By: Diane Benjamin
Random thoughts on last night’s meeting:
Congrats to Alderman Lower and Alderman Mwilambwe. They stood up for citizens. Public comment was moved to after the presentation against Lower’s wishes, Mwilambwe forced public comment before the Council “voted” to keep the project alive. Not one speaker supported it. Funny how none of the aldermen used their microphones on the voice vote, according to the paper the vote was 7-1 to proceed. Lower was the lone NO vote.
Where was Alderman Fruin? Evidently showing up to Council meetings is now optional, and citizens don’t have a right to know why the person they elected is absent. It’s becoming a pattern for at least one to be missing from almost every meeting.
The proposal is for 129 rooms, needing at least 69% occupancy. That’s 89 rooms a night.
Mentioned: Giebelhausen is responsible for the website supporting the project
Mentioned: Revenue bonds could be issued – the City not on the hook if revenues don’t materialize. (Then who is?)
Mentioned: If revenue streams don’t materialize, City will be responsible for bond payments.
Mentioned: The revenue produced would be mostly NEW. (Why it would be NEW wasn’t stated.)
Mentioned: The conference center needs two events a week
Mentioned: The underground infrastructure would need to be studied, may drastically increase the cost to the City.
Mentioned: Parking Revenue $500,000 a year.
(Why would anybody pay to park downtown when other hotels have free parking?)
Mentioned: Worst case scenario, we do nothing
Mentioned: Taking property to a higher and better use (is government’s job)
Other thoughts:
The Coliseum had a restaurant that went out business
David Sage forced the presenters to admit there is no proof a hotel would help the Coliseum. Stop saying it would Tari.
There is no proof building a hotel downtown wouldn’t just shift business from one hotel to another and one restaurant to another.
The Coliseum is owned by the City, so it’s Hales/Council/Renner’s fault that it does not meet expectations.
This project is largely private and has a better chance of succeeding because the owners would be risking THEIR money and, to a lessor extent, yours.
That said, the project is “If we build it, they will come”.
“Hope” they come.
“Hope” other hotels aren’t put out of business.
“Hope” conferences are scheduled.
“Hope” people want to eat downtown.
“Hope” this plan works better than the TIF where the Front and Center Building was supposed to be apartments.
“Hope” the drinking millennials inhabiting downtown on the weekends don’t keep people away.
“Hope” the chairs aren’t just being rearranged on the Titanic.
“Hope” nobody notices the land price is a bailout for Huff’s. (Transparency Giebelhausen?)
Giebelhausen: “Hope” Tari gives my son an “A”.
By the aldermanic comments or lack there of, It was very telling where their values are.
“Let’s be clear…there will be no CURRENT tax dollars put into this project.” Consultants?? Formation of TIF district?? Staff time??
Don’t forget Jeff Jurgen’s bill!
The projected financial impact was based on the outdated Hotel Feasibility Study from 2013.
Koos was on WGLT this a.m SAYING that the local hotel occupancy rate is FLAT, but HE sees (crystal ball here) a FUTURE increase in occupancy and a NEED for “future” rooms! NASA sees a future in going to Mars too, just not in the NEAR FUTURE! Has ANYONE called say, 10-20 LOCAL hotels and just ASK them WHAT their daily occupancy rate is? Did ANY consultants/manager/mayor/council do this? Seems that economic RESEARCH is seriously lacking on ALL parts for this “proposed” hotel! And if THEY expect us to believe that we aren’t gonna get stuck with this money sucking vortex, then I believe aliens have a fusion reactor under Miller Park lake run by Elvis.
Koos is trying to justify building more hotels in Normal.
He still has a dead one in north Normal
89 rooms per night, eh? Surprised there’s been no mention of including a casino as part of this downtown hotel project. That’s the only way it might eke out any profit. Otherwise, there’s no draw.
“The underground infrastructure would need to be studied, may drastically increase the cost to the City.” Really opening the can o’ worms here.
Oh, and good luck trying to rehab the Front and Center building – it’s gotta be filled to the rafters with mold, mildew, and dust by now. I could almost swear kudzu was growing up at the top of the 30′ ceiling in the brewpub catty-corner from the Coliseum.
In this economy environment even a casino is a risky bet
At least at a casino, the person is risking their own money not everyone else’s
Seems to me they could go to the Bloomington-normal hotel motel Association I think they have all the occupancy numbers for all the hotels in town but then again they may not want to hear there opinion just as they don’t want to hear anyones opinion that is not somehow on the city payroll
Does the city already own a conference center? Located on Jumer Dr. Parcel Pin 14-26-401-008
Yes. That was built using the East Side TIF more than 20 years ago.
The county website says the Chateau owns it. http://mcleanil.devnetwedge.com/view/RE/1426401008