JTA making progress on transportation center

[tufsu1]

or a few hundred million

[ChriswUfGator]

or a few hundred million

+1

[acme54321]

Considering how much the lovely courthouse has cost I would think nearing 500 would be a good guess.

[duvaldude08]

The convention center needs to be moved, the old courthouse site makes sense.  Then the skyway needs to be extended to the stadium district like it was supposed to be with a station at the new convention center.   Doesn't seem that difficult.  There has to be someone with a few million lying around.

That was exactly my thoughts. A stop a the new convention center, then another stop at the sports complex

[ChriswUfGator]

The convention center needs to be moved, the old courthouse site makes sense.  Then the skyway needs to be extended to the stadium district like it was supposed to be with a station at the new convention center.   Doesn't seem that difficult.  There has to be someone with a few million lying around.

The convention center should just be eliminated. I know this would inconvenience all 2 of our small sized shows, a handful of PTA meetings, and a church luncheon, (literally...that's our annual convention calendar), but the truth is we aren't equipped to compete in that market for a variety of reasons, about the last of which is the building itself. The courthouse property would better serve as a private development, preferably retail.

[JeffreyS]

Move current convention calendar to the Arena.  It could probably be scheduled for double duty.  Do the transportation center right.  This way our convention center still is not world class but instead of doing two thing halfway we get one right. We can still pursue a public/ private project with the convention center at a preferred site.

[Doctor_K]

The convention center should just be eliminated. I know this would inconvenience all 2 of our small sized shows, a handful of PTA meetings, and a church luncheon, (literally...that's our annual convention calendar), but the truth is we aren't equipped to compete in that market for a variety of reasons, about the last of which is the building itself. The courthouse property would better serve as a private development, preferably retail.

Interesting idea.  Turn that particular area into retail, make it kind of a super-block tying in with the Landing at the strip of clubs on Bay Street.  Supercharge the area for development and activity.

[acme54321]

Move current convention calendar to the Arena.  It could probably be scheduled for double duty.  Do the transportation center right.  This way our convention center still is not world class but instead of doing two thing halfway we get one right. We can still pursue a public/ private project with the convention center at a preferred site.

Not a bad idea.

[thelakelander]

The convention center should just be eliminated. I know this would inconvenience all 2 of our small sized shows, a handful of PTA meetings, and a church luncheon, (literally...that's our annual convention calendar), but the truth is we aren't equipped to compete in that market for a variety of reasons, about the last of which is the building itself. The courthouse property would better serve as a private development, preferably retail.

Interesting idea.  Turn that particular area into retail, make it kind of a super-block tying in with the Landing at the strip of clubs on Bay Street.  Supercharge the area for development and activity.

That's basically the convention center idea for that site....except without the convention center box.  Whatever goes on the old courthouse site needs to be mixed use.  We need to do that with or without a convention center. 

[tufsu1]

after looking at it more closely, I believe the best location for Greyhound is between Forsyth and Houston....it provides convenient access to and from I-95 NB and SB and is across the street from the Skyway....there are 2 blocks there...one could be used by Greyhound and the other by JTA for local buses at some point.

[duvaldude08]

The convention center needs to be moved, the old courthouse site makes sense.  Then the skyway needs to be extended to the stadium district like it was supposed to be with a station at the new convention center.   Doesn't seem that difficult.  There has to be someone with a few million lying around.

The convention center should just be eliminated. I know this would inconvenience all 2 of our small sized shows, a handful of PTA meetings, and a church luncheon, (literally...that's our annual convention calendar), but the truth is we aren't equipped to compete in that market for a variety of reasons, about the last of which is the building itself. The courthouse property would better serve as a private development, preferably retail.

I think killing the convention center all together is a terriable idea. The reason it does not get much activity is because of its size, and its location (no hotels nearby, etc etc.) That has been reported several times. Moving the covention center to the site of the current courthouse, adjecent to the Hyatt is the answer as that is a more active area. But to trying to a first class city with no convention center is backwards.

[BigGuy219]

I'm required to attend one large work-related convention a year, usually the first or second week of August. The biggest thing they look for is the number of available hotel rooms within walking distance to the venue. Normally it is in Rosemont, Illinois which is a dedicated convention suburb of Chicago with literally dozens of hotels in the area.

No matter how large or beautiful a convention center we build, the lack of available hotel rooms is going to kill us in the convention game. With only two hotels on the Northbank (and no plans to build more) even if we build some monster on the river, I don't think we'd draw without another 3-4 hotels. And then you're just being unrealistic given the financial climate.

[tufsu1]

the # of hotel rooms needed is directly proportional to the size of conventions being booked...based on experience in other cities, the 950 room Hyatt along with 300+ at the Omni should be sufficient for a convention center of around 200,000 square feet.

[iMarvin]

after looking at it more closely, I believe the best location for Greyhound is between Forsyth and Houston....it provides convenient access to and from I-95 NB and SB and is across the street from the Skyway....there are 2 blocks there...one could be used by Greyhound and the other by JTA for local buses at some point.

I think the best place would be between Forsyth and Bay @ Lee. It could face the public plaza at the skyway station and have access to the highway.

[BigGuy219]

the # of hotel rooms needed is directly proportional to the size of conventions being booked...based on experience in other cities, the 950 room Hyatt along with 300+ at the Omni should be sufficient for a convention center of around 200,000 square feet.

Almost there. I attented a convetion in Baltimore last year. 300,000 sq. ft. Absoloutely gorgeous venue. Seems to be 300,000 sq. ft.

http://www.bccenter.org/