Gaylord Hotels go to Arizona

Gaylord Texan Hotel

The announcement Sept. 3 that Gaylord Hotels would build its next major venue near Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. The buzz went national, in fact, as hotel-industry publications and Web sites pulsed with news of Gaylord's planned expansion.

In the month-plus since Gaylord first announced its Mesa venture, the company and DMB Associates, from whom Gaylord is buying the resort site, have been ironing out a development agreement with the city.

An early draft showed Mesa allowing Gaylord to retain bed taxes to be collected at its resort, as long as the money is used to promote its Valley venue and Arizona tourism.

Under an economic-development provision in state law, Mesa also will take ownership of the land and lease it back to Gaylord, giving the company a break on property taxes.

No drawings nor site plans for the Mesa site have been drafted. Mesa is annexing and rezoning the site.

Read the entire story HERE.

A Poll from Fox 17 News in Nashville

What should be Metro Council's top priority?

Predators Lease
34%

Thermal Plant
23%

Convention Center
3%

Affordable Housing
40%

New Convention Center in Nashville

Should we fund a convention center before we know the size, design and cost?

This is a question I ask over the last week in a poll on my blog and all the votes were along the same lines of my feelings for the project. The people of Nashville should not have to pay for something, via taxes, until we know the size, measurements, cost and planning ahead of time.

There were some people who voted for the idea of having it be planned, owned and funded privately and I again agree with a lot with the way of thinking. I just don't think taxpayers money should be taken without our agreement and without us knowing what we are getting into.

No city should plan on something and begin the taxation process without first letting the people of that city know what is involved.

Do you agree? Let me know what you think and what you feel the best way to handle it is...