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Published Saturday, July 19, 2008 in Local
Convention center study almost ready
The Times-Herald
A feasibility study exploring the possibility of building a city-owned conference center in Newnan is almost complete.
Parks Avery, chairman of the Newnan Convention Center Authority, updated authority members on the progress Thursday evening.
Atlanta's PKF Consulting firm is wrapping up a study on the feasibility of Newnan constructing a conference center. If the city decides the project is feasible, then it would have to pick a location for the center.
Atlanta developers Kennedy Capital and Diplomat Companies contacted city officials in December, offering the city land on the east side of Interstate 85 near Lower Fayetteville Road. If the city accepts the offer, the conference center will be built within the proposed Newnan Village Crossing. The proposed multi-purpose, 125.5-acre development is planned to stretch along the east side of Interstate 85 from the Lowe's-anchored Newnan Crossing East shopping center on Bullsboro Drive to Lower Fayetteville Road.
The city also has been contacted by Thomas Enterprises, the development firm of Stan Thomas, developer of Ashley Park. Thomas has offered the city land on the west side of the interstate.
Citizens of Newnan were given the opportunity to have input via surveys that were distributed by the Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce both online and in The Times-Herald. The deadline for surveys to be mailed in was July 7, and the Chamber is going over surveys to create a report on the findings to share with the convention authority and with PKF Consulting. That report should be complete within a week, according to Avery.
At the convention authority's next monthly meeting -- Aug. 21, 7 p.m. at 75 Jackson St. -- Mark Woodson of PKF Consulting is scheduled to give an executive summary of the feasibility study's findings. That study is expected to be complete within two weeks, and will consider the information submitted in the Chamber's mail-in survey, said Avery.
Parks told authority members that he has requested that PKF present the information about the hotel and the conference center separately -- though they would be a single entity -- and he wants the report to compare the pros and cons of each proposed location.
Also during the meeting, William "Bill" Johnston, managing director of public finance at Raymond James & Associates in Atlanta, spoke with authority members about the significance of municipality credit ratings in the current economy, especially when pursuing municipal bonds.
Newnan officials will have to pay close attention to the city's credit rating when deciding whether to pursue a conference center or any other large-scale projects that would require municipal bonds.
Johnston, an expert on the subject, told the authority that when the last rating of Newnan was calculated in 2005, the city had a good credit rating. Since 2005, the city has sold Newnan Hospital and paid off its debt and sold Newnan Utilities' telecommunications system to pay another large debt. Both of the sales accrued $80 plus million and probably further improved the city's overall credit rating, according to Johnston.
Because of the struggling economy, "ratings are more important today than ever before," stressed Johnston. He also believes it's a good time for the city to build a convention center, start on water projects or pursue school system-related plans -- all of which could be constructed under municipal bonds.
"There's a market for bonds -- there will be demand for your bonds," said Johnston.
In other meeting business:
* The convention center authority remains one member short. That member is expected to be appointed by Newnan City Councilman Clayton Hicks at the city council meeting Tuesday evening.
* Authority members will vote on a proposed bylaws change at their August meeting that would change the authority's meeting location from city hall to 75 Jackson St. on a permanent basis.
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Native is obviously naive. In case you didn't know, Newnan and Coweta are changing. Newnan is definitely not rural. Growth can be a postive thing for our community. If Native wants to stay in a rural area, move to a trailer park. Otherwise let our community modernize. It can be safe, friendly, and yes prosperous. You are outnumbered Native.
Posted by Aviator01 at 11:54 AM
the name of this authority should be conference center authority not convention the ga world congress center is for conventions- in Newnan you are looking at conferences not conventions. attempts at comparing other failed venues is not valid- particularloy if they have no hotel-- Dalton and marietta are prime examples. neither was put in the proper place to begin with. Take a look at peachtreee city- they have two! In an area like newnan these need to be central and have amenities around- a lake or golf course is nice too, but they must have at least one hotel or more immediately contiguous- interconnectd is best and then, ideally, others within walking distance. The cost of the hotel should not be underwritten by the community- the developer should cover that- even if theat means paying the debt serice on bonds, but the conference center itself should be a public investment. Let the hotel operator also do the food from the same restaurant kitchens as in the hotel. keep the location near shops and other restaurants-- not isolated and the tax gain will be significant. there are thousands of associations that have meetings seminars and confernces. Google ga associaations as i just did . 22 pages of associations, not to mention companies that have off site retreats, meetings and events. suerely there is an apporopriately sized conference center market in newnan/coweta county's future. signed, familiar with hotel conference centers
Posted by observer at 10:28 AM
Are you sure that you are not a realtor? Don't know who you are, but for sure you don't live anywhere near Moreland. I also can surmise that you did not read about the latest Land Use Plan survey. You know, the survey where the citizens of Coweta County wanted the county to retain it rural heritage and feel. Since when has the sound of are jet engine been rural? If we are so backward and behind the times, what did you see in our community that made you want to live here? Was it the chance to buy land cheap, develop it, make a killing, and then move on? By reading your posts, one can surmise that you obviously are not happy living in Coweta County. Just move and let those of us who are happy remain that way.
Posted by Native at 8:05 AM
You are correct. The economy is hitting the area hard right now. Yes, the economy will rebound eventually. But when the city government cuts overtime hours city wide, cuts fuel consuption city wide, stops patrol cars for 15 minutes every hour, tells fire fighters that if they want to go somewhere to drive anything but the big red truck that will be the one needed when the tones go off and start considering modified work schedules for other departments.... is it really the right time to be thinking about spending millions of dollars here. You cut in to employee wallets but then spend all this money. You cut the level of services and then think about this. Come on!!! If it gets built, it won't get used except for the doctor's and real estate agents conventions... oh... that's who is on the council. I guess it's getting built.
Posted by Concerned at 12:21 PM
I think this is a step in the right direction. Yes, the recession is hitting Newnan and Coweta county hard. However we need to hang in there because once the economy rebounds, there is tremendous potential for Newnan and Coweta county. We need to continue the trend to modernize the community. The trend for new middle class housing, new shopping & office centers, & the new hospital are all great starters. Now we need to start attracting more white collar professional businesses to the community. The convention center is a step towards that. We also need to expand the Newnan-Coweta County Airport...
Posted by Aviator01 at 1:34 PM
Will it be used more than the City Auditorium or the Performing Arts Center?????????
Posted by El Abogado del Diablo at 10:41 AM
That's what we need. Another money pit like the one in Dalton. There's a couple hundred carpet mills there but their center has struggled to make a profit from day one. Newnan's got a golf cart plant and a few warehouses. Do some research on the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center. --Or, just ask Skin Edge. He tried to kill the state funding for the one in Dalton years ago.
Posted by Al at 9:40 AM
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Aviator01
7/21/2008
Link To This Comment
No, I am not naive. I know that we have a realtor as mayor of Newnan. I also know that the county commissioners have been trying to regulate or control growth. I have seen Newnan sprawl out into unincorporated because someone decided that they would rather have houses planted on their farm instead of crops. I too understand why that is happening. What I do not understand is why people move out into the country, and then try to turn it into city. Then they do not like the growth and move away from the growth and the cycle starts over. This mentality will have a metro area that includes Macon, Columbus and Athens. Is that what you want? Do you want Bullsboro to be like 19/41 or Ga. 85? I may be outnumbered, but if you didn't like the area, WHY did you come here?????
Posted by Native at 3:27 PM