State Budget Committee OKs funding for Hulman Center project

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SycamoreStateofMind said:
Of course not - because no matter what some of you will never see fault in anything that the University does.

Were not talking about the jail, high schools etc. You brought that up - not me. Don't bring that shit show into this discussion.

This is a discussion about that convention center and the HC - nothing else. All of the money has already been allocated, all of the taxes have already been passed - the project is moving forward. Gibson is behind it and he's not going to let some ridiculousness get in the way of getting it done. Because of this project we're going to have some much needed additional parking downtown (parking garage)and potentially a new hotel. That entire block is going to be reformed just like much of downtown was reformed when the Terre Haute House finally got torn down.

So you can keep telling yourself what makes you feel better. You're protecting Indiana State which hasn't started a renovation of the HC after 3+ years of conversation, drawings, state committed funding, re-bid etc. etc. Please spare me. This thread was started in February 2015 with a rendering and all. This February - when basketball is finishing up will mark 4 years and construction is yet to begin. I can't help you if you can't see the problem with that.
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Do you ever rest or do you stay up and wait to play the blame game every time something about this pops up. First of all, it’s a great idea. Remember, the Garden Inn is done so build (and link it) to HC and the Convo Center and let the fricking CITY pay for it. HC gets updated and the University takes control of it. I hate to see the Copper gone but maybe that sports bar will be built by Rob (i’d put money on it). I really don’t get why you guys love to throw blame around, who gives a fuck when they are BOTH done. It’s a great idea and maybe, just maybe, both sides can move on. We’ll see if it’s big enough to bring in some needed business. You’ll start getting time lines pretty soon on Hulman Center. It’ll make sense to at least a few of you.
 
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I wouldn't risk too much of your money on Rob. You might end up in a similar financial situation.

He apparently owes over $100k in backed taxes on the Indiana Theater and hasn't made a single payment since 2016. My understanding is he's looking a similar backed-tax figure on the Copper Bar. It's usually not really good for business when a property you own starts showing up in a tax sale.

Oh the irony, the timing of this article is just hilarious. Some of this will start to make sense for most of you anyway.

http://www.tribstar.com/news/local_...cle_905c1226-533d-5b4a-97cc-6c00e0aaf618.html
 
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SycamoreStateofMind said:
I wouldn't risk too much of your money on Rob. You might end up in a similar financial situation.

He apparently owes over $100k in backed taxes on the Indiana Theater and hasn't made a single payment since 2016. My understanding is he's looking a similar figure on the Copper Bar. It's usually not really good for business when a property you own starts showing up in a tax sale.

Oh the irony, the timing of this article is just hilarious. Some of this will start to make sense for most of you anyway.

http://www.tribstar.com/news/local_...cle_905c1226-533d-5b4a-97cc-6c00e0aaf618.html
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"Business as usual" ?

Isn't that what got you to the point where you owe $100k in back taxes? It may be time to try something unusual.
 
SycamoreStateofMind said:
I wouldn't risk too much of your money on Rob. You might end up in a similar financial situation.

He apparently owes over $100k in backed taxes on the Indiana Theater and hasn't made a single payment since 2016. My understanding is he's looking a similar backed-tax figure on the Copper Bar. It's usually not really good for business when a property you own starts showing up in a tax sale.

Oh the irony, the timing of this article is just hilarious. Some of this will start to make sense for most of you anyway.

http://www.tribstar.com/news/local_...cle_905c1226-533d-5b4a-97cc-6c00e0aaf618.html
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Good info. No argument there. Plan B’s likely to find someone with a better balance sheet. It shouldn’t be that difficult for the Garden Inn to step in so there’s another option. I don’t know Rob well, I knew his brother. The Copper appears to be a moneymaker but the Indiana has to be an albatross most of the time. The whole idea of the Convo Center makes sense but it’ll need to be a team concept from here on out!
 
Bally #50 said:
Good info. No argument there. Plan B’s likely to find someone with a better balance sheet. It shouldn’t be that difficult for the Garden Inn to step in so there’s another option. I don’t know Rob well, I knew his brother. The Copper appears to be a moneymaker but the Indiana has to be an albatross most of the time. The whole idea of the Convo Center makes sense but it’ll need to be a team concept from here on out!
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I think the Copper is making money - but not enough to pay his taxes. Again, my understanding is that they have some taxes owed on the Copper as well. At the end of the day it doesn't really matter as it's going to be demo'd soon anyway. I think a franchise of some sort will probably come in next - I don't think it will be a locally owned bar this time around.
 
SycamoreStateofMind said:
I think the Copper is making money - but not enough to pay his taxes. Again, my understanding is that they have some taxes owed on the Copper as well. At the end of the day it doesn't really matter as it's going to be demo'd soon anyway. I think a franchise of some sort will probably come in next - I don't think it will be a locally owned bar this time around.
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Let’s not forget these two eyeing Terredice, SCOTTY’S BREWHOUSE and another you might not be aware of, BIG WOODS.
 

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Bally #50 said:
Let’s not forget these two eyeing Terredice, SCOTTY’S BREWHOUSE and another you might not be aware of, BIG WOODS.
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I wasn't but it doesn't surprise me - it's only a matter of time. Someone is going to dive in head first soon - they will do alright. It's just a matter of location, proximity to campus/convention center/downtown/HC and the big one - parking.
 
SycamoreStateofMind said:
I wasn't but it doesn't surprise me - it's only a matter of time. Someone is going to dive in head first soon - they will do alright. It's just a matter of location, proximity to campus/convention center/downtown/HC and the big one - parking.
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There's room for parking on the Garden Inn block. The sports bar is the easy part of the puzzle. Linking it to the hotel and HC's operations will be tough. I drove by that block the other day and the lobby at the Indiana Convention center is bigger. There's a need for it but doing it right (just like HC) is a challenge, as we can see.
 
TreeTop said:
From the article, and what President Curtis states, it sounds like there IS work getting done at HC. So, I'm encouraged by that.
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That's what I took away from it, too. In her word work has already started and this is all a non-issue.

Curious if that's actually the case...
 

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Would the naysayers who constantly ride ISU's butt about things not being done and give them credit for having some common sense is about how to make the best of tough situations. If you thinkt I am out of line, check some the bitching and griping that goes on on this board. I am amazed how some people have their hand out to the University and yet bitch about how stupid those making the decisions are. These people have the best interest of the school on their,minds. If you know how the system works, you know they are making progress in HC.
 
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I am a local and I see a lot of equipment and activity especially on the north side of hulman center everyday. Not sure what they're doing though.
 
rapala said:
Would the naysayers who constantly ride ISU's butt about things not being done and give them credit for having some common sense is about how to make the best of tough situations. If you thinkt I am out of line, check some the bitching and griping that goes on on this board. I am amazed how some people have their hand out to the University and yet bitch about how stupid those making the decisions are. These people have the best interest of the school on their,minds. If you know how the system works, you know they are making progress in HC.
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Bart created this thread February 2, 2015. We're 3 and a half years in and we're just now seeing construction equipment? All the article says is they're working on asbestos abatement.

I think the problem that a lot of folks have is we saw absolutely beautiful plans on what was going to be built. That got all of us INSANELY EXCITED at the possibility of us having not only the nicest facility in the Valley but maybe even the nicest in the Midwest, certainly among all mid-majors. Then we heard of delays yet again because of steel prices and then rumors from many in Terre Haute that the project would be scaled back.

Damn near everyone here has been positive on the project until having that squashed by the ISU/TH beef, posturing playing out through the paper and then Bradley's final announcement and now rumors of project changing because of steel price increases. While I'm going to remain optimistic, notice that there were no direct quotes in the article from Curtis about the previously released plans. Further, there still hasn't been a capital campaign launched to raise money for anything related, either. Lastly, when Butler did their Hinkle renovation/construction project, they had a website where you could follow the progress of what has been done as well as donate.

I want to believe. I really do.
 
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Jason, I too was excited about the original project, but all you have to do is look at the current convention center now being proposed, and you can see what is going on. It is pretty clear why Dan Bradley could see where it was going. I too would like to know more about what is happening right now, but I have confidence that those in charge want the best for the University and its students. As far as fun raising is concerned, it is what needs more transparency.
How is that for a big word for an old man! Thanks for allowing me to give my opinion. Last word, last night because TV is so bad right now, the wife and I watched the IU game again. The announcer kept talking about our three straight losing seasons and how things might change for us. Guess what three is now four. Things look better this year, but that's what we said four years running. A winner for four years running would help. God I would like to see that before I pass on. I always said I would never live to drive on 641. I was wrong, maybe I will see a winner yet!
 
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Jason Svoboda said:
Bart created this thread February 2, 2015. We're 3 and a half years in and we're just now seeing construction equipment? All the article says is they're working on asbestos abatement.

I think the problem that a lot of folks have is we saw absolutely beautiful plans on what was going to be built. That got all of us INSANELY EXCITED at the possibility of us having not only the nicest facility in the Valley but maybe even the nicest in the Midwest, certainly among all mid-majors. Then we heard of delays yet again because of steel prices and then rumors from many in Terre Haute that the project would be scaled back.

Damn near everyone here has been positive on the project until having that squashed by the ISU/TH beef, posturing playing out through the paper and then Bradley's final announcement and now rumors of project changing because of steel price increases. While I'm going to remain optimistic, notice that there were no direct quotes in the article from Curtis about the previously released plans. Further, there still hasn't been a capital campaign launched to raise money for anything related, either. Lastly, when Butler did their Hinkle renovation/construction project, they had a website where you could follow the progress of what has been done as well as donate.

I want to believe. I really do.
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On the fundraising end, the University has interviewed all three finalists for a permanent VP of Advancement/ISU Foundation Head or whatever title they're going to give him/her. Expect an announcement by the end of the month.

ISU spent over $100,000 on the search. That is not a typo. If the new head makes as much as Carpenter, or commands more, they'll make at least a quarter mil a year plus benefits and travel expense account. Throw in what we paid Smith to temporarily lead (as opposed to an in-house interim) and ISU is probably down a half million dollars before the new head has even raised one cent.

Gotta spend it to make it....I guess :-/
 
Have you guys heard who the contractor is going to be for the Hulman Center renovation? No? Me either... February 2015 and nothing to show for it.

Meanwhile the CIB has selected Garmong Construction as the CM for the new convention center project. November 2017 the CIB first announced they would go at it alone and build a stand-alone facility. Less than a year later - things are still progressing and a CM has been selected along with several details about the project.

http://www.tribstar.com/news/local_...cle_9e03024b-30c8-54fc-b955-05fa5765a0f6.html
 
Yeah the local politicians in this city/county are great. Raise our restaurant taxes to give Greg Gibson some more money. Raise our taxes for a convention center that no one will ever use and shut another street down while they're at it. The university on the other hand is actually doing this right. The bids came in higher than expected and they wanted to review it. The city on the other hand just wants to spend money it doesn't have and give someone more money. Anyone on the local council won't be getting my vote.
 
Frustrated as everyone else is (although you can't really name a contractor until you have accepted bids can you, so that's a mute point). Hard to believe they weren't prepared for this in the first place though and why they waited until just a very few weeks before dirt was suppose to fly to open bids.

Hopefully the new leadership at ISU will get all this …..Hulman Center, new football stadium, better funding, etc. all corrected in the very near future.
 
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