The real issue here is that the debt burden on taxpayers to finance the construction of the downtown Lancaster convention center is far greater than could ever be justified by whatever economic development the project could possibly ever create. None of the many promises ever made about the hotel and convention center driving new businesses and new construction in downtown Lancaster have come true; besides intermittently increased traffic at a number of downtown businesses, the ONLY new or rehab construction that can be directly attributed to the project is the Subway restaurant across King St. from the Marriott.
Had some variation of the original hotel and convention center been constructed, funding for the project would have been sustainable. But the project was allowed to metamorphosize into a facility that costs taxpayers far more than anticipated revenue streams could realistically provide for. Adding to this the unreasonably large taxpayer subsidies that continue to benefit the “private” hotel paints a picture of a project that cannot possibly make any kind of economic sense.
The only ones to which this makes economic sense are Penn Square Partners – who knows how much they they are profiting at the public trough? We need ‘full disclosure’ so everyone can see the true story.
Our elected officials need to step up and do the right thing, and hold accountable those that should be held accountable. Maybe a voter referendum this fall will provide the political ammunition needed to take on the ‘Power Elite” for the sake of the thousands of County and City taxpayers, who never had a true voice in this project in the first place!!!!