Quote:

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Well, that is what is being proposed. A private entity investing in improvements for WPC and booking entertainment for WPC.

And despite proof of history of large capacity crowds at WPC, the usual naysayers are saying it won't work.

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Wow, did you read Yancy's post? He used the word "incentivize" 3 times and do you know what that means? That means our tax dollars!

Additionally he used the term "modest public investment". Does that mean $7.5m like Macy's?

SO ONCE AGAIN THE ANSWER IS NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The city can't help but fund more boondoggles.

They have a bunch of money, and they have to find new and colossally bad ways to spend it.

How's that Macy's purchase doing right about now? When is TAMU going to move in and dump buckets of money on the city to use it as an e-sports arena? /s

Yeah "incentivize" and "modest public investment" would be where the most transparency would be an absolute must for me. Not the old "let's put it on the ballot until the public votes it down then go ahead anyways" okiedoke


***eta***

"Look, y'all can either vote for this and feel good about yourselves or we can find another way to do it and you can be all mad faced about it. It's all in your hands"

I don't like either without complete transparency

Stupe said:

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The "incentivize" part doesn't really bother me. That could just mean tax breaks and those are common.

It's the "investment" part that I don't like.

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If a company gets a tax break don't the rest of us have to make up that lost tax revenue?

[If you want to post your opinion again without insulting another poster it will stay on the thread. -Staff]

Wolf Pen Creek was also a dumb idea to begin with and has shockingly not panned out as the city had hoped. Quit throwing good taxpayers dollars after bad. As far as business goes and traffic, sporting events 7 on 7 Aggie sports are by far the biggest driver. Also Reed Arena was good for concerts and is indoors where it is much cooler and many decent acts used to come to Reed Arena or Kyle Field for mega summer events. No huge draws or events are hosted at Wolf Pen Creek and am pretty sure that Wolf Pen Creek is a draw for very few out of towners if any.

Please put me in the "buzz kill" category. I don't want a penny of my tax dollars spent by bureaucrats on the hopes that a handful of weekends we might get a few dozen of people from out of town plus our locals to fill a venue for a few thousand.

Grand Station, BigShots, Cinemark, etc. seem to okay without the easy to spend tax dollar.

TyHolden said:

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So what was decided? I saw Bob on the news last night but didn't get much information. One quote I believe.

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We were unanimous that improvements need to be made. Staff did an internal study, no outside fees, at our direction and our very capable parks director presented it. We authorized staff to negotiate with the private sector group, with reported ties to Chilifest, Troubadour and COJO, to finalize details and present it to us later. Staff and outside ideas are pictured.

I believe it's time for WPC to reach its full potential. I hope a preponderance of you agree.

Thanks to everyone with constructive feedback, pro or con, on this issue.

Respectfully

Yancy '95

Bob Yancy said:

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TyHolden said:

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So what was decided? I saw Bob on the news last night but didn't get much information. One quote I believe.

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We were unanimous that improvements need to be made. Staff did an internal study, no outside fees, at our direction and our very capable parks director presented it. We authorized staff to negotiate with the private sector group, with reported ties to Chilifest, Troubadour and COJO, to finalize details and present it to us later. Staff and outside ideas are pictured.

I believe it's time for WPC to reach its full potential. I hope a preponderance of you agree.

Thanks to everyone with constructive feedback, pro or con, on this issue.

Respectfully

Yancy '95

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And of course, nothing is actually addressed from this thread in the way it was presented--it's the same plan! Fill in everything with concrete, create an overbuilt amphitheater that is merely there to sell tickets, and refuse to address all the design flaws that are the reason why "big acts" aren't lining up to play Wolf Pen Creek.

The City of College Station has a bad reputation on this board for basically having public works be someone's personal vanity project than what is actually discussed and voted on. I am not sure whose vanity project the WPC amphitheater is, but it has unfortunately made been clear that the City will attempt to ram this through anyway. I do not know how much power Mr. Yancy has in this project, but the fact that nothing has changed gives off the impression, whether true or not, that Mr. Yancy is only paying lip service to his constituents and will not consider any alternative in the Wolf Pen Creek project.

PS3D said:

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Bob Yancy said:

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TyHolden said:

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So what was decided? I saw Bob on the news last night but didn't get much information. One quote I believe.

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We were unanimous that improvements need to be made. Staff did an internal study, no outside fees, at our direction and our very capable parks director presented it. We authorized staff to negotiate with the private sector group, with reported ties to Chilifest, Troubadour and COJO, to finalize details and present it to us later. Staff and outside ideas are pictured.

I believe it's time for WPC to reach its full potential. I hope a preponderance of you agree.

Thanks to everyone with constructive feedback, pro or con, on this issue.

Respectfully

Yancy '95

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And of course, nothing is actually addressed from this thread in the way it was presented--it's the same plan! Fill in everything with concrete, create an overbuilt amphitheater that is merely there to sell tickets, and refuse to address all the design flaws that are the reason why "big acts" aren't lining up to play Wolf Pen Creek.

The City of College Station has a bad reputation on this board for basically having public works be someone's personal vanity project than what is actually discussed and voted on. I am not sure whose vanity project the WPC amphitheater is, but it has unfortunately made been clear that the City will attempt to ram this through anyway. I do not know how much power Mr. Yancy has in this project, but the fact that nothing has changed gives off the impression, whether true or not, that Mr. Yancy is only paying lip service to his constituents and will not consider any alternative in the Wolf Pen Creek project.

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I'm sorry you feel that way, PS3D. I started this thread because I wanted to hear the feedback. Some were positive and many were negative. I think it's important to note that 13,000 people read this thread. Only a fraction comment. Many send me emails, text me, or call. If I had a nickel for every person that approaches me in person and comments about engagement on Texags, overwhelmingly positive and encouraging, I'd have $50 bucks in my pocket. My point is- even if you regular Texags guys are adamantly opposed to an idea, that doesn't mean the majority is.

The inescapable facts are that 1) WPC is a public asset. 2) It's 33 years old, and in need of repair. 3) A private group wants to spend THEIR money, not yours, and 4) most folks I speak to and hear from want us to look at fixing it up and making WPC the asset it could finally be.

I'm sorry if that doesn't comport with your world view. But I don't think the staunchest libertarian on earth would say no flatly to a private sector entity that wanted to invest its own money in a deteriorating public asset. That's why I voted the way I did last night.

I hope that makes sense.

Respectfully,

Yancy '95

Also the "secretly people tell me my ideas are good" thing, that's what you used to decide the ballpark bond election results were invalid, right?

It is funny because I also know a bunch of people who don't post on TexAgs. And sometimes we talk and laugh about how obviously misguided your projects are.

I don't know how the numbers compare. But it is probably not a good idea to override bond elections based on people's willingness to ask you to waste taxpayer money in private meetings.

Just a thought…

Can we fix the previous bad ideas that are still hanging around our collective necks before tackling another one?

I have seen zero (0) accountability and / or creative ideas regarding what to do with the Macys building. The mayor came on WTAW, and dismissed us as a bunch of misinformed, tin foil hat wearing kooks after everything came out. and I'm guessing the mayor is done… its off the tax rolls, it needs millions to fix it…. I guess the collective opinion of our city leadership is to just ignore this huge albatross…

So, by all means, go fund another albatross…

My $0.02

Respectfully, you are more likely to have your fanboys and fangirls approach you in person to say nice things.

It's unlikely that people from this board or elsewhere would:

- know who you are if they saw you
- approach you to chat
- when chatting, decide to offer only negative input on what you do for the city or projects you have discussed here

Despite video evidence to the contrary on social media each day, there is not much of a chance some stranger is going to walk up to an elected official and berate them for a decision they make, especially at this level.

Your anecdotal evidence should not be a driver in making decisions on what to do with tax money. And if this WPC idea goes through, and it will because y'all are going to do what you want anyway and all of this asking this board is just a dog and pony show, we don't want the taxpayers to foot the bill should it fail.

If this is the ginormous epic project teased a couple of weeks ago, it's a let down.

Also, please don't try and play the "older depreciating asset needs help" card on us when Macy's is still owned by the city. Just don't.

maroon barchetta said:

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Respectfully, you are more likely to have your fanboys and fangirls approach you in person to say nice things.

It's unlikely that people from this board or elsewhere would:

- know who you are if they saw you
- approach you to chat
- when chatting, decide to offer only negative input on what you do for the city or projects you have discussed here

Despite video evidence to the contrary on social media each day, there is not much of a chance some stranger is going to walk up to an elected official and berate them for a decision they make, especially at this level.

Your anecdotal evidence should not be a driver in making decisions on what to do with tax money. And if this WPC idea goes through, and it will because y'all are going to do what you want anyway and all of this asking this board is just a dog and pony show, we don't want the taxpayers to foot the bill should it fail.

If this is the ginormous epic project teased a couple of weeks ago, it's a let down.

Also, please don't try and play the "older depreciating asset needs help" card on us when Macy's is still owned by the city. Just don't.

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People say negative things in person, I assure you. No tax money has been spent. Private group is proposing. I keep saying it. Maybe this time it'll resonate. Had no reason to ask this thread other than I wanted to hear feedback. And older depreciating assets always need help. They just do. That's what depreciation means.

Bob Yancy said:

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Hornbeck said:

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Just a thought…

Can we fix the previous bad ideas that are still hanging around our collective necks before tackling another one?

I have seen zero (0) accountability and / or creative ideas what to do with the Macys building. The mayor came on WTAW, and dismissed us as a bunch of misinformed, tin foil hat wearing kooks after everything came out. and I'm guessing the mayor is done… its off the tax rolls, it needs millions to fix it…. I guess the collective opinion of our city leadership is to just ignore this huge albatross…

So, by all means, go fund another albatross…

My $0.02

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The real world requires attention to multiple issues on multiple fronts, constantly. No successful enterprise can afford to drop everything to address a past mistake. Macys is not being ignored. And WPC needs attention. And a private sector firm is offering. Multiple things can be, and often are, true at the same time.

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In my world a successful enterprise does not have a long term reputation of making multi million dollar mistakes on a regular basis.
I too vote to clean up the mess before starting another one.

Bob Yancy said:

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maroon barchetta said:

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Respectfully, you are more likely to have your fanboys and fangirls approach you in person to say nice things.

It's unlikely that people from this board or elsewhere would:

- know who you are if they saw you
- approach you to chat
- when chatting, decide to offer only negative input on what you do for the city or projects you have discussed here

Despite video evidence to the contrary on social media each day, there is not much of a chance some stranger is going to walk up to an elected official and berate them for a decision they make, especially at this level.

Your anecdotal evidence should not be a driver in making decisions on what to do with tax money. And if this WPC idea goes through, and it will because y'all are going to do what you want anyway and all of this asking this board is just a dog and pony show, we don't want the taxpayers to foot the bill should it fail.

If this is the ginormous epic project teased a couple of weeks ago, it's a let down.

Also, please don't try and play the "older depreciating asset needs help" card on us when Macy's is still owned by the city. Just don't.

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People say negative things in person, I assure you. No tax money has been spent. Private group is proposing. I keep saying it. Maybe this time it'll resonate. Had no reason to ask this thread other than I wanted to hear feedback. And older depreciating assets always need help. They just do. That's what depreciation means.

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If and when this project does require tax money will it be shut down?
In another thread the discussion on refunding funds to a neighborhood for the future loss of their ROO it was reported many of those funds went to fund staff time.
Who is funding staff time on this project?

Buford T. Justice said:

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I realize that your question was not directed to me, but I would like to offer a suggestion. Instead of committing to a fixed restaurant building, possibly consider parking slabs for food trucks, with covered patio seating/standing at the top of the hill.

But, something would have to be done with the generator noise.

Just a thought.

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Dedicated food truck locations with power to avoid generator noise were suggested by staff- perhaps as a result of your comment. In either event, thanks for the suggestion.

Respectfully

Yancy '95

Hornbeck said:

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Doesn't that area flood because, you know, the creek?

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Yes. It was designed and built back then with that in mind. I question that decision but hindsight is 20/20. Decisions regarding "where" to do something have always plagued the city. Convention center on Chimney Hill. WPC in a flood plain for an amphitheater, and the Rock Prairie landfill. The last remaining business park, etc. I am keenly focused on that on council and that history is why.

As for WPC, it's there now. Letting it fall into disrepair is not a viable option in my book. Nor is spending an inordinate amount of taxpayer dollars upgrading it. But if the private sector feels they can enhance this public good I say let them try.

Respectfully

Yancy '95

PS3D said:

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Bob Yancy said:

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Hornbeck said:

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Doesn't that area flood because, you know, the creek?

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Yes. It was designed and built back then with that in mind. I question that decision but hindsight is 20/20. Decisions regarding "where" to do something have always plagued the city. Convention center on Chimney Hill. WPC in a flood plain for an amphitheater, and the Rock Prairie landfill. The last remaining business park, etc. I am keenly focused on that on council and that history is why.

As for WPC, it's there now. Letting it fall into disrepair is not a viable option in my book. Nor is spending an inordinate amount of taxpayer dollars upgrading it. But if the private sector feels they can enhance this public good I say let them try.

Respectfully

Yancy '95

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You've repeatedly talked about how WPC is "in need of repair" but never stated exactly what needs to be repaired about it, or alternatives to said repair. I've scanned over this thread and not once have I seen what exactly is wrong with the amphitheater as-is, nor have seen any price quotes on the current operations.

Obviously the amphitheater is not making a profit, but that's not the point--to me, the construction and maintenance would result in a structure that costs MORE to the taxpayers, especially as I have major doubts that the big-ticket acts that the City clearly wants to happen are in its future.

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Howdy,

The bathrooms are in rough shape. There's no seating nor any shade. Food truck generators are noisy. The moat floods and leaves silt deposits that must be dug out by staff every time it rains an appreciable amount. Access to the backstage for equipment rigging is very limited for loading and unloading. It's a mix of repairs and upgrades that it would benefit from.

For all that, it's a public good that has provided some great events and memories over the years that I believe could be made much much better with some modest investments by the private sector, which has approached us and asked if they can submit a proposal. To which we said "yes."

That proposal will come before in the next few meetings. What they propose, how much they'll invest, how much they are willing to pay the taxpayer to use the facility and book talent.

That's it, man. Nothing more. Nothing less. I hope that makes sense.

Respectfully

Bob Yancy '95