“When the agreements which govern the hotel and convention center project were drawn up, the powers of the LCCCA were severely limited. This means that the LCCCA has been essentially powerless in the design and construction of the integrated facility; the ‘private partner’ which controls the ownership of the hotel business is also the master developer, general trades contractor, and precast concrete contractor for the entire project. This same ‘private partner’ chose the project construction manager, as well as the joint manager of both the hotel and convention center.”
Tag: News and Commentary
CC law firms charge different hourly rates
In response to NewsLanc’s “Right To Know request”, the Lancaster County Convention Center Authority (LCCCA) provided digital copies of all invoices for legal services in its possession. Additional information has been gleaned from the Report from Chief Justice Emeritus Stephen A. Zappala on Stevens & Lee charges to the LCCCA.
COMMENTARY: LGH—It’s our $113 million!
In the Sunday News’ May 10 lead article headed “$113 MILLION SURPLUS IS A DECREASE FOR LGH”, the newspaper leans over backwards to paint Lancaster General Hospital as a great benefactor of the city and the community while struggling to minimize the implication of so much public money being directed not necessarily in the public’s interest.
EDITORIAL: A sorry plight
Given the deceptions surrounding the Convention Center Project and the Norfolk Southern rail yard relocation, how can we in Lancaster any longer believe anything we are told by Jack Buckwalter, John Fry and Dale High?
If a health hazard, why not remove F & M’s half of the dump?
A presumably knowledgeable source who was not directly involved in the TRRAAC controversy commented to a reporter that it was good that the old “Brick Yard” dump was being excavated and relocated as part of the rail yard relocation because this eliminated the source of ground water contamination.
$200 million can’t buy flowers
Recently it came to NewsLanc’s attention that the several large planters on the Market side of Penn Square are currently adorned with nothing more than clover and weeds. In the peak of the Spring season, there is a not a flower to be seen at the heart of Downtown Lancaster.
Success in treatment sops up available funds
Surprisingly, the 2006 opening of a Lancaster-based methadone clinic has increased the demand for similar treatment services from the LCDAC. In the time since the clinic opened, the number of county residents under methadone or Suboxone treatment has increased from mere dozens to nearly 300. Also during this time, the LCDAC has had to carve funding out of its rehab budget to support the rising demand for these treatments among its “working poor” patrons.
From our archive: Article #1, Issue #1, September 1, 2006
Curious to discover for how long NewsLanc has been publishing its newsletter, we discovered how fitting was the lead article to the first newsletter: Lancaster Newspapers’ ‘Day of Infamy’: August 11, 2006- On August 11, [2006] the Intelligencer Journal crossed a red line when it ran a banner headline that purposefully and falsely announced: “Center Closes Fund Gap.” The article also extensively quoted its own chairman, Jack Buckwalter, who said: “This is a happy day. It looked like this project would fail. Failure was not an option.”
Residents discuss neighborhood crime
Tonight over fifty residents from the neighborhood surrounding Franklin & Marshall College (F&M) met at the school’s Barshinger Building to discuss a recent crime increase in the area bounded by Race Ave, President Ave, Harrisburg Pk, and Buchanan Ave. Local police officials attended the meeting, as well asMayor Rick Gray, F&M President John Fry, and Lisa Riggs of the James Street Improvement District (JSID).
Builder and manager indicate mid-June or earlier CC opening
With an audience of about 50 persons looking on, Convention Center Authority solicitor Kris Hausner started the meeting by recommending that discussion be limited to what needs to be done to open the complex, in part “because discussion concerning past events could prejudice the Authority in the future.” Chair Art Morris then explained that “all board members have been advised of this before hand” and that he intended “to follow the solicitor’s advice.”
Planning Commission seeks revitalization of Amtrak neighborhood
Today the County Commissioners approved a $75,000 State grant to fund a “Transit Revitalization Investment District (TRID) Study.” The study is a prerequisite to instituting an official TRID in what is known as the Gateways Area surrounding the Amtrak station in Manheim Township and northwestern Lancaster City.
LETTER: Whom was Stevens & Lee serving?
The fact that former LCCCA chairman Ted Darcus maintained such an impenetrable shield of secrecy over an issue where there was apparently nothing to hide is proof positive of the paranoia and ineptitude which characterized the creation and implementation of the hotel and convention center project.
Most construction workers aren’t talking
A NewsLanc reporter took a stroll around Penn Square this week to chat with passing construction workers about the progress of the recently-delayed Convention Center project. The plan was to gather an impression of how the project is coming along from the “ground level,” so to speak. But few workers felt inclined to share any detailed information.
Chapter Thirteen: Shellenberger and Henderson move into the crosshairs
The rejection by the Lancaster School Board of Penn Square Partners’ TIF proposal was understandably disappointing to project sponsors. They were used to getting what they asked for from governmental bodies. And while the funereal words they chose after the vote were, at best, disingenuous, no one could argue the sponsors didn’t have a reason to be upset.