Changes could be in store for Victoria Community Center
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By the numbers
Avalanche Consulting Inc. and BRW Architects conducted the market analysis and feasibility study for the community center.
The city has agreed to pay up to $34,500 for the study.
The Victoria Community Center arena would go away under a scenario presented by a consultant Wednesday to the parks commission.
That arena would be replaced with space for an exhibit hall and meeting rooms that could double the capacity of the community center dome.
"But this is just a concept," said Doug Cochran, the city's director of parks and recreation. "It's just an architect's concept of what could happen."
Members of the parks commission made it clear that whatever improvements are made to the community center should include a component for the agricultural community.
Amy Holloway with Avalanche Consulting Inc. of Austin was hired to work with the city to address concerns that the community may have outgrown the community center.
She presented two scenarios to a joint session of the parks commission and city council.
The first scenario leaves the community center complex much as it is now, but adds storage space and makes needed equipment and facility repairs.
The second scenario would replace the arena with a large exhibit hall and meeting rooms. That could double the capacity of the dome, which is currently 1,200 people.
That option could attract 20 new events per year, including 10 overnight events and 10 one-day events, Holloway said.
She asked the parks commission for additional options.
"I've been a fan of Scenario 2 since we started talking about it," Commissioner Vic Caldwell said. "But I also think we need a place for the stock show and we need a place for 4-H."
Eliminating the arena could displace such events as the wild horse auction and possibly the Victoria Livestock Show and the Shrine Circus.
The parks commission asked Holloway to look at variations to the second scenario.
That could include everything from:
Leaving the current arena and constructing another building for meetings.
Converting the arena to meeting space and building a separate facility for the agricultural community.
Holloway said she would prepare rough estimates on economic impact and construction costs for the different scenarios. They will be presented to the parks commission on Nov. 9 and commissioners will recommend a scenario for her to flesh out for presentation as a recommendation to the city council.
Comments
The Berry Center in Cypress Texas is an awesome facility. It is more than Victoria could justify, but it would be nice. www.berrycenter.net
October 29, 2009 at 9:44 p.m.I absolutely agree. Please, I beg the city not to waste another dime in that rat trap. It's old and out dated. It's certainly not anything we want our visitors and guest from out of town to experience. Tear it down and use my tax dollars to build something bigger, more modern, and worthy of hosting concerts and "real" events that people would actually attend.
As far as the city baseball complex is concerned, they really missed the boat on that deal. Out of town select baseball teams aren't coming, because they can play much better venues and spend alot less money in San Antonio, Houston, and Austin. Who in the heck wants to come to Victoria Texas for a 2 day run of the mill, below average baseball or softball tournament? Yeah, you can argue that teams from Hallettsville, Yoakum, maybe Port Lavaca will show, but who cares! These people don't spend the money in the hotels, etc. They turn right around and go home after their done playing, and quite honestly the competition is poor compared to Houston and the bigger cities. The tournaments that have been offerred so far have no "hook". They are standard 3 game guaranteed tournaments, with no hotel discounts, and no events that coincide with the tournament. There aren't eeven corporate sponsors? Why not?
The worst thing of all is that the "beautiful new complex" is located in the darn Ghetto! The south side of Victoria was certainly not where you would build "your jewel" of a complex. That side of town, especially as you drive down to that facility is an absolute hell hole to be frank. Sorry, but graffitti lined fences and a Strip Club with a few shanties thrown in, isn't exactly what I will let my family spend the weekend looking at.
Victoria, is a nasty little town in many parts. Sorry, just speaking the truth folks.
October 29, 2009 at 10:20 a.m.Don't spend another dime on the existing structure. It is way too small to host anything worthwhile. Tear it down and build a new, modernized center about three times as large. Maybe then we could actually get some worthwhile entertainment in this town. Any kind of renovation done to the existing structure will be money thrown down a well. There, I consulted for the city for free.
October 29, 2009 at 10:05 a.m.$34,000 for consulting ---WHAT! Look, she said already 20 more events, 10 over-nites, and 10 more 1 dayers. OK so its basically figured out with just some tie ins and your done. Go to the Council with it.
Sports Complex is not coming through at all. The City sponsored tourneys struggle to make and they have no cost!!!!! Select teams can't spend the money like they do and so the teams do not come here. Sure, a few but not in droves from out of town just area teams so save on travel expenses.
October 29, 2009 at 9:06 a.m.First question: how much was spent hiring this consulting firm?
Second, nearly ten years ago I spoke with the former mayor and a city councilman about the serious need to update the community center and expand it's capacity.
I carefully outlined the need for a minimum of 100,000 to 150,000 sq. ft. of new exhibit space and how to do it in phases so that a new tax increase would not be needed.
It looks as if not only was my advice not heeded but now the city has actually spent money on a out-of-town consultant to do what I feel is a far worse job than I did at the upgrading of the facility.
Victoria has outgrown the present facility more that ten years ago.
Chuckle! They could have given that money to me and I'd have spent it HERE!
October 29, 2009 at 7:02 a.m.