The Iliad, The Odyssey, and The Amphitheatre
July 20, 2009
Certainly I am disappointed with today’s council vote. I believe in my heart of hearts- with all the arguments presented over many years and all the consultant reports (costing upwards of $800,000) in previous council meetings and on this blog- that a downtown Roanoke Amphitheatre in Elmwood Park coming on line in three to four years will be best thing for downtown Roanoke, economic development and population growth that council can do in its Capital Improvement Plan next to a renovated market building. Two weeks ago the A and E design phase for an amphitheatre was approved 6-1, today without any new information and in my long planned absence it was voted down 4-2.
I am disappointed that it won’t happen but I am also disappointed that my colleagues on city council who had promised me they would table it so we could ALL be present to debate it did not do so. I spent a lot of time over the weekend sending out emails outlining the reasons behind my point of view. There are very many real concerns about this project but council over years has enlisted the advice of numerous consultants that have all supported the economic benefits and viability of an outdoor performing arts venue that would host concerts, festivals, even high school graduations.
If I knew then what I know now, I honestly do not believe I would support the tearing down of the obsolete Victory Stadium. If I knew how hard it was to start bold capital improvement projects in Roanoke, I would have supported a renovation of Victory Stadium to present day usage- namely an outdoor performing arts venue. I ran- with current council member Mrs. Mason on this issue. I supported Mr. Rosen and Vice Mayor Lea who said they supported the concept. Kudos to our leaders from long ago who actually built a 20,000 seat stadium that was well used and had an economic impact for decades. Yes we are in a recession, but after years of planning the debt for this project phased over the next 4 years had been long planned and financially we were and have been ready to go on what citizens labelled as the number two desired park and recreation capital project (next to greenways).
What are we going to do with that debt issuance now? I really don’t think anybody knows at this point- possibly just do nothing- that is certainly the easier decision. I am afraid politics entered the picture here- otherwise why did Mason, Rosen and Lea all vote for the project just two weeks ago. Again no other new information has been provided in the intervening two weeks. I can understand voting against it today from a political standpoint but why vote for it two weeks ago?
Ok I feel better. The last point I want to make is that the MAIN reason I ran for council three years ago was that I was tired of issues never being resolved on Roanoke City Council- decisions, if they occurred, were often changed, revoted on or scrapped well into the process. This was a very real concern with a long amphitheatre capital project- but one that elected leaders must chose to ignore and make the most informed decisions at the present time that they think are best for the city- no matter what they fear may happen six months or a year or two years down the road.
So with all this said- I will not participate in rehashing decided issues. As of today, the amphitheatre project is dead and I for one will not be bringing it up again. There are many other issues- though this one has been tied to me given my interest, my beliefs and the time I have taken to understand it well- that I also support, understand very well, have researched and will be pushing for this council. I intend to be a team/council player, one that can debate as best I can on issues and win or lose move on to the next issue. While I thought this issue had been decided by an informed super majority two weeks ago, I was wrong - but in my mind - today was the final vote. Given that this Odyssey is over I can only hope for a Brave New World on Roanoke City Council.
What are your thoughts?
Dave
PS: the picture to the left is the design planned for Elmwood Park
Maybe there is a large wide open space inside the heads of council members suitable for live performances…hence no need for an amphitheatre at all. The opening act in those cranial venues? The Righteous Bastards.
Seriously, it’s sad to see this issue go the way it did. I hope you will not lose heart and still champion the causes that will help Roanoke become the city it must be to continue to thrive into this new century.
[...] Dr. Dave Trinkle (bless his broken amphitheater heart) has been left holding the pieces of Victory Stadium wishing he could put it all back together again. [...]
So lets recap…
Roanoke spent 800,000 to determine Victory Stadium needed to be torn down and that an amphitheater would be helpful to the economy and the people of Roanoke and Southwest Virginia, and then voted 4-2 against the ideas of the people that were paid to decide what was best for the area.
How about we use a little common sense here? Victory Stadium needed to be town down, I could have told you that without spending a dime. The amphitheatre was a great idea. Too bad the city council lacked the backbone to do something helpful to promote growth in the area. How about not spending an insane amount of money to determine something that was common fact.
[...] In December 2010 when Council scrubbed the big Elmwood Park amphitheater project Vice-Mayor David Trinkle said that the park “is the gateway to the downtown area.” He wanted city staff to “go back to the drawing table” with the knowledge gained from past studies. In a July 20, 2009 blog post he estimated that consultant reports had already cost upwards of $800,0… [...]