d_Random
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Posts posted by d_Random
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Well to be accurate, Vaughan is an independent and Robbie Perkins is a Republican, both of whom voted for it. But Robbie is on our side the overwhelming majority of the time. It goes to show that all those who were cheering a new, more conservative council might not get what they bargained for over the next two years.
The other proposal for a bond didn't make a damn bit of since anyway, since the council members floating the idea are the ones that always harp about lowering taxes. Maybe they didn't understand where the hotel/motel tax money comes from.
Let the construction begin.
"But Robbie is on our side...". You must be a developer then beyonce245, because Robbie Perkins is the developer's best friend (Remember that Project Homestead debockle?) on the city council.
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I dont want to turn this into a liberal vs conservative thread but some good points were brought up. If you look at most of the large and prosperous cities, most are liberal and use more liberal methods in growing the local economy. They are progressive communities. Many of the more conservative towns are typically small, resistant to change. Some have dried up and jobs have moved away. This is why I have a problem with the conservative mentality on city council. My bet is that if city council were 100% conservative, the Swim Center would have died a long time. It wouldn't have even made it to the ballot. Maybe there was an issue with how the swim center was pushed through. But all in all I think most of the community supports this project. We are in tough times and anything that brings economic growth to our community is welcome.
This isn't a liberal vs conservative argument for me. I'm as liberal as they come, but I know a turkey when I see one and this $20 million hole in the ground is it!
And I'm sorry, but this "aquatics center" does not have the major support of the community. Do you think for a minute that if it was voted on again for the missing $8 million it's gonna pass? No way in hell. And Robbie Perkins doesn't think so either.
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I am for the swim center just as I have always been for the coliseum however the methods which were used to get this swim center were not clear and honest. Attaching it to the parks and rec bond was sketchy but then when you find out the true cost to be 6 million higher than the voted bond people have a right to be angry. This was a slick political maneuver to get it built. 'Let's slide it in a P&R bond at $10 million to give it the best chance to pass then we'll pick up the rest of the tab outside voter approval. From my seat that is how it went down.
I agree with you Beany. They did not do this in an honest way. And the way the old council voted on this pool as a parting shot to screw the tax payers was beneath contempt.
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Add to the fact that the public approved the bonds for the swim center and the remaining portion of it will be paid with a hotel/motel tax. blocking the swim center is going against the will of the people. The council members opposed to it really are trying to stop this, but I think they are trying to send a message to existing council members and score political points with their constituents and say look im fighting for you. Its all politics. Its unfortunate that we have council member playing politics. Also delaying this is costing city taxpayers so it really is hypocritical of these so called physical conservative council members. They know its a done deal so why drag this out? The council is more politically divided than ever. That was confirmed when Danny Thompson said to the media "We Won". What a way to start out on a clean slate. jeez. City Council is suppose to be non-partisan board and it seems that all started changed when former Guilford County commissioners were elected to city-council. Thats when all the bitter fighting started.
Cityboi-
Actually I think the citizens were duped into voting for this swim center. If you recall a bond for a swim center FAILED TWICE before being tacked onto the Parks and Recreation bond (which has historically passed). And now we learn that the previous cost projections were way off.
What do you think the chances that a swim center bond would have passed (not tacked to Parks and Recreation bond) with a $20 million price tag in a down economy? ZERO chance!!!!!!!!!
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d_Random, I certainly welcome your comments, but could you at least try to add to the dialogue. I'm interested to hear about your apparent opposition to the swim center. But your little quips so far have failed to shed light on why your opposed to this project.
For those of us that prefer more constructive discussion, here's a memo from the assistant city manager about possible funding sources to close the swim center shortfall. The city council is expected to discuss it at tonight's meeting. So perhaps we'll learn more tomorrow.
I am unhappy with the swim center because I thought the way that it got passed was very underhanded.
I the swim center FAILED twice previously to be passed and then it was tacked on to the Parks and Recreations
bond (which historically has been viewed favorably by the public). It was a shell game.
This swim center will NOT benefit most people of greensboro, only the well-to-do families that have kids
on swim teams.
Now we learn that the previous price tag for the center is well below the actual price to build the center.
And there are no studies provided by anyone that indicate that will recoup the price of this hole in the ground.
The whole thing seems rushed and poorly planned.
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I really hope the swim center mess gets cleared up. This could work wonders for the local economy if utilized properly.
It will get cleared up, the tax payers will pay the difference!
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here is a video presentation by coliseum director Matt Brown.
The Matt Brown shake down continues! Greensboro swim center still needs millions!
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Can you point me to where I can find those numbers online? That figure seems high.
I found the information on the Bill Knight web site.
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I know you said in your own opinion, but at least be informed. The Greensboro Coliseum IS the largest indoor arena in NC. But beyond sheer size, the complex offers several facilities in one location which enables it to host events like the ACC Tournament and Figure Skating Championship so well. It hosts on average, about 850 events annually, and generates about $100 million in economic impact annually. And that impact is bound to only grow larger when other facilities like the Swim Center open. So while city taxpayers contribute $800,000 to it's annual operation budget, the impact to small businesses, hotels, and restaurants all across the region justifies the expense. IMHO
Bottomline: It loses money! Its cumulative operating losses since the early nineties approach $30 million dollars.
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I'm having a hard time visualizing the location and final design from this picture alone. Hopefully the N&R will have a follow up article with design pics, etc. But it certainly is an interesting addition to the coliseum complex.
BTW, today is the Coliseum's 50th anniversary.
IMHO the Coliseum is a money pit. It's never going to be able to compete with larger coliseums in N.C. no matter how much money we pour into it.
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HA!
There is nothing 'grand' about SEARS. Unless you are shopping for old lady nightgowns, boy's Toughskin pants or Jolaps (aka bobos) shoes.I think if anything should happen, logically Sears would leave Friendly Center and then move into the current Super K-mart and turn it into a "Sears Grand" store. That's my prediction (which I seem to be good at predicting haha)! -
I didn't know that SEARS owned the building & parking lot. I think that if starmount corp. wants to get rid of them they can. I know that they pushed out the terrace theatre, I believe they owned the building also.
Sears isn't quite dead at Friendly Center. It still does decent business. I think as long as there's a Sears chain, there will be a Sears there or somewhere nearby.I also don't think Nordstrom is ready for Greensboro yet. I'd like to see one come to Friendly, and they probably will eventually, but I think that'll be a few years out. They've got a full opening schecdule through 2010, and it's gong to be hard to get rid of Sears, since they own their building and parking lot.
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I wonder how long SEARS has before Starmount Corp. terminates their lease?
That is a huge piece of real estate right between the new and old section on Friendly center and SEARS
has been a ghost town for the last 15 years.
There is nothing 'grand' about SEARS. Unless you are shopping for old lady nightgowns, boy's Toughskin pants or Jolaps (aka bobos) shoes.
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Greensboro Coliseum Complex thread
in The NC Triad
Posted · Edited by d_Random
I wish it was that easy. The hotel-motel tax is not available until 2011. The city will have to borrow the money AND pay interest until that money becomes available. Due to the crappy economy the city has had to cover $250,000 in payments the hotel-motel tax was supposed to cover, and the projection is the hotel-motel tax fund will come up $140,000 short in the future. Get read to open up your pocketbook Greensboro!