I guess there is several ways to look at this, so here we go.
This is what we know so far, the city is going to put out an RFP for a Hotel on the Elmwood Golf Course property, the contract deals are not final, but the city is looking at leasing the land and maybe profit sharing with the hotel.
Some questions;
• Why doesn’t the city just sell the property to a potential hotel and stay out of a private/public partnership?
• This is a precedent because the city has never, as I can recall, gotten involved with a partnership with a private lodging business. Why now?
• Our recent track record of providing lodging DT resulted in millions in river landscaping and even more $$$ in property tax cuts. How is the taxpayer going to benefit from this,
• And how much investment will the city make with a private entity that provides lodging?
There are some positives here. The EC task force said that another hotel would have to be in that area to support lodging for the new EC. But why not closer to the EC? And what about David Graham’s empty lot that he has been trying to sell for lodging? The city has harassed him several times when it comes to code enforcement of his property, why not encourage him to build a hotel?
Is the city doing this to prove they have potential prospects when it comes to building more hotels in the area?
While I am all for more hotels in the area, I am a bit leery about us partnering with a private business for lodging. It is not in the taxpayer’s best interest to make sure visitors have a place to stay. Hotels are private enterprises, they should stay that way.
They have to do this so they can show that ANY form of development is taking place. Second – notice how no other hotel has “willingly” built out there? There is a reason for that.
I watch D Smith try and spin this last night on Kelo. The amount of crap that this guy can spew is amazing.
I know for a fact that there are several willing sellers in the area that have never been contacted about selling property to any hotel. Something about this stinks to high heaven……
IF there were any potential to the 23 million dollar roadway to nowhere, bloodsuckers like lloyd would have already sucked up all the land they could.
With several aged properties sitting on Russell across from the EC, wouldn’t it make more sense to encourage center outward growth?
Sorry, I forgot who we dealing with…
Karma hit the nail on the head. City has to keep face and show progress.
This dipshit of a mayor has no idea what the line between private and public is. So all the other hotel owners now have to compete against their own tax dollars. CRIMINAL
Karma on 11.20.13 at 4:38 pm
They have to do this so they can show that ANY form of development is taking place. Second – notice how no other hotel has “willingly†built out there? There is a reason for that.
It’s at the end of a runway?
How are people supposed to sleep with planes taking off and landing?
scott- Planes take off and land from about 6:00 am to 10:30pm. You can get in a good 7 1/2 hours of quiet time.
But I do agree that it may not be the best location for a hotel unless they are looking at the Northwest corner of Western and Russell. Then you are less than 500 yards from the front door of the Events Center. And as close as much of the other lodging.
The city has unfair advantage. Private hotels in the area pay property and lodging tax. The city pays no property tax and charges lodging tax but gets it right back. There’s not only this deal, how bout the airport hotel. There, the private hotelier builds and operates the hotel. They’re cut is but 8% of profit. The city 92%. With an antitrust approach, It’s time for the feds to take a look at this.
Then you are less than 500 yards from the front door of the Events Center.
Would you walk to the EC from there, even if it is that short of a distance, having to cross Western and Russel? I sure wouldn’t.
“Would you walk to the EC from there, even if it is that short of a distance, having to cross Western and Russel?”
Interesting you should mention that because I have been waiting to hear there would be a walk way or two built over Russell/West. Heck, why not make sure it is a cover one while at it?
I have walked miles in NYC, Atlanta, Chicago, MSP, etc. Why would I not walk 500 yards in Sioux Falls? There is a frickin’ stoplight. This is an easy trek.
But I do expect that years into the future you will see overhead pedestrian walkways out there. This is the future of SF entertainment. Deal with it.
I wouldn’t walk to the EC from there because:
(1) It’s incredibly uncomfortable to walk alongside a highway (which Russell is);
(2) I’d have to walk back to the hotel after my show, probably late at night;
(3) If I wanted to go anywhere after the show, I’d have to walk back to my car (at the hotel) and drive there, since there’s no place I’d want to walk to from the EC; and
(4) all the parking at the Arena is free, so why not?
Of course it’s possible to walk to the EC, but I’m pretty sure that almost zero people will actually do it.
The Arena site is stupid. I think we have established that.
If the city partners with a hotel, or not, we will be paying for a 5 to 6 million dollar pedestrian bridge. MARK IT DOWN.
Poly, don’t forget it will be enclosed and climate controlled.
. . . with a pickle ball court at either end.
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