hotel and a $30 million subsidy. We are certain the six declared no’s will agree.
In a related development, County Commissioner Marsha Abell has said in an email to Councilwoman Robinson that the County might mothball the Centre in a reaction to any failure to pass a hotel deal. We feel Commissioner Abell has a point here! The Centre has been absorbing losses as a direct result of the City’s past failure to renovate the Executive Inn as promised. This is why we are increasingly interested in hearing proposals that include giving away both the empty lot and The Centre as an incentive to a qualified prospective developer.
The Centre represents a red albatross on the County rolls. It is time for the City and County to come together on a practical solution that will both mitigate these Centre losses and give the downtown a great chance to attract outside dollars without jeopardizing the City’s ability to leverage other proposed developments like the IU med school. That’s why we support the Council voting down the current deal with HCW and going back to the drawing board with an RFP for a 150 room hotel that includes a gift of the Centre and the adjacent land for a hotel development, but NO SUBSIDY.
https://www.facebook.com/EvansvilleSaysNo
Brad, I appreciate the intensity and I do think that the idea is worth investigating but I certainly don’t think there is enough evidence to say the Centre should be sold at this time. If you don’t mind I have a few ?s…
1. None of those squawking the loudest about the centre bleeding the innkeepers tax revenues have made any attempt to oppose the $14-15 mil ball field complex being constructed at Goebel using these same funds. What good does it do to kick the Centre off the Innkeepers funding at $800,000 if it’s just going to be placed in another porject that is in the wrong location and way over priced?
2. Shouldn’t we investigate first why the Centre is losing money. I mean, is it the theater part losing the most of meeting rooms. Remember, Sandie Aaron took over Roberts Stadium in 1994 and turned it from a money loser into a money maker. Shouldn’t we at least see if changes can be made?
3. The Centre hosts many government meetings. 2 of the 3 Roberts Stadium Task Force meetings (which as you know was a complete waste of time) were held there. If it’s privatized and the owner rents it back to the city and county for things like that, aren’t we back in the same position?
4. Why would HCW want to take on a losing venture?
5. Do you think the city should explore maybe downsizing it a little by converting some of it into offices from the civic center (which would then be overhauled to reconnect main) to kill two birds with one stone instead of giving the whole kitchen sink away?
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