No WhiteWash!

MeadowView had its grand opening on August 18, 2009 for the expanded hotel that is adjacent to the City of Kingsport Convention Center.  There has been some confusing statements made in the Kingsport Times-News articles below.

There are conflicting statements as how much Meadowview has brought to the area. The Times-News editorial below states property values have increase to $83 million and the August 18 Times-News article below states two different property values ($60 million to over $80 million) and also two different property tax numbers ($1.16 million and $650,000).

Linking the MeadowView Hotel and the Convention Center with other building investments in the MeadowView area is wrong.  It is more of a case that the land was available to build on and developers took advantage of that.

When I visit my doctor in the Meadowview area, I do not stay at the MeadowView Resort and Convention Center at prices that start at $159.00 per night.  In addition, if I wanted to go to Eastman Credit Union, get my hearing checked, get a cup of coffee, get my teeth worked on, have plastic surgery, go to the Social Security office, etc., I don’t have a need for the MeadowView Resort and Convention Center.

It is apparent that the city leaders are attempting to ride on the coattails of the surrounding businesses to justify the MeadowView Convention Center Expansion.

I am sure that the surrounding businesses do not need to ride on the coattails of MeadowView Resort and Convention Center.  They would do just fine if there were no MeadowView Resort and Convention Center.

Meadowview Conference Center does not make money and the taxpayers are the ones that are keeping it afloat. $1.3 million is what is needed each year from the taxpayers to keep it operational and it is very clear that the City of Kingsport is not capable of managing the convention center to make a profit. It would be in the best interest of the taxpayers to give the convention center to private enterprise or to tear it down.

The city plans to expand the convention center at a cost of around $15 million, which would make the taxpayers investment in Meadowview about $41 million   This $41 million includes the golf course, current convention center and the new expanded convention center.

Kingsport Times-News Editorial – August 17, 2009

Three years before MeadowView opened its doors in 1996, appraised property values in the MeadowView Gateway area were $2.7 million. By last year, property values had increased more than thirty-fold to $83 million.

Renovated, expanded MeadowView Marriott marks grand opening – August 18, 2009

it has generated more than $60 million in new private-sector investments in that portion of town. Those investments in turn have generated more than $1.16 million in new property taxes each year.

….This is truly a partnership,” said Mayor Dennis Phillips. “It’s a win-win for the city.”

He said before MeadowView was built, the property was assessed at $2.5 million. Today, the value has jumped to more than $80 million.

“That’s an additional $650,000 a year to city coffers,” Phillips said. “This community owes you (MeadowView) a great debt of gratitude.”

See the following link for more information on MeadowView