Published: May 09, 2008 12:38 pm      

Concerns expressed regarding proposed convention center

Ada — East Central University President Richard Rafes gave a presentation to a public audience that highlighted some of the expected benefits and uses his proposed convention center would have in the Ada community and answered concerns residents had.

Rafes said the proposed convention center and other upgrades and additions to the campus is estimated to cost around $16 million.

Rafes said that an architect has been chosen for the project, but not yet signed.

After the presentation, Rafes took questions about the center from the audience. Mayor Barbara Young and Vice-Mayor Roger Cupps expressed their reservations about the city’s commitment to help fund the project.

Young was concerned the 20,000 people Rafes estimated the center would bring in annually was still just an estimate, and those 20,000 people wouldn’t necessarily be outside entities, but rather locals coming from other venues around town.

Young said this would not have the same economic effect as 20,000 out-of-town attendees, and suggested that the school undergo a needs assessment to better understand the actual effects of a center on the community.

Rafes said that the college would not be participating in an assessment, citing that the $40-$50 thousand would be better served directly funding the project instead.

Young maintained more research would be needed before the city could grant any sum, let alone $500,000.

It was suggested by another member of the audience a more detailed report be gathered from a town more similar to Ada, with a comparable population and removed from a major highway.

Rafes was agreeable to this suggestion, and said the college would get to work on gathering information on such a venue.

The proposed building would be an extension of the University Center building, and stretch out to reach the Mayhue tennis courts. The center would cover an area of 35,000 square feet, with a maximum capacity of 1000 people.

ECU has already accounted for over $12 million of the $16 million project, Rafes said. The college is now focusing on raising the remaining 3.75 million dollars.

Rafes listed benefits a convention and conference center would bring to the area, such as the creation of a new, bigger venue close to the school, the ability to accommodate larger events and provide adequate breakout rooms, the ability to host upscale occasions, with on-site conference catering, and the close downtown proximity to the proposed arts district.

“As the Arts District develops, it will really pull people in,” Rafes said.

The convention and conference center would have a positive impact in other ways, Rafes said, like granting the city the ability to accommodate large business conventions, responding to demands for more functional space, allowing a venue for pre-functions such as receptions, and equipping top of the line presentation equipment.

During the presentation, Rafes brought up the topic of parking availability. The center would be conceivably built on one of the school’s lots, leaving many concerned about finding adequate parking for attending classes and events at the university.

According to Rafes, the school now has 3,061 parking spaces available, a much higher number than most universities. He also said parking had been made available in the north west area of the campus, and the school would continue to expand parking whenever the chance arises.

At an Ada city council meeting several weeks earlier, Rafes, with the help of Ada Jobs Foundation director Michael Southard, asked the city for $500,000 to go towards hitting the $16 million mark.

His request was tabled pending further research.

At the Thursday meeting, Rafes alluded to benefits of the city’s investment in the proposed center, saying the center would generate an estimated $46.5 million revenue over five years within the city, a 9230 percent return of the initial $500,000 investment.