It might be worth 50 cents to read.....
A story that interviews the directors of the YMCA, QU gym, John Wood gym/rec center, CYO gym, Washington Theatre, Oakley-Lindsay Center, and other similar facilities in the area about how having a 500-pound gorilla (excuse me, $40 million Salvation Army community center) in town is going to affect their attendance and programming. "Among the planned features are a worship center, an indoor ice arena, a climbing wall, an aquatic area, performing and fine arts center, a gymnasium, a fitness center, a child care facility, a teen center, a youth fitness arcade and classrooms," says the Whig.
The Kroc donation is an amazing thing. But as the OLC's recent history suggests, Quincy may already be overbuilt with large public spaces. I would expect a couple of facilities to go the way of the YWCA and eliminate or severely cut back some of their programs because of simple economics.
The Kroc donation is an amazing thing. But as the OLC's recent history suggests, Quincy may already be overbuilt with large public spaces. I would expect a couple of facilities to go the way of the YWCA and eliminate or severely cut back some of their programs because of simple economics.
posted by Allthenewsthatfits at 6:48 AM
8 Comments:
I don't think Quincy is "overbuilt" for a quality venue that doesn't cost an arm and a leg to rent (which most of those you cited do).
The Y, QU, and JWCC's centers are not really "open to the public" per se. You have to "join" or be a student or have some association (in the case of the schools). The Y is not exactly cheap, either.
The CYO Gym already has issues because of the loss of all the JWCC activities--but at that it wasn't being used the way the Kroc Center is likely to be used.
The OLC will never have a real problem since it is the only place in town really suited for big events. Of course that assumes that new management really makes an effort to drum up appropriate business.
Among the things mentioned in the HW article, we have no ice arena, no publically accessible fitness center or climbing wall (gotta "belong"), no real teen center to speak of, and we can always use more child care.
The aquatic center is interesting--it depends on what it includes, but I daresay that during the majority of the year it won't be a contributor to "overbuilding". Just during the summer.
The gym and the theater/arts complex are perhaps the most likely to have real competition--but then as I noted, the places which are available want too much "rent". I think the addition of more space will simply require those other spaces to cut costs and lower prices to attract groups, but it won't put any of them out of business. We have a plethora of activities in this community, and I think they'll expand to use the space available.
I agree that the Washington Theatre project may well go by the boards though--and more's the pity. It's a gorgeous theater. :( Wish they could use it as part of the Kroc Center.
Also I'd have to say that the fact that the KC will come into existence with a 30-million dollar endowment insulates it pretty well from many of the vagaries of the "market". That is more likely to have an effect on other entities than the center itself, I think.
Given the considerable girth of a lot of Quincy residents I think the last thing we should be concerned about is having too many fitness centers...
Well said, 308.
I'm not as optimistic at the ability of other local facilities to cut costs and lower prices.....although I guess one could describe closing or drastically reducing their programs as cutting costs.
The Oakley Lindsay Center's revenue problems, in my view, stem from its being an overbuilt white elephant attached to a fairly nice community theater. If it weren't for the relentless free publicity and event scheduling provided for the OLC by the Whig/WGEM machinery, its revenue would be even worse.
A lot will depend on how the Kroc Center decides to price itself for use of its facilities, of course. But I'll go ahead and predict that at least one large facility in town will close or drastically reduce its operations within two years of the Kroc Center's opening.
I don't have any particular emotional attachment to any of the organizations identified here (although I will admit that I'd hate to see the aquatic center on North Eighth suffer, as I expect it will), so I don't view this likelihood with either dismay or anticipation....I just think it will happen.
For my part, I don't know about "overbuilt" but I know that all major changes to a city's footprint have serious and unintended consequences. Beyond the economic impacts you noted, I wonder what those consequences will be. Parking problems? More Homeless lighting here? Diversion from Wash. theatre? Complacency in community outreach among local churches? More inadvertant urban renewal/dislocation such as happened witht he OLC? It'll be interesting to watch.
You can cut the negativity in here with a knife.
Why so negative about what is a huge blessing for the city and the region?
Just making predictions and observations. I think it's a fine thing to have this new community center coming to Quincy....but as UMR points out, every new thing has its consequences, some foreseen and some unforeseen. Overall, I'd say Quincy possesses more Pollyanna-ish "Life Is Good" sentiment than negativity. An excess of either can be harmful.
Certainly, I don't mean to look this wonderful gift horse in the mouth but, undeniably, it'll change the footprint of downtown and the recreational economy in Quincy.
Will some things happen at what will inevitably be dubbed "The Crock" that could have been held at the upgraded Washington Theater? I think that is inevitable. Will this deter the progress being made in saving the Washington Theater? Perhaps. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Beats me but it kind of depends on what one's starting point is relative to the Washington Theater.
Will this facility create a new market in sports apparel and equipment? Sure it will. Somebody is going to sell a whole new magnitude of ice skating gear. Will that be a value-added shop or Wal-Mart? Beats me.
Because the facility will be such an attaction, will it create new and different crime control problems in this vicinity? Probably so. Will it impact County and Health Department parking? Hard to see that it won't.
Will it, like the Boys and Girls Clubs of America facilities, play a role in keeping some at risk kids from making bad life choices? Bet it does.
Wonderful Gift? You bet. Are we better off thinking in advance about possible downsides it may spin off? I think that's always the case.
The examination of these questions is value-free, at least on my part. Same thing as Sam's and Best Buy coming to town. It's legitimate to ask if the appliance/gizmo market can support the venors already here and these two giants, as well. Same thing here. Just because it's a gift doesn't make it heresy to view its impact on the community.
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