Love Affair with the Arena Site

I wish I could understand this love affair with the Arena site for the Event Center. The modest neighborhood property values are going to increase if the event center is built out there? Did those property values increase when the Convention Center was built out there? Nothing has increased out there. Really, who cares if hotels expand out there. There still won't be anything out there, just like there is nothing out there now. People who visit this city and stay at a hotel out there will still have drive or be bused to restaurants and shopping attractions elsewhere in the city.

When you make a side by side comparison of the businesses out at the Arena and the businesses in the core of the city, it is clear which area has the most to offer. The people who say the core of this city is dead are downright misinformed and not in tune with the economic reality of this city. The people who continue to support the arena site and say development will follow are blind to past history.

Tear out a long standing park. Build a walkway or skywalk over Russell Avenue to accommodate parking needs. Buy homes to make room for parking lots. These actions don't make sense to me.

I am to the point that almost anywhere but the Arena site is better for an Event Center. This city has so many beautiful areas and we pick the ugliest, most unappealing site in the city to build something that will bring visitors to our city. Sorry, but this site is not putting our best foot forward.

You know what they say about people and love affairs - people in love aren't thinking with their heads but with pure emotion. I want an event center. This city needs an event center. This is probably the most important economic decision the taxpayers are going to make and for something that will impact this city for the next 50 years. I won't support an event center at the arena site just for the sake of having an event center. Do it right or don't do it at all. That's my position and I am not changing my mind.