TNWE wrote:Anyway, the idea that the Convention Center is a net bad thing seems to stem more from antipathy towards the sort of events it hosts than any rational city planning strategy. Auto shows, the NRA, and Mary Kay don't exactly fit the demographics of the Urbanism crowd, so of course they'd think the convention center that hosts those events is unnecessary. If Dallas regularly hosted Dockless Avocado-sharing conventions, Highway-tearout rallies, and charismatic "Pray the car away" revivals at the CC, I imagine it wouldn't be called a waste of valuable land.
Oh stop it, you're reaching. Most people don't even know what events are held at the CC.
Fact is, since Day 1 people were opposed to building it...because it cost a helluva lot of money.. not to mention the Omni faisco which you mentioned.
Let's not also overlook that the CC is actually mismanaged big time..for years! Which is why we looking for another private company to manage it...
There's little positive things to say about it..
We can't even say it looks good..
It was a money bag, after money bag, that we threw down that hole. And the surrounding area hasn't even improved. What posstive change has the CC brought?
I would argue that resurrgance of Downtown has been driven by the success of Uptown..not some CC. Uptown was a success because of Urban design.
Imagine if we invested that money, that was wasted on creating skybridges to a CC from a hotel, to actually improving the downtown area?!
.. Well planned cities don't largely depend on a CC as their bloodline for business;
Sure the CC brings some business to downtown...but most of our business is not a byproduct of that.
Those used funds were a missed opportunity for better investments.