Comments on: Tallahassee City Commission Supports Arts Center, Southside Satellite Project Considered

By: Hope

Hope — Fri, 04 Feb 2022 12:42:15 +0000

@ David,

That historical knowledge is valuable and an asset to your campaign. One of the many reasons I will be voting for you.

I believe a fiduciary for the Sheridan’s should step in and sign off on this as to protect these very kind generous people that I don’t want our elected officials taking advantage of.

I believe the mayor should make it mandatory for a fiduciary and would do this if he had their best and taxpayers interest in mind.

There has been no study or plan by professionals. They are making it up as they go along and pulling it out of their hats.

I would even think the mayor, the mayor pro-tem, and Diane Williams Cox could be held criminally liable for promoting such a sketchy scheme that this should be forwarded to a special prosecutor for obvious reasons… Elected officials stealing money from taxpayers and well-meaning benefactors.

By: David T. Hawkins

David T. Hawkins — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 17:47:59 +0000

@ Jon: This was voted down SEVERAL times. Scott Mattox started it…..it was originally going to be an 8000 Seat Complex, got Voted down. Then he changed it to a 2000 Seat Complex, got Voted down and THEN he shrunk it down to an 800 Seat Complex and STILL got Voted down. Personally, I feel that we do not need it because there is the Civic Center that can do everything this place will do and a lot more plus, there is the Ruby Diamond and several other places. I just don’t think there is enough people in Tallahassee and surrounding areas that are interested in the Fine Arts to make this feasible let alone sustainable.

By: Jon

Jon — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 14:45:53 +0000

Didnt we vote against this years ago? I seem to recall a ballot measure. I guess they always get what they want some other way.

By: TONY

TONY — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 12:03:29 +0000

I will bet you 5 to 1 that the Tax Payers will be on the Hook for a LOT MORE than the $8 Million Dollars for this project, NOT including the Property. Like Hope, I will be voting for Mr. Hawkins as well. He makes a great point in his first post and asks great questions in his second post. This guy truly thinks outside the box, I have been to his website and he has the solutions for the issues.

By: Hope

Hope — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 02:49:04 +0000

I would think a Performing Arts Center and a world-class one would start at 250 million dollars, take years of planning and executing and not done in a couple of months during a re-election campaign cycle. $5000000 will not be sufficient and for this city commission to move forward is irresponsible.

That is not to say that the Sheridan’s are lovely giving people and are honest and do have a good reputation. They are gems as far as I am concerned. They deserve to be working with a team that have their best interests and the taxpayers interests and not a desperate mayor running this all through his campaign re-election cycle.

The Sheridan’s should be the foundation of something world-class to come, but it can’t be done during a re-election campaign cycle.

By: Judy Sheridan

Judy Sheridan — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 01:54:47 +0000

There has been no contract or negotiations with the City on whether the land will be a lease or donation or any other additional terms. Nothing.
The commission on January 26 agreed to include the performing arts in the Northwood Centre and directed staff to proceed to negotiations. It is anticipated this will be accomplished by the March meeting when the master plan is presented to the City Commission.

By: Judy Sheridan

Judy Sheridan — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 01:36:04 +0000

The Sheridan’s are contributing $5 million which is the price they received to build the shell of the 20,000 sq ft structure with no amenities, such as acoustics, cameras, lighting, seats, curtains, risers, interior finishing, bathrooms, concert piano, furniture, etc, etc. It is difficult to estimate the exact costs when you have no floor plans and hopefully $3 million will cover these costs.COCA is conducting additional surveys to make sure no non-profits are excluded and to make it inclusive to all and attempting to address their needs. Additionally, how do you design plans when you have no site, not knowing the topography and measurements of the site?Until final approval of the site location, and needs of unknown non-profits, plans cannot be drawn. The Sheridans, both Mike and Judy, have proven themselves in this community to be honest, successful business owners and generous and in no way want this to fail financially. David Watson has contributed $1 million to insure sustainability. Together they have approached this as a gift to the citizens of Tallahassee, with gratitude and of supporting a need that was promised to Tallahassee 19 years ago and not paid by government so it was felt a partnership between the two might work and the City is eager to utilize this opportunity. Best research is that Florida is probably the only Capital City in the United States with no performing arts center, although we are the third largest. Unfortunately, the existing local theatre’s do not address the needs of non-profits. FSU and TCC were built for the education of their students, first. This will be an asset to Tallahassee and will benefit many. We hope others will agree and also contribute to the future of the arts community. Hope this addresses questions, thanks for the opportunity to give details,

By: Commonsense

Commonsense — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 23:04:46 +0000

Memo to the City of Tallahassee:

It appears the city in giving away taxpayer-owned land to anyone who just asks for it. Please sign me up!

I was thinking of building something here in Tallahassee and have been thinking about my project for a week or two. I have absolutely no idea where I will get the money to pay for it or even if it will ever get built. However, I’m asking the city to please give me 10 acres of their prime real estate. Trust me, it’s going to a grand project.

Do we have a deal like the one you just gave the Sheridans?

By: Hope

Hope — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 14:59:06 +0000

Excellent questions from soon-to-be Leon County Commissioner District 5, David Hawkins!

Let’s see if they respond and answer these very important questions…

By: davidthawkins

davidthawkins — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 12:31:29 +0000

A few of the Voices in my head and I were talking about this Project and we have questions………..Is the City donating the USE of this Property for them to build on or is the City donating the Property to the Sheridan foundation as in, signing it over to them. If it is DONATING the Property to the Sheridan foundation then they could just put a Mortgage on it and get a big chunk of the needed funding to start building the Center, and if it fails, someone else could end up owning it. What happens if and when it is no longer sustainable, what then? Does it become Tax Payer Funded? If it does Fail and is no longer sustainable, is it in the Contract that it reverts back to the City, including the Building? We already have an Unfinished HOTEL Boondoggle Down Town that we are still wondering what is going to happen with that.