In the end, there needs to be significant private money behind this deal (looking at you Bob McNair and the HLSR).
quote:
"People like to talk about, 'what's the final grand plan going to be?' I don't know," said Emmett.
quote:
Emmett wants to move forward with raising the Astrodome's floor to create an underground two level parking garage that would hold 1,400 spaces.
"You suddenly are now generating some revenue and it becomes a usable facility again," said Emmett.
Emmett said the rest of the plan calls for gutting the inside and leaving the iconic dome intact.
quote:
Emmett said creating a large open space would allow the Texans and Livestock Show and Rodeo to again use the Astrodome for special events,
From there, Emmett said it would be up to the private sector to come up with an idea and money to turn the Dome into something else. A cost analysis of raising the floor and fully gutting the inside is nearly complete and will be presented to the county's capital improvement committee on June 28.
quote:
Either way, Emmett said no work on the Dome will happen before the Super Bowl.
quote:
Harris County Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday morning to move forward with a major renovation project that could keep the Astrodome from being demolished for years to come.
The $10.5 million approved Tuesday is the first piece of a $105 million project that would raise the floor of the Astrodome two levels and put 1,400 parking spaces underneath. County officials believe that would make the Dome suitable for festivals or conferences and usher in potential commercial uses in the more than 550,000 square feet that surrounds the core.
quote:careful. not everyone knows that is sarcasm
This is an outstanding plan for the Dome that will cost taxpayers nothing and provides a real life and purpose for the Dome. The OTC is already on board as are others who see the need for more floor space and parking.
EXCELLENT plan...
quote:He's probably going to want to taxpayers to name it after him too.
Somewhere, in a back office, Emmett is rubbing himself raw.
quote:....you're off by $90 million. The $10.5 million is to get it started.
$2 million to rename schools, $10.5 million to make a parking lot under the astrodome. Great city leadership here in the tine......
quote:We've had lots of votes on lots of things since the first stadium referendum in 1996. But we have never had a vote to tear down the Dome. The five members of Commissioners Court are the only people who could vote on that.
so why even put it to a vote on that referendum from a while back?
quote:
That's $71,428 per parking space. Even LAZ don't charge that much. This is a boondoggle, where's Dongofino
quote:$allquote:
That's $71,428 per parking space. Even LAZ don't charge that much. This is a boondoggle, where's Dongofino
How much of that money will go to companies owned by Emmett's friends and donors?