Wednesday, December 14, 2011

About-FACE!

Looks like the Clarion-Ledger editorial page did an about-face on the proposed convention center hotel yesterday:

"There is no question that Jackson needs a hotel to accompany the new Jackson Convention Complex. However, there are a lot of questions about the recent actions by officials as they rush to get a deal for a hotel project.

Taxpayers need answers...

The fact that it has foundered is another legacy of the failed administration of the late Mayor Frank Melton. Melton botched it with actions that harmed the effort and left a terrible mess to be cleaned up by Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr.

But in a rush to clean up that mess, the city of Jackson and the Jackson Redevelopment Authority should not rush into anything that might make the problem worse
..." Editorial

A little bit different than what it wrote back in September:

"Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. and the City Council did the right thing picking up the ball and moving forward with a proposed hotel for the Jackson Convention Complex. The council voted Monday to buy about 3.1 acres along Pascagoula Street for $14.3 million. The city will then lease the land to the developers....

As The Clarion-Ledger reported, Transcontinental Realty Investors Inc. says construction could begin by the end of the year and would take 18 months.

The 16-story, full-service hotel will feature 309 rooms, a restaurant, lounge, bar and 12,700 square feet of meeting space, including an 8,000-square-foot ballroom.

There will be 175 on-site, surface-level parking spaces, with room on the adjoining parcels to bring that total to more than 300....

It's about time that there was some movement on this project. While the $14.3 million is a big pill for the city to swallow, it's nearly the amount the city has lost by the land being idle.

The Jackson Convention and Visitors Bureau has estimated the convention center has lost at least $13 million in business since opening because it did not have a complementary hotel.

And the city had only a narrow window of opportunity for financing at advantageous rates.

The city is using Gulf Opportunity Zone bonds allowed for building projects in the wake of Hurricane Katrina with a Dec. 31 deadline.

While it's not a great idea for governments to be putting funds in risky ventures, it's certainly not unusual for governments to enter in to public/private partnerships. It makes projects like this possible.

The Jackson Redevelopment Authority is a case in point, where a quasi-governmental agency spurs development through city, state and federal cooperative agreements.
" Earlier post with editorial

Too funny.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Kingfish....unrelated to this post...saw in Ledger where Derrick Johnson got the votes to re-draw the City ward lines. This will be interesting.

Anonymous said...

Jackson being run by the rentier class, extra real estate is just more rents for the rulers. The city will just sell it to them if its not initially successful. The booming Sun Belt city of Austin, Texas has a convention center area downtown which appeared lifeless when I visited several years ago. The new Austin development near the facility seemed to be marginal and without real character.

Kingfish said...

All right Auburn Rat, you're making some great comments but change the screen name. Yeah, I know its you.

Anonymous said...

What's up with the bond attorneys resigning relating to this deal? Usually a sign something's not right. Got to be story there....

Auburn Rat said...

Hey Kingfish....How about "From 10.000 Feet"
I like that one.

By the Way It's LSU at the Championship for me.....god dem tigers soooo whipped our a**.


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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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