Debate at City Council Remains Heated Over Building Convention Center

[From January 15th publication in the pride]

With a last vote on public financing for a $585 million convention center in downtown Nashville soon approaching, the critical rhetoric by some councilmen is heating up. At the Metro Council meeting on Monday January 11, frequent critic, Councilman Mike Jameson, challenged and attacked the accuracy and authenticity of a report on the feasibility of building the planned center.

Music City Center, as it would be known, will gobble up a large portion of downtown, behind the Nashville Arena, formerly Sommet Center; uprooting a number of businesses already located in that are, including the downtown Greyhound bus station for instance.

In questioning HVS Consulting about the feasibility and economic impact studies that the firm constructed for the council, Jamerson seized on language in the report that was similar to language in reports that HVS had done for other cities regarding building convention centers; in particular a portion that state the city was unique in away that would buffer convention city profitability from economic cycles and downturns.

Jamerson read from HVS reports to Milwaukee, Wisconson; Sante Fe, New.Mexico; Omaha, Nebraska and Columbus, Ohio; that contained almost word for word the same language. Jamerson bristled at HVS representative Tom Hazinski, that “…when you then tell us that Nashville’s different, I go back and look at the language that you’ve given to Nashville, and you’ve given that to so many other cities that are competitors.”

Eric Cantor also had critical questions for the consulting firm, asking Hazinski how many out of approximately 250 studies conducted by HVS have discouraged cities from going forward with building convention centers. Hazinski answered that “I would say slightly over half the projects that we’ve worked on have not proceeded.”

While HVS was being grilled inside, competing sides of the debate rallied outside the Council meeting on the courthouse lawn. Supporters where addressed by Mayor Karl Dean, who once again made his case in favor of publicly funding the convention center, which he says will pay for its self through visitors’ tax revenues.

Another critical issues surrounding the convention center project that could have an impact on voting is the council’s Black Caucus’ issues with the awarding of contracts related to the convention center to minority business. Chairman of the Council Black Caucus Councilman Lonnell Matthews, who has been engaged in meetings and consultation with the Metro Development and Housing Agency and Mayor Dean, has expressed optimism in recent days.

Councilman At Large Jerry Maynard has stated that the issue could be the deciding factor on how he votes on the project.

The council vote on the proposed convention center is scheduled for January 19 . Read more: http://www.blogdoctor.me/2007/02/expandable-post-summaries.html#ixzz0fvTXmFSF