The city has some major budget problems because of a revenue shortfall. I suspect there may be some serious questions as to whether the city council will feel inclined to commit toward funding the construction of a parking garage adjoining the proposed downtown hotel in view of the budget picture.
If the city will not fund the construction of the parking deck, what fallback plan does the new ownership/management group (and Skip Alston) have for parking?
Also, there has been an agenda item for some time to merge the city and county planning and building/inspections departments. However, we need to be wary as to whether there will be a enhanced urgency to do this on the part of TREBIC and even on the part of Mr. Alston to better facilitate pushing through approvals for the hotel.
No matter what "The King's" people say I believe we are still in an economic downturn, unemployment is at a recorded 10% plus, God only knows the real figure probably closer to 20%. But my question is will there be enough of a guest pool to justify another hotel? I have a feeling that certain backers want this thing to be built so they can make some BIG bucks and then later when it fails, what the Hell, they'll come up with some excuse but in the meantime they will already have the jingle in thier pockets. Beau
Posted by: Beau D. Jackson | February 01, 2010 at 06:24 PM
That is, Beau, one of the big concerns.
Posted by: Joe Guarino | February 01, 2010 at 08:49 PM