If you spent $220 million on it, it wouldn't BE a POS. I'd be all for spending the tax money to save the icon if it can be put to a real credible use that had a financial benefit close to equal the cost. But if it just competes with Geo. R Brown and doesn't really add to the Reliant Center and Reliant Arena I wouldn't. I need to see some numbers and proposed events and know how it relates to the other facilities. You could put some big stuff in there for OTC.
I'm with this. Give me some idea of the scope of what we could attract...and of what could be added with the OTC, which grows every year.
Lol. This was a setup all along. First of all the popular choice which was the park was basically shoved aside for the in house bid. Now by asking for a tax increase which they know will infuriate houstonians they have the excuse to tear it down and make into a parking lot which is what they wanted all along.
QFT!!! They've wanted to tear it down the entire time but didn't have the guts to say it. If you're crooked you got to be sly you know. Now they will say the people asked for it to be torn down for SUPRISE!!!! How convenient for the new HLSR/Texans PARKING!!!
Just tear it down. Even with an expensive facelift, chances are it becomes aged/dated within 10 years (similar to the last dome remodel). Hell, by then Reliant Stadium will probably be looking for $$$ for a remodel/refurbishing to keep up with the other new stadiums. Save the money for that or just for simple improvements around the land (more/better entrances, better signage, more game day attendants, better security, better game day experience).
This. Giving the Astrodome a facelift is a waste of time and money. Conventions like OTC and the like aren't drawn to nostalgia, they're drawn to the cutting edge. I guarantee you once the novelty of "oh look we're holding an event in the dome!" wears off, that place will be a ghost town.
What companies do you think were clamoring to spend 300 million dollars for the dome? Don't you think in the entire city of austin there might be better investments. Has there ever been a private proposal that made financial sense? If the people want to keep a 50 year old building that has literally no pragmatic use at the moment for nostalgia sake, then they should expect to have to do their part to keep it. Put your money where your mouth is.
I thought the park idea was best. I would vote for that if it required a tax increase, but I doubt it would since that idea would cost significantly less than the one they have on the table.
It's official. It's going to be voted on by citizens in November. Would rather spend $250 million on teachers and schools. I hope I'm not in the minority
This sucks, this is only to vote for or against on the $217 million in bonds. They should just give us a real choice and not keep dancing around it.
Very much so, this is probably why most school bonds are voted on at district level. Education is probably the pettiest and most tribal of political arenas.
A half-cent hike would mean an $8 increase to the annual tax bill for a $200,000 home with a 20 percent homestead exemption, Jackson told court members Tuesday.
When it comes to tax increases, Texans don't usually vote based on numbers, they vote on principle. It could be a fraction of a penny and it will still get voted down. Like you said in another post, I think this is all a setup to tear it down.
