That comes from the SF Chronile when Houston lost out for US Olympic Host Canidate. Houston isn't naturally beautiful. We have to create our own beauty and unfortunately we aren't good at that either. Maybe one day we'll truly re-invent instead of the usual lipstick on a pig efforts. A Dubai's Global Village makes too much sense in a place like Houston which is so diverse. Also, a similar place to Ski Dubai would kill here in Houston if done right. I know I'd have my season pass lift ticket. I always thought when the Astroworld closed that space would be perfect for a Sports City concept similar to what Dubai built. The Middle East is ugly but re-invented with tons of money but those projects are now viable.
Its going to cost close to 100 mil to make it a parking lot according the article. They should let is stand there. Its really the cheapest option. A 100 years from they will consider historic and maybe spend some money on it.
It will cost $98 million to turn it into a parking lot. Take out the $2.5 million you already spend a year in maintaining it. Now you are at a true cost of $96.5 million to turn it into a parking lot. As long as it is owned by the county and the receipts go back to pay for it, that seems like a better investment to me. How long before we could make back the $98 million?
I disagree... if there was a viable use for it, with enough support to garner the funding, something would have come to fruition. Even if gambling is somehow legalized in Texas... the NFL likely won't allow a casino to be in such close proximity to where an NFL team plays its games, let alone a future super bowl site. I also don't see anybody going to the Astrodome for shopping purposes, nor do I see it surviving as another convention center in a city that already has 2, which aren't in full use year round. Indoor amusement park/hotel sounds intriguing... if they could ever figure out a way to pay for it.
Except for the fact that the county still pays some $2.5 million annually to maintain, power and insure the stadium. So 40 years after tearing it down and doing NOTHING with the land it would be cheaper than keeping it up with the current upkeep costs, and that's presuming the upkeep costs wouldn't increase as the structure ages. Money made from parking would further reduce how long it took to erase the cost of demolition and start making a profit.
$100m is less than the $200m+ they were asking for the convention hall. And, it'd come with lower maintenance expenses going forward. Sure, a convention hall can also make revenues, maybe more than a parking lot, but if the economics were all that strong, you'd have private investors putting up the money, not the taxpayer. I'll take the $100m parking lot or the $80m retention pond.
