GPAC: Two Can Play That Game!

The following e-mail was circulated by the pro GPAC forces on Friday. I thought 2 can play that game but to be fair I called 1 city councilmember and asked his/her opinion. He/she said the City Council would be happy to take our telephone calls against GPAC. Remember: They vote tomorrow night.

Thanks -Billy Jones, your friendly freelance neighborhood Tyrannicide.

PS. Please forward this to every other anti-GPAC resident you know.

From: owner-gnc-l@lists.uncg.edu [mailto:owner-gnc-l@lists.uncg.edu] On Behalf Of Donna Newton
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2012 11:28 AM
To: Congress Listserve
Subject: Greensboro Performing Arts Center update

 

I hope you have enjoyed reading about the important progress made toward the Greensboro Performing Arts Center (“GPAC”) this week.  In case you missed the articles on the front page of the News and Record, you can click here to read them (http://www.news-record.com/home/360481-91/design-team-former-ywca-site; http://www.news-record.com/home/366271-63/new-downtown-park-may-adjoin; http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2012/11/28/new-city-park-to-complement-greensboro.html?ana=e_du_pub&s=article_du&ed=2012-11-28)

The progress made has been the result of many hours of strong volunteer leadership and the work of our outstanding consultants, AMS and the NY architectural firm H3.  We have pushed this project further along than many ever thought possible, which is evidence that this community strongly desires a new, state-of-the-art performing arts facility.  I am writing because I know you have expressed an interest in GPAC and we now need your help more than ever.  The GPAC Task Force will make its final report to City Council next Tuesday.  It is urgent that we have the support of City Council, and there are several members who need to understand how supportive our community is of this project.   I am asking you to call and email all the City Council members you know to express your strong support for GPAC.  The more calls and emails our Council members receive, the more likely they are to support this important project.  They need to hear from their constituents that a new performing arts center is critical to Greensboro and must be done now.

Here are the quick facts:

·         We are building a 21^st century, flexible 3,000 seat hall that will accommodate Broadway shows, the Symphony, EMF, family entertainment, and large spectaculars/concerts.  It will be unique to Greensboro and the most flexible building of its kind in the Southeast, and one of the most flexible in the country.

·         The budget is $60 million; $40 million from the public sector; $20 million from the private sector (the single largest private sector support of a community project ever!)

·         It will be situated on the old YWCA property that was recently purchased by the City – the ideal location for this project as it will be the centerpiece of our Cultural Arts District

·         There will be a new, privately funded public park adjacent to the facility providing unlimited programming opportunities for everyone in the community, truly making this facility unlike any of its kind in the country

·         It will be operated by a new Cultural Trust to assure it has a sound business plan and the necessary resources to assure its long-term competitiveness

·         The City is exploring using limited obligation bonds (which do not require voter approval) verses a general obligation bond (which does require voter approval).  The City has the available resources to fund its $40 million obligation without any impact on tax rates.  A general obligation bond puts 100% of the debt service on the backs of property owners; a limited obligation bonds spreads out this burden amongst the actual users of the facility.  It is for this reason, the Task recommends limited obligation bonds.

·         The private sector support will have to be securely in place before any bonds are issued.

 

Additionally, the Task Force has shown that this project is economically viable

·         The construction of the building will have a $30 million economic impact; it will support 1,268 jobs during construction

·         The annual economic impact will be over $7 million

·         It will draw more than 300,000 visitors to our downtown and community every year

 

Please tell our City Council members that you expect them to show real leadership by supporting this critical project.  A new Performing Art Center will benefit downtown, will support  the Arts and will help  our entire community by making Greensboro a more attractive place to live and work.   The time is right for our community.  The private sector has stepped up; it’s time for our elected leaders to show the same type of courageous leadership.

 

Here is the list of our current City Council.  Please call the ones you know before next Tuesday.

Mayor - Robbie Perkins (City phone: 336-373-2396; Business phone: 336-358-3219)
At Large Council Member - Yvonne Johnson (City phone: 336-373-2396; Home phone: 336-375-5173; cell - 336-255-3060)
At Large Council Member - Nancy Vaughan (City phone: 336-373-2396; Voice mail: 336-373-2441) 
At Large Council Member - Marikay Abuzuaiter (City phone: 336-373-2396; Cell: 336-314-9620)
District 1 Council Member - T. Dianne Bellamy-Small (City phone: 336-373-2396; Voice Mail: 336-373-2286) 
District 2 Council Member - Jim Kee (City phone: 336-373-2396; Voice mail: 336-373-2391) 
District 3 Council Member - Zack Matheny (City phone: 336-373-2396; Voice mail: 336-373-4638) 
District 4 Council Member - Nancy H=

Update: Add Nancy Hoffman to the list: Cell: 336-255-1306