[Blazer85]

I'm hopeful this might actually materialize now. It seems I recall there being wide support for expansion of the convention space, an entertainment center, and a new hotel. The dome itself seemed to be the big hangup. If they can get those other things going, it'll be outstanding for the area. This thing has been held up for far too long now, but I'm optimistic something might actually be approved this year.

BJCC lists new hotel, attractions as its goals
Board says clock running on dome
Saturday, January 06, 2007
ROY L. WILLIAMS
News staff writer

The Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex board reshuffled its expansion priorities Friday, moving a new major hotel and an entertainment district to the top of its projects list.

Board members, whose eight-year expansion effort has stalled, held a special meeting Friday to outline goals for 2007. They decided to focus on building the hotel and an entertainment district that would include restaurants and retail shops adjacent to the current complex, said Jack Fields, BJCC executive director.

Both projects have been on hold while the board continues to seek funding for a multipurpose domed convention center that Fields said is critical to attract more meetings, entertainment and sporting events to the city. But Fields said the BJCC can't afford to wait much longer amid continuing debate on the proposed expansion, whose $623 million price tag has galvanized critics.

"We've got to have direction in terms of our expansion plans," Fields said.

Bayer Properties, the Birmingham developer that built The Summit shopping center, has backed out of its plans to develop the entertainment center because of the delay, Fields said. He said the BJCC plans to meet with other developers who a few years ago had expressed interest in building an entertainment district.

On Friday, the board heard an update from state Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, about a meeting last week with Gov. Bob Riley about possible state funding for the BJCC. Participating in the discussion with the governor were Fields, board member Kenny Clemons and a representative of Franklin Haney Sr., a Chattanooga developer who wants to build a hotel adjacent to the convention complex.

Haney has pledged $25 million to help fund the BJCC expansion, provided the state leases space in the Social Security Administration building he owns adjacent to the complex. Haney has said he will upgrade the building once the Social Security Administration moves into a new facility that is under construction downtown.

Waggoner said Riley told the group he won't commit to lease space in Haney's building or consider any state funding until Birmingham and Jefferson County officials agree to support the project. Birmingham has committed money for the expansion, but the BJCC lacks enough votes from county commissioners.

BJCC Chairman Clyde Echols said the complex hopes to woo enough support from state lawmakers to get a bill passed committing state funding once the regular session begins this spring.

"We're studying the cost of the expansion compared to a Plan B and we will have it ready to present," Echols said. "It is clear from our recent focus groups that the public realizes the importance of expanding the BJCC. What kind of expansion it will be we don't know."

E-mail: rwilliams@bhamnews.com