Comments by Bigfish
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Posted on October 31 at 10:04 p.m.
While it won't cure the financial problems the city has had over the past years, updated software would provide the city government with the ability to function more efficiently and effectively.
go for it!
Posted on October 30 at 9:33 a.m.
Go Delta Rentals!
Posted on October 28 at 11:32 a.m.
As for the recreation issue, this vote is non-binding. If a yes vote is made, plans to pursue recreation will continue and the local politicians will say "The County voted Yes in 2009", If a no vote is made, lack of plans will result in politicians saying "The county voted No in 2009"
Other than that this vote doesn't do much, the aldermen, supervisors, etc could vote at their next meeting to spend $$$ how they see fit, including recreation, this vote on Nov 3 will be used as justification for what is done either pursue recreation or not pursue recreation.
Vote yes, it shows the people (you) support recreation which does add value to the community. Voting no shows little support to recreation and not wanting to add value to the community. As for the cost, no funding has been established, which I disagree with, but feel that the citizens will not support tax increases and will force grant writing, if we hire a new grant writer, to secure funding for a majority of this project.
Posted on October 28 at 11:25 a.m.
Bring in some good music, regularly. Having medium sized bands perform at Rosalie or on the Bluff would be great, let Ticketmaster/Stub-hub handle the ticketing, the city could provide the location and police security, Chamber could provide the manpower needed to set up stage, food vendors, etc and make Natchez a musical destination.
New Orleans is loaded with descent bands that could travel to Natchez and play one weekend a month. Not to mention that a band could be scheduled to play a city concert one night, at Doc Bigloves\Bowies/Dimples/ETC one night, which would allow for local businesses to benefit from it, the band to benefit from it and the City to benefit from it.
Bring on the Music. . .
Posted on October 27 at 10:50 a.m.
Who ever owns or o wned it had the right to do almost anything with they please. They paid for it, and with purchasing it, they can do anything they want with it. Dreamhomes Inc, simply sold the stainedglass and scrap metal that they OWNED!
I mean it is terrible that the building was abandoned, don't get me wrong. However once it wasn't worth fixing, then the owners should have the right to demo it, strip the metals, etc as they see fit.
I don't blame dreamhome for taking out the stained glass and metals and I don't blame the Catholic Church for demolishing the building. The building was unfixable long before that.
Posted on October 23 at 9:15 p.m.
i don't think raising taxes 1% like tony byrne suggested is a good idea and exactly what taxes property taxes? sales taxes? hotel taxes? I mean, i would love to have a rec complex and it would certainly add another aspect to promote natchez, but the simple question is who is going to pay for it and over what amount of time?
I wish this had been handled differently than the chamber pushing everyone to promote a yes vote, but rather allowing open discussion and brainstorming on developing this project and its cost so everyone would be aware of how this thing is gonna get paid for.
If taxes are raised, once this thing is paid for that tax isn't going to disappear it will just be reallocated to a different project or retained by the city/county, etc.
I am for a rec center, but not without an organized and clear explanation on how it will be paid for, over what period of time, and what taxes will be affect and what happens to the tax rate after the rec center is paid for. . .
Posted on October 21 at 12:34 a.m.
well friendofjimmy, I didn't realize that the idea of some national chains in Natchez or more specifically in the downtown area was so absurd, many small towns have national chains in the downtown area and it adds to local communities and provides locals and tourist with additional places to shop, eat and enjoy. I really doubt people in Natchez wouldn't want a few National chain stores in the downtown area if the option were to exist.
Secondly, updating the Eola would be a very costly venture for anyone. New commercial construction cost for hotel can run from $145 (http://www.reedconstructiondata.com/rsme...) on up. The eola was updated in 1978 (http://www.natchezeola.com/history.htm) and again repaired in 1998 after the tornado caused 30 million worth of damage to the building. So i think you could reasonably argue it hasn't been completely updated in around 28 to 30 years.
Also the building is on the Register of Historic Places, which while it does make it historically significant, it also requires specific guidelines for maintaining, repairing and replacing historic materials, as well as designing new additions and/or making alterations. Which ultimately cost more because of the additional time/paperwork/materials that are required for certain projects. (http://www.nps.gov/nr/)
In February of this year the Eola was listed on Loopnet.com for 5.9 million, so i assume Dean would part with it for or around that amount.
It has 131 rooms that average $130 a night
The US average hotel occupancy rate is 58% give or take
So 131 rooms x .58 (occupancy rate) = 75.98 (rounded to 76 rooms a day).
76 x $114 (average room rate @ eola) = $8664 in room income per a day or 3.1 million a year gross. ($8664 * 360 days)
so 3.1 million to pay for everything that is required to operate that property as a hotel doesn't leave too terribly much for Dean or whoever might buy it. I just don't see where revenues of the Eola as is could make enough to warrant purchasing it for around 6 million and certainly not enough revenues to undertake any major upgrades.
Posted on October 20 at 7:06 p.m.
friendofjimmy, what is your take on the eola and condos at the depot?
is the eola not in need of updating?
is the eola not cost prohibitive to purchase and update?
are some of the condos at the depot not nice?
are the condos at the depot overpriced/underpriced?
would it not be nice to have a nice multiple story building with different businesses in them?
enlighten me
Posted on October 20 at 4:58 p.m.
gottabehappy, some of the condos at the depot are really nice. I think the people that live there enjoy it very much. They were pricey but i think they sold all or most of them, so i guess they were reasonably priced to some degree as the market dictates.
unfortunately for the eola, I just don't know who is willing to spend the money needed on the eola that can afford to not see a return.
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Posted on November 6 at 6:18 p.m.
here is an idea, no cell phones allowed at work. . . .
On How would you rate customer service at local governmental offices?