One of the interesting themes emerging in this morning’s discussion in Chattanooga is the cooperative hospitality effort to recruit convention and corporate business.
“We truly work together, and we’re always interested in bringing new business to Chattanooga rather than fighting back and forth,” said Tom Cupo, general manager of The Chattanoogan, the city-owned hotel and convention center.
“We’re interested in making the pie bigger rather than stealing marketshare.”
There’s a lesson there for Wichita, in hospitality business recruitment and on a broader downtown revitalization scale.
7 Comments
City owned hotel huh?
Maybe not for long, Lonny.
But it’s significant that the city dealt itself in in what they call here a “catalytic” project, or a project that stimulates development. We’re going to have to be patient in Wichita because catalytic projects act over a period of years, not months.
Bill – years? Or decades? That is the problem – we have some languishing for far too many years without pulling the plug.
Decades, Ben. Chattanooga’s evolution has occurred over 40 years, and it’s not complete. Any expectation that downtown can be revitalized in a matter of a few years is thoroughly unrealistic.
To put the current planning process in perspective, it seems entirely plausible to me that two plans could be required before Wichita begins to resemble Chattanooga. Don’t forget that the late Walter Cronkite kick-started this city’s project in 1969 when he dubbed Chattanooga “the dirtiest city in America” on CBS News.
Your point, though, is well taken: Several on this trip have seen innovations that could have been in place in Wichita already.
Let’s be clear, though: Past failures are no reason – and a terrible disservice to the community – to shy away from making the changes the Goody Clancy plan will suggest.
Wichita needs an attitude adjustment, from this pathological fear of taxation and an equally pathological fear of failure into the aggressive change-seekers that we’ve met in Chattanooga.
I agree Bill – in part. However, when a specific project was clearly ill-conceived and is an abject failure we must pull the plug on it and let it die. Otherwise that festering sore can infect everythuing else.
My years/decades question was not in regard to the entire process – it was in regard to a single project.
I am hopeful about G-C. Having lived in Bostona nd attended many events without dealing with parking I hope they can effectuate the culture change we need to get out of our cars. There – IMO – lies a major part of the cure for what ails downtown. And, hopefully they will support the neighborhoods AROUND downtown and not just the ‘gated communities’ we are building.
Scooping myself a bit here, Ben, but watch a Sunday story I’ve written about Goody Clancy. In a nutshell, David Dixon puts the onus on himself and his company: If they can design a plan with projects yielding documented economic results, conservative and liberal voters will vote the same way – pragmatically, in their best financial interests.
pragmatically – absolutely correct. When we get local the liberal-conservative labels often don’t work. I am probably considered a ‘liberal’ but have often found myself on the same side as many ‘conservatives’ on local issues – especially tax-supported development. (Note my comments elsewhere on the subsidy for N Maize Road development in flood control)
IF I have reason to believe that a subsidized development will reap general benefits I support them whole-heartedly – for example the work being done in South-Central to improve the neighborhoods. However, when I see something that is clearly ill-advised (WaterWalk 7+ years ago) I will object. I still fine it telling that my specific comments were deleted from the record.
Bill – I think I have suggested this before: Do an indepth story on several of these initiatives and analyze just what ratio has been achieved. I bet you will fine good marks for Delano and Central/Hillside. Mediocre for Old Town – especiallt the Square. And abysmal for WaterWalk – as was predicted 7+ years ago.
I have high hopes for two initiatives – Douglas Design and Commerce St. The key – they are asking me to improve PUBLIC infrastructure and they will build their own businesses. That is the appropriate partnership.