The Clue Train
...left the station an hour ago, and some folks are still in line at the ticket window.
A consulting firm from Texas now says the Washington Theater project should take $11.1 million, not a mere $8.4 million. Oh well then, let me check under my couch cushions. And the "solution" to the theater's problems involves buying out an existing business on the square, one that is actually making money and drawing people downtown.
The Oakley-Lindsay Center's Finance Committee chairman tells the Convention & Visitors Bureau that if they need money so bad, they should just go out and raise it like everyone else and not just "wait for the government checks"....the way the Oakley-Lindsay Center does. The paper on the history of the hotel-motel tax put together by the chairman, which he apparently thinks buttresses his opinion, actually shows how the hotel-motel tax has been gradually perverted over the years from being specifically dedicated to promote overnight nonresident tourism to being essentially an OLC subsidy. I can see the logic of using tax dollars to promote the city and draw in out-of-town visitors. I cannot see the logic of using tax dollars to prop up a convention center that cannot pay for itself.
A consulting firm from Texas now says the Washington Theater project should take $11.1 million, not a mere $8.4 million. Oh well then, let me check under my couch cushions. And the "solution" to the theater's problems involves buying out an existing business on the square, one that is actually making money and drawing people downtown.
The Oakley-Lindsay Center's Finance Committee chairman tells the Convention & Visitors Bureau that if they need money so bad, they should just go out and raise it like everyone else and not just "wait for the government checks"....the way the Oakley-Lindsay Center does. The paper on the history of the hotel-motel tax put together by the chairman, which he apparently thinks buttresses his opinion, actually shows how the hotel-motel tax has been gradually perverted over the years from being specifically dedicated to promote overnight nonresident tourism to being essentially an OLC subsidy. I can see the logic of using tax dollars to promote the city and draw in out-of-town visitors. I cannot see the logic of using tax dollars to prop up a convention center that cannot pay for itself.
posted by Allthenewsthatfits at 8:41 AM
14 Comments:
Give Rob a chance . It is the FIRST time that place had a person who has a can do get errrrrrrrr done ability .
One thing I think must be done is to revisit the ordinance and rewrite it for two things: number one, to specify that X% is to go to OLC and X% to CAVB, exactly and no arguments--and perhaps with a mandate to check the percentages and redistribute every 5 years or so. Two, for pete's sake cut two checks from the city--one for each agency. Don't leave one at the mercy of the other.
And tell them both "you guys need to cooperate on this tourism thing and if you don't we'll just cut the funding altogether."
I was actually glad to see the recommendations on the Washington Theater project. This is a project that could actually draw people downtown and into town for high-quality events, but only if it's done right. Why waste our time for a project that we're going to half-ass? I applaud the city or the commission for hiring consultants specializing in these projects and telling us the truth of the situation, even if it's difficult to swallow.
Regarding the business next door, the building is currently underutilized, and I bet the new proposal would call for additional uses on the upper floors. It would also provide a spot for the Lincoln center, which would surely be a draw for out-of-town visitors. There are plenty of other spots they could find for their bar - although it seems somebody should have talked to them before this story came out...
WE have a 5 to600 seat theater at the convention center, a 2200 seat one at 14th & Maine, a 1500 seat one at 30th & Maine and another 600 seat one at Highschool not to mention a 2000 seat room at The Crossing. Can anyone tell me why the community needs to spend 11 million on the Washington?
Ever checked out the rental prices just to use those places for one performance?
To say that they are ridiculous and way out of line for public venues (except fpr the Crossing where you wouldn't be allowed to do certain things) is putting it mildly.
Plus they all get quite a bit of use. I know the QCT has almost no space available for the next 12-18 months. HS is always needed for HS stuff. JHS is too big for most everything, so is Baldwin.
An 800 to 1000 seat multiple-use theater space is a good fit for the area, whether you want to believe it or not. It would be REALLY nice for example to go to a symphony concert where every seat was filled, rather than going to the junior high and sitting in a half-empty auditorium. Believe me that takes a toll on performers. Plus the JHS is the worst offender in the "way overpriced" rental market.
I generally find those who bitch the most about "we don't need another theater!" are people who rarely if ever utilize those theaters we do have--and thus are essentially clueless about the need.
You may not be one of those, but it's been my experience most gripers are.
And thats all before we even get into the whole notion of "the spaces available there can be used for a whole lot more than just theatrical and music performances."
"It would be REALLY nice for example to go to a symphony concert where every seat was filled, rather than going to the junior high and sitting in a half-empty auditorium. Believe me that takes a toll on performers."
Yeah, that's worth $11 million.
It's a worthy investment, with various events would bring overnight visitors to the downtown hotels
gosh, got to have somebody who can get to tourists here to look at our gravel parking lots!
If there is such a need in Quincy for a venue like the Washington Theater why isn't there a rush of investors to jump on it?? why don't all those supporters cough up some capital for developement. Nothing warms my heart better than to see the tax and spend people put up their own money. I'll be waiting.........
You people are forgetting the Kroc Center, which will supposedly have an auditorium just a couple of blocks from the Washington Theater.
PLus...who's going to come and stay overnight in Quincy for an event at the Washington? What can possibly be held there that can't be held somewhere else???
ATNTFOB,
Where are your thoughts on this plagiarism allegation against the Whig?
You mean those allegations that 98% of the city don't know about and don't care because it's really a non story?
3:42
The "It's a non-story because we say so" play was very predictable.
If this is the beginning of the Whig's attempt at underground spin, you might want to ask for a restart.
3:42
I just looked at the Whig web site.
Your top two stories are "Happy Birthday, Quincy Mall" and "Relay for Life Kickoff." The Relay for Life is three months away, btw.
You think more people care about those stories than the question of if our local paper plagiarizes?
Why don't you ask that question instead of the lame-ass topics you usually have on your polls?
I'm betting you wouldn't like the answer.
Post a Comment
<< Home