Draft feasibility study recommends downtown hotel–convention public–private partnership

Staff summarized draft findings from a CSL International feasibility study weighing renovation of the McNeese Convention Center versus a new downtown hotel–convention center at the Edgewater property.

Events manager (S2) said CSL’s draft showed that, while the existing convention center is still an asset for private events, the city would likely get the most economic return by pursuing a downtown hotel–convention center in a public–private partnership. "CSL then presented us a draft study findings... and with the findings in there, they noticed that it would be best... if we built a hotel slash convention center near the... Edgewater property," S2 said.

Committee members asked about the study’s focus and financing. S6 noted the draft compared renovating the current facility with either expanding this site or building downtown and said the downtown option looked more feasible financially as a public–private partnership. S6 added a potential financing option is a venue tax, which would require a public election: "It's an added percentage... one or two percent... it would take a public election... but it would help finance that project," S6 said.

Staff said CSL will present the final study to city council in the fall (anticipated September–October) and that the steering committee would finalize the draft later that day.