In a matter of months the plans for a new convention center have been cut back. The newest vision was released today.
"What you're looking at is a free standing convention center that stands alone from a hotel operation and separate from parking," said Duncan Stewart, the Executive Director of the Convention Center Authority.
Before the three were to be built together, under the same project. Now, the hotel is expected to be built by a private investor and the parking lot is expected to be built by another group like CDTA, the parking authority, or the city. This plan is more simple than before, and it's expected to cost less.
"We've cut down on a number of items inside to reduce cost and reduce high maintenance costs later on," said Assemblyman Jack McEneny, an ACCA Board Member.
That cost is now projected to be $220 million, which is down from as much as $240 million, originally estimated. The Convention Center Authority said that funding will mostly come from the State, rooted in an intital $75 million grant.
That's a change some convention center opponents agree with. They were initially afraid the city would bear the financial burden. The Authority said that the plan will boost the local job market, creating at least 300 jobs during construction, another 800 once the Center's open. The Authority said that long term it will bring in State revenue too. It's calling this Center a needed investment even with the State's $3.2 billion deficit."Last year we probably lost about $10 million from people who called up the Convention Bureau, wanted to come to the city and found out there was no way," said McEneny.
The State still needs to approve this plan. From there, the Authority can finish buying land, and start construction plans. If the plan is approved within the next few months, the Authority said it expects to start construction by the end of 2010, and open the Convention Center's doors by the end of 2012.
