218 replies to this topic

[poonther]

As always SJ, I understand your point.

I'd still like to find out about the cost of PAC's in similar size metros b/c that price sounds more like a Miami or L.A. size PAC than a mid-metro size PAC.

Here's a link to a nice PAC and science center in a metro and city smaller than ours that is losing population or just remaining stable..Charleston, WV.  It was built mainly w/private funds from the Clay foundation to prove SJ's point.   

The Clay Center

[Florida]

UPdate | March 9, 2008

Still Nothing... but a promise

[Florida]

There have been no updates to the Official Performing Arts Center Website in about 2 years. Is there another site that I'm unaware of or some other organization leading the effort?

[TD]

This still seems to be the communities biggest blunder... or maybe its not.

We seem to have enough smaller venues.... maybe someone is slacking on booking talent?


Whatever it is, This should have been fast tracked and pushed to the front...

[fivesfella]

TD, on May 2 2008, 04:08 PM, said:

This still seems to be the communities biggest blunder... or maybe its not.

We seem to have enough smaller venues.... maybe someone is slacking on booking talent?


Whatever it is, This should have been fast tracked and pushed to the front...

We have terrible smaller venues, in terms of serious performance. Ruby Diamond is the only one with decent sound, and it's shut down for the next couple of years for renovations. The Moon is okay for loud rock or hiphop shows, but worthless for high quality music or acting. And we won't discuss the Civic Center.

[stjoe]

The city had a chance to utilize the money from FSU for a PAC, but it choose to go on it's own.

We will see if it pays off.

[TD]

stjoe, on May 5 2008, 01:20 PM, said:

The city had a chance to utilize the money from FSU for a PAC, but it choose to go on it's own.

We will see if it pays off.

We just need a huge investor like, Verizon Att, alltel, get a telco to have it named after them....... then they can foot the bill

[stjoe]

TD, on May 5 2008, 06:48 PM, said:

We just need a huge investor like, Verizon Att, alltel, get a telco to have it named after them....... then they can foot the bill

Unless there is a significant HQ type of presence in the area, that doesn't usually happen.


Tally suffers from a lack of private business.....the type that can fund these type of projects.

[Go Gators]

^  And poor attendances at performances may have something to do with it as well.

[poonther]

stjoe, on May 6 2008, 11:52 AM, said:

Unless there is a significant HQ type of presence in the area, that doesn't usually happen.


Tally suffers from a lack of private business.....the type that can fund these type of projects.

I agree!

SJ I think you should make your second sentence or some form of it your sig line.

I've always been upset that FSU/COT didn't team up to do some sort of PAC by the Civic Center.  I think both entities will regret these "all too common fiefdom fight" in the years to come and of course we the citizens are always the losers in these battles.

I am glad that at least Ruby Diamond is being upgraded!  The downside is that the venue will be closed for over a year and they are actually REMOVING seats in RD.  I've found for good acts the venue was already too small and now it will be even less so.

What performances are you referencing GG?  Most of the ones I go to at RD are sold out or almost full.  Do you mean the Broadway performances and concerts at The Tucker?  If so, I can definitely tell you why they are poorly attendant.......aucustics!  I tend to refuse to spend a lot of money to go see a performance there b/c of this horrible problem.

[Go Gators]

Maybe its just us.  But the last couple of performances I've seen at RD, the place has been less than half full...and one of them was on an opening night.  Could have just been a coincidence both times though?

I agree about the Civic Center.  I dont like to see broadway performances at the Tucker Center for the same reasons you say.  The acoustics truly are horrible there.  I wonder if thats why we dont get any concerts here anymore also?

[poonther]

GG you got me to thinking about the performances I've seen recently at Ruby Diamond.  Most of the national acts I've seen, affiliated with or not with 7 Days and have been or almost been sold out.  These include Keb Mo', Buddy Guy, Salman Rushdie and George Carlin.  The local/FSU performances I've seen generally have less attendance such as FSU Opera and the Tally Symphony. Has this been the case w/you or not?

[Go Gators]

^  Sorry for the delay, Poonther.  GG had to take a couple of days and go to Margaritaville   

Yes, what you said has been the case.  The cases of poor attendances were all with the Tallahassee ballet and symphony.  The 7 Days performances that I have seen have always had good showings.

[poonther]

As you all know, there's been a lot about our proposed PAC in the news lately.  It seems that the Johns Building will be coming down.  I think that no matter how you feel about the PAC, the demolition of this building is a good thing.  It was a small and dated building and even if the PAC isn't built on this site, it could open it up to newer downtown development should the PAC fail.

Last night I caught a commercial about the PAC on the WCTV at 11pm.  Has anyone else seen that commercial?  The proposed name of the PAC I believe is The Florida Center.  I like the name!

PAC Website  I went here looking for a copy of that commercial, but it was not posted it here.

[HeartofFlorida]

poonther, on Jun 20 2008, 02:29 PM, said:

As you all know, there's been a lot about our proposed PAC in the news lately. It seems that the Johns Building will be coming down. I think that no matter how you feel about the PAC, the demolition of this building is a good thing. It was a small and dated building and even if the PAC isn't built on this site, it could open it up to newer downtown development should the PAC fail.

Last night I caught a commercial about the PAC on the WCTV at 11pm. Has anyone else seen that commercial? The proposed name of the PAC I believe is The Florida Center. I like the name!

PAC Website I went here looking for a copy of that commercial, but it was not posted it here.

I caught a glimpse of the commercial but I only saw it once.  I went to WCTV's site and of course there's no link.

[south park county]

According to the Democrat, there is now construction equipment at the Johns Building.  Strange that they are so gung ho to tear the thing down when the future of the PAC is still in so much doubt.  Maybe they'll find a different use for the lot after 2013 rolls around.  

[poonther]

^SPC I've been in the Johns bldg. a few times and it really was an old and dated building.....and dated in the bad way, not the good way.   So I don't think as it is/was, the building could be used for much.  Tearing it down is fine w/me.  I remember hearing at a few of my Gaines Street meetings about investors possibly interested in that site for a hotel before the PAC eye'd it.  So if the PAC isn't built, hopefully there will still be interest in that parcel from the private sector and it should be easier to market when it's vacant don't you think?

[south park county]

I was thinking the same thing as far as finding other uses for the lot if the PAC doesn't materialize.  Downtown hasn't seen any mid to high-rise construction south of Jefferson Street since the 9 story Gray Building.

[poonther]

Looks like the Johns and Clemons building will be coming down on Tuesday October 28 @ Noon.  The Florida Center (that's the PAC) will be having a ceremony for this occasion at the demolition site.

The Florida Center has updated their website:

The Florida Center

They also seem to have an office now donated by Wood + Partners which is on South Copeland at Madison.