Updating the conference center, new events center part of project proposal

(http://enidnews.com/localnews/x1836250844/Updating-the-conferencecenter-new-events-center-part-of-project-proposal)
By Robert Barron, Staff Writer
Enid News & Eagle (http://enidnews.com)

ENID — Part of a proposed $40 million downtown renovation project will be updating and expanding Cherokee Strip Conference Center, which was built in 1987, and constructing a new 4,500-seat events center.

Enid residents will decide Tuesday on a $20 million bond issue, which, if approved, will be matched with another $20 million from the city to create a $40 million downtown redevelopment project called the Gateway Enid initiative, officials said.

The Gateway Enid project would renovate Enidʼs downtown, but also make it visible and appealing to people driving by on Garriott.

In addition to renovating the conference center and building the events center, the project also includes:
• Renovating Convention Hall/Mark Price Arena.
• A large public green area and plazas.

Once the projects are complete, the finished result is expected to bring tournaments, performances, conferences and businesses of all types to Enidʼs downtown area.

“I expect it to bring better facilities for people who live here for everything from wedding receptions to family reunions to any sort of meeting space business needs,” said Molly Helm, a spokeswoman for the study committee on the Gateway Enid project. “Better facilities for our citizens, as well as concert and sports venues. Those bring people in from out of town because we can offer more.”

The current conference center combines a new structure with two existing Maine Street buildings, along with parking and loading. The building occupies a full block of downtown Enidʼs civic area. A study by Hunden Strategic Partners states the overall impression of the conference center is pleasant, but dated. The center could play an important part in the downtown development, along with the events center and remodeled Convention Center/Mark Price Arena.

Hunden Partnersʼ survey recommended the conference center be remodeled so the 11,800- square-foot space is more ideally suited to a ballroom. That renovation would require addition of carpet, improved wall decor and acoustical upgrades, along with other physical changes expanding the main space to accommodate a number of simultaneous functions. Along with the new events center, the area could attract events such as conventions and trade shows, consumer shows, sports events, conferences, concerts, corporate training and other meetings and banquets.

Some of the events also will rely on the attraction of a downtown hotel, which Hunden research indicates could be attracted if the bond issue is approved and the downtown redevelopment is done.

The cost of the Cherokee Strip Conference Center project is estimated at $2.5 million by the Hunden research group. The cost of constructing an events center is projected to be $16 million to $18 million, depending on which of three downtown scenarios is chosen.

The events center would become the home to Enid High Schoolʼs basketball teams. It also could be used for trade shows, concerts and other events.

City officials have estimated the downtown renovation project could attract 300,000 people a year to Enid by the next decade. Those people would be coming for the added sporting events, cultural amenities, receptions and banquets, performances and even conventions, should a downtown hotel be built by private investors. Helm, who was formerly associated with Leonardoʼs Discovery Warehouse and Adventure Quest, said that museum currently sees as many as 90,000 people a year.

“When you think that small museum has that many visitors, and tens of thousands are school kids on field trips, I donʼt think itʼs unreasonable to say several hundred thousand will go through during a year,” Helm said.

A 75,000-square-foot events center and updated conference center could host regional basketball tournaments that easily would increase the number of visitors, she said.

“People need space, and we donʼt have it, on a regional basis it sounds very promising,” Helm said.

Helm emphasized the community will not grow to be 300,000 population, but other people will come to Enid to enjoy what is here.

“It wonʼt turn us into a big city, just provide amenities that a community this size can support,” Helm said.

$20 million bond issue

(http://enidnews.com/localnews/x1358984900/-20-million-bond-issue)
Renovation of Convention Hall, construction of event center top tonightʼs city commission meeting
By Robert Barron, Staff Writer
Enid News and Eagle (http://enidnews.com)

ENID — Enid city commissioners will vote tonight on a $20 million bond issue to renovate Convention Hall and construct a downtown event center.

The vote will come during the 6:30 p.m. Enid City Commission meeting at the city administration building, 401 W. Garriott.

If the plan passes, a special election on the bond issue will be Aug. 24. “The critical part is that we canʼt continue to have economic growth if we simply wait on more people to come here and buy water,” said City Manager Eric Benson. “Half of our economic vitality is built by sales tax, and that can only be generated by drawing more people to Enid.”

Under the plan, Convention Hall, which includes Mark Price Arena, would undergo a multi-level $5.5 million revitalization. It would remain a city asset, while Enid Public Schools also would use the facility and share in the expense of running it.

Mark Price Arena would become home to Enid High Schoolʼs basketball teams again. The teams had played at Mark Price Arena until it was closed due to concerns about Americans With Disabilities Act compliance. The past two seasons, EHS basketball teams played their home games at the Mabee Center at Northern Oklahoma College Enid.

The city still would use Convention Hall for other revenue-generating options, in addition to building the new event center downtown, next to Convention Hall.

“The school will have a permanent field house and associated facilities there, and the city will use it as a revenue generator,” Benson said.

If the bond issue is passed by voters, the new event center would be a 75,000-square-foot building with 35,000 square feet of exhibit space and roll-out bleacher seats. It would have a seating capacity of 4,500.

A third element of the plan would be expansion of Cherokee Strip Conference Center.

“Enid needs to be a destination spot where people come to attend a variety of venues, attractive venues, and it can be anything like a trade show, training conventions, tourism opportunities or athletic events,” Benson said.

He said Enid has a great opportunity for attracting high school and college athletic events, with a national tie-in through David Allen Memorial Ballpark.

A study shows the city could see 300,000 additional visits per year, he said, with national chamber of commerce statistics showing each visitor spends an average of $150 to $200 per day.

Drawing more people to Enid would bring investment to the downtown area, Benson said. He said putting millions into downtown will compel people to invest even more in the downtown economy, including more businesses, restaurants and other facilities.

The commission has been working on the downtown project for two years, with Ward 2 Commissioner Don Rose as chairman of the committee looking at proposals, along with Ward 6 Commissioner Todd Ging and recently Ward 4 Commissioner Drew Ritchie.

The committee also involved a number of Enid business and community leaders.

“A natural tie-in is a hotel, but weʼre not asking voters to pay for that. It will come as a natural development,” Benson said.

The city is two years away from paying off a general obligation bond approved by voters for bridge repairs and replacements.

The emergency resolution scheduled for a vote today will establish a sinking fund for payment of principal but also states at no time will taxable property be subject to a special tax in excess of 5 mills on the dollar for all bonds issued.

Also on the commission agenda is final consideration and approval of the fiscal year 2011 city budget.

The Enid