tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3838055782779464438.post8086810932441092038..comments2008-11-19T12:43:35.494-08:00Doug Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07760966161795317544noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3838055782779464438.post-73854599353338449572008-11-19T12:43:00.000-08:002008-11-19T12:43:00.000-08:00Excellent comments from someone on the insideDoug Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07760966161795317544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3838055782779464438.post-15416954224397620412008-11-18T09:45:00.000-08:002008-11-18T09:45:00.000-08:00Doug,<BR/><BR/>Good points. Here's a few more from someone who works downtown.<BR/><BR/>1. A big red flag that Rio Nuevo wasn't going to succeed was when the Foothills resorts expanded their convention and semi nar facilities AFTER it had been authorized. They obviously felt that there wouldn't be any competition worth worrying about.<BR/><BR/><BR/>2. Some restaurants are gov't subsidized while others aren't. hard to draw new pure private sector restaurants when your competition has such an advantage like virtually free rent.<BR/><BR/>3. Ditto for theaters and music venues. The Rialto is gov't-owned with no rent as long as it makes improvements worth x per year. The Fox was refurbished at a cost over $12,000 per seat and doesn't have to put to to use each night due to the generous repayment terms.<BR/><BR/>4. The idea that homes could be built for 6000 people downtown is absurd. For example, you'd need 6000-12,000 parking spaces. The footprint for all the garages would be massive. <BR/><BR/>5. Finally, what's the theme? Most successful revitalizations have a theme or plan that gets attention. Here we have Tucson Origins and a Science Museum. I can't see people driving hundreds of miles to visit them.Iron Vikinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16412393268582033955noreply@blogger.com