Bastrop, Tx–Council Member Julie Hart used a March 20 budget review session by the city council to renew her objections to moving ahead this year with construction of a convention and civic center on Chestnut Street. However, she failed to sway other members of the council.
She suggested a convention center might fare better in two or three years once the city has a marketing plan in place and hotels available convenient to the facility. Absent those conditions, “are we getting ahead of ourselves?” she asked.
Council Member Willie DeLaRosa argued that the council agreed in January 2008 to build the planned convention center. “It’s amazing to me that we’re still talking about it,” he said.
Council Member Joe Beal voiced a similar sentiment. “I thought we’d made that decision and are moving forward,” he said. Alluding to a five-year revenue and expense projection presented by City Manager Mike Talbot earlier in the meeting Beal added, “It’s feasible (to fund and open a convention center). The (financial) numbers show we will not be imprudent” in forging ahead.
The present plan is designed to boost visitor traffic in Bastrop, especially in the historic downtown area, said Mayor Terry Orr. “The prosperity of this town very much depends on bringing people in in a major way,” he said.
Hart suggested the convention center will provide little stimulus if it sits unused for a significant period because marketing plans and related facilities are not in place.
Joe Newman, president of the Bastrop Economic Development Corp., said developers are already in talks with at least three new hotel prospects interested in sites at the intersection of Texas 95 and Texas 71, in part because the location is convenient to the planned convention center.
Talbot said the city could sell bonds to complete financing of the project in the next two months, a convention center manager could be hired about the same time and construction could be underway as early as mid year.
“We’re still moving forward,” said Orr.