Archive: Caller comment board on the National Swim Center's re-emergence in Coliseum talks

From the Caller-Times, 11/2/09:

"The National Swimming Center Corp.’s plans for Memorial Coliseum are officially back on the table. Two other plans — one to reconsider a proposal dismissed last week and another to let the owner of a hockey team refurbish the building — aren’t off the table...City lawyers are evaluating whether the council can consider another offer, from IceRays majority owner Tim Lange, City Economic Development Director Irma Caballero said. After the council voted down Brass, Lange offered separately to refurbish and operate the coliseum.

...Whether Lange’s offer can be considered is unclear because he was a member of the Brass proposal team and his separate offer is outside the city’s bid process. The city can consider the swimming corporation because it was the runner-up in the bidding.
Adame said he would be surprised if the council entertained Lange’s proposal because it moves a tenant of the American Bank Center to the coliseum without added development. 'There’s no way I could support something like that,' he said."




BeverlysMom writes:
This plan is different from anything we've had. It doesn't clog up the Bayfront with a bunch of stuff and it's something people would actually come from elsewhere to use. A double plus.
November 2, 2009
10:19 p.m.


ivoidwarranties writes:
Go IceRays!
November 2, 2009
11:27 p.m.


rubine99 writes:
Oh yay a swimming pool! How exciting. This is something I can do every weekend with my family. Just tear the darn thing down already.
November 3, 2009
12:06 a.m.


d.clark#456008 writes:
The swimming corporation, an Austin-based nonprofit, has not yet built a swimming pool. It is in negotiations with Cape Coral, Fla., for a larger center.
Negotiations have gone on for four years. Please follow the attached link and see the double speak coming out of this company. Pay particular attention to this comment. "John McIlhargy, board member of the National Swim Center Corp. and director of project development for USA Swimming, said Thursday the NCAA was ready to host its combined championships in Cape Coral." Interestingly enough, this same group promised NorthSide (San Antonio)a minimum of five events. What exactly is coming to Corpus again? 
www.news-press.com/article/20091003/NEWS0101/910030360/1075
"Northside's proposal has been endorsed by the national governing body for the sport of swimming, USA Swimming, which has promised the venue a minimum of five events per year." This project has been in the works for two years. It goes for a vote in May and is funded by continuing an existing visitor tax. Why does anyone think that two "National" pools within 150 miles of each other would work. Why would anyone think that given the opportunity, a group would come to Corpus over San Antonio? More hotels, more flights, more restaurants and definitely more to do.
Corpus Christi already has a fee based aquatics center, there is no way that it can support two! Yes, they will charge a fee for use. They stated in a previous article that they would also be depending on fundraising to cover yearly overhead (Speedo, Toyota)in this economy i highly doubt it. I am guessing that they are throwing numerous irons in the fire and once the first one is ready they are going to pull the rest out. The powers that be need to really do some research before they are alllowed to even enter into any studies..BTW it cost coral $50,000 to enter into negotiations with them.
I do not see where this project is going to be a significant economic boon for the local economy. As badly as we all want something done, we cannot do this for the sake of doing something.
November 3, 2009
12:19 a.m.


AZ85138 writes:
Swimming Pool? Are you kidding me? This isn't going to generate money.
A hockey arena? good for the season but what about off season? 7 months of unemployment and not a money maker.
You need NEW HOUSING, FOOD CHAINS, A PARK, AND A MOVIE THEATER.
November 3, 2009
6:48 a.m.


penname writes:
The National Swimming Center Corporation has a viable proposal and is backed by a major company in Austin (Alexandrina Management.) It wants the bayfront location because it can partner with other Olympic aquatic events - sailing, open water swimming and beach volley ball.
They would also develop the land behind the Coliseum, which is desirable.
Take a look at their University Park $700 million development:
http://universityparkaustin.com/categ...
November 3, 2009
7:07 a.m.


tartntaffy writes:
Come on already.... Make a decision... I used to have some respect for Corpus Christi City Council, but this has turned into a 3-ring circus.. much like Conneaut, OH..(a small town in our area)... We read their news each day to see who the idiot of the day is... and what asanine stunt have they pulled now.. Your handling of the Coliseum situation seems to be the same level of entertainment to the reading public..
November 3, 2009
7:37 a.m.


Riptide writes:
Round & round we go. We've been going round & round for a very long time. We need better city leaders. This Merry-go-round has got to stop.
November 3, 2009
9 a.m.


cctx361 writes:
are you f'n serious, these people want to make a swim center, this city council we have sucks they don't know what to do, bunch of old people wanting a swim center, stupid a$$ people we have controlling our city. we need attractions to attract people a swim center is not going to do that. just shows you how creative this so called city council is.
November 3, 2009
9:53 a.m.


Mom5 writes:
They need to make something for THE KIDS!!!!!!!!! Damn this pisses me off so bad. An ICE RINK?!?!?! Come on, you had it then you moved to ABC, so why the hell go BACK...o wait, this is CORPUS, can't make a DAMN STEP FORWARD!!!!!!!! There is a place in Austin, one of many, called Main Event. It has a bowling alley, laser tag, rock climbing and play area and it's freaking AWESOME. My kids have SO MUCH FUN WHEN THEY ARE IN AUSTIN. It's a shame we have to go so far to entertain our kids. Why don't they make something like that HERE! Geez, we have the beach, the freakin' natatorium, and the water park in Aransas. WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER WATER PARK OR SWIMMING POOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There are so many other avenues they can take on this...I don't understand?!?!?!
November 3, 2009
10:29 a.m.

Trex_In_Corpus writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
November 3, 2009
12:06 p.m.


DrJackShepherd writes:
After two years of use, the city will realize that the swimming center didn't work out well. The city will be left with another financial mess...a swimming pool contained within one very ugly building. The downtown waterfront will remain...unvisited.
November 3, 2009
12:45 p.m.


HowdyDoody writes:
sad times bro, sad times
November 3, 2009
5:52 p.m.


FishFlats writes:
stupidest thing yet,ill go with Dr Shepard on this one,and i like Mark Scotts idea.kids park ?cant take care of the one we have now..and the city says we cant meet budget ?breaking news..dont spend it if you dont have it.
November 3, 2009
10:08 p.m.


HowdyDoody writes:
Swimmin' eh? I don't know what describes your MO the best corpitos - the American Crawl or the Backstroke.
November 4, 2009
9:28 a.m.


southtexasdog writes:
Let me repeat myself...Unless Leon Leob and family are on board, this will not work either...they will kill it like a cancer...Adame has failed his leadership test and wimped out...
Oh Yeah what ever happened to Leon's promised bayfront proposal he used to kill the Landry deal and get a city manager fired??? 
You think the stink of that firing is not still out there? City Managers Association has a big black marker for city's like CC and only desperate managers will apply...nobody else will have-em. Thus you get failure after failure.
And politicians like Adame sink us further when leadership oppurtunities arise and he turns tail and runs...only thing in the middle of the road in politics is yellow stripes and dead armadillos...case in point...Joe A. got run over by being in the middle!
Well KMA!!! Another bayfront deal gone down the tubes...lets see, I lose count..first there was the eighties landmass deal that would build retail shops, and restaurants on the Bayfront..shot down by the "aginners", then there was the 1/2 cent sales tax for economic developement that was shot down by the aginners, then there was the Landry Deal shot down by the Yacht club elitists...now the Brass deal...who killed that baby??? the Yacht club again?
Joe Adame was my hope for LEADERSHIP and instead he "WIMPED OUT" at the first sling of mud at his reputation...get over it, your in politics Joe baby..and all is fair in politics...can't stand any heat then get out...
But let some one lead for Christ's sake! or (Corpus Christi's)
yep Henry learned that his old try and please everybody politics came back to bite his butt.
San Antonio has left us in the dust for years because of this "no leadership and who's in my pocket town mentality". Loser mentality for a loser town with no future because it was allowed to be squandered away by people with no vision, Luther Jones, Betty Turner, Mary Rhodes, Henry Garrett and now Adame is quickly showing no guts no glory.
A city with a beautiful bayfront and it cannot get it's act together...Take a look at what could be by looking at Seattles Bayfront and Pikes Market...
And we have more miles of bayfront than Seattle.
November 4, 2009
3:29 p.m.


borntobewild writes:
Swimming pool? It's going to "sink" rather than"swim" as in "sink or swim."
The swimming pool idea will not reach the diverse needs and desires of our city. Will the chlorine kill the H1N1 germs? Boy, what a breeding ground for that.
And Scott's "lemonade" idea is sour in my opinion. What a waste of land to have it just sitting there.
I'm still in favor of the Brass project.
November 4, 2009
4:47 p.m.


CCTXCN writes:
This is a looser! Just like the ABC!
Just pour the taxpayers money down the drain! The only reason it is being looked at is because the heat from doing nothing is heating up!
We need venues to increase money comming into the city !
November 5, 2009
8:51 a.m.


Trex_In_Corpus writes:
I am willing to run for city council - why dont you give me a chance.
November 6, 2009
6:04 a.m.


Hecho writes:
in response to southtexasdog:
Let me repeat myself...Unless Leon Leob and family are on board, this will not work either...they will kill it like a cancer...Adame has failed his leadership test and wimped out...
Oh Yeah what ever happened to Leon's promised bayfront proposal he used to kill the Landry deal and get a city manager fired??? 
You think the stink of that firing is not still out there? City Managers Association has a big black marker for city's like CC and only desperate managers will apply...nobody else will have-em. Thus you get failure after failure.
And politicians like Adame sink us further when leadership oppurtunities arise and he turns tail and runs...only thing in the middle of the road in politics is yellow stripes and dead armadillos...case in point...Joe A. got run over by being in the middle!
Well KMA!!! Another bayfront deal gone down the tubes...lets see, I lose count..first there was the eighties landmass deal that would build retail shops, and restaurants on the Bayfront..shot down by the "aginners", then there was the 1/2 cent sales tax for economic developement that was shot down by the aginners, then there was the Landry Deal shot down by the Yacht club elitists...now the Brass deal...who killed that baby??? the Yacht club again?
Joe Adame was my hope for LEADERSHIP and instead he "WIMPED OUT" at the first sling of mud at his reputation...get over it, your in politics Joe baby..and all is fair in politics...can't stand any heat then get out...
But let some one lead for Christ's sake! or (Corpus Christi's)
yep Henry learned that his old try and please everybody politics came back to bite his butt.
San Antonio has left us in the dust for years because of this "no leadership and who's in my pocket town mentality". Loser mentality for a loser town with no future because it was allowed to be squandered away by people with no vision, Luther Jones, Betty Turner, Mary Rhodes, Henry Garrett and now Adame is quickly showing no guts no glory.
A city with a beautiful bayfront and it cannot get it's act together...Take a look at what could be by looking at Seattles Bayfront and Pikes Market...
And we have more miles of bayfront than Seattle.
Sorry to say that you are right. I hear that Priscilla Leal has turned into a flip flopper as well-she was gaining speed for holding strong to what she belives in. Mark Scott is to blame for this fiasco.
November 8, 2009
10:34 a.m.


cowboy writes:
I think our city leaders like to shoot down these big venues so they can raise our property taxes to make the city money. hell my taxes have gone up 400% in the last 6 yrs, keep shooting them down city council so that we all wind-up moving out cause we can't afford to live here!