NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Metro Council Tuesday night voted 29-9 for the financing plan for the proposed $585 million Music City Center.
The financing plan calls for the center to be paid for using the city's hotel-motel tax.
The project's top supporter, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, has long said the center is necessary for Nashville's No. 2 industry, tourism, to continue to thrive, and will not burden the Davidson County taxpayer.
"It will be paid for by the users, that's extremely important, so this is a win for our city and this is the right time to do it because it's going to create jobs and create opportunities," he has said.
Late last week, Mayor Dean told News 2 he was not discouraged by a last minute effort for a public referendum rather than a council vote.
"The referendum, in my mind, is not necessary," he said. "This issue has been discussed, long before I became mayor. It was an issue in the mayoral campaign, where I think every candidate was for a new convention center, I know I certainly was."
Critics warn of the center's hefty price tag and debt the city is about to take on.
"The proposal before us includes a risk to the taxpayers and that's just unacceptable," said Councilwoman Emily Evans. "If we finance a $600 million project plus the hotel which takes us to almost $1 billion, we're increasing our debt about 60%. That means we're not going to be able to borrow money for other things."
The idea of a new or expanded convention center has been on Metro's table since 1999, and has been the subject of numerous studies, task forces, presentations and public meetings.
The 1.2 million-square-foot facility will sit just south of the Sommet Center in an area bordered by Demonbreun Street to the north, Korean Veterans Parkway to the south, 5th Avenue to the east and 8th Avenue to the west and replace the current convention center on Lower Broadway.
Related Stories:
- Jan. 18, 2010: Convention center draws Facebook support, petition opposition
- Jan. 14, 2010: Committees give convention center financing plan green light
- Jan. 12, 2010: Music City Center meeting draws big crowd
- Jan. 7, 2010: Music City Center plan clears another hurdle
- Jan. 6, 2010: Mayor says new convention center will create 1,500 jobs
- Dec. 8, 2009: Union Station hosts Music City Center forum
- Dec. 3, 2009: Mayor presents convention center financing plan
- Nov. 19, 2009: Mayor says courts will decide convention center land dispute
- Nov. 18, 2009: Owner says Metro's offer for convention center land too low
- Nov. 12, 2009: Proposed convention center has new, lower cost
- Oct. 20, 2009: Thousands attend rally for Rocketown
- Oct. 20, 2009: Metro Council to decide voter impact on convention center
- Oct. 15, 2009: Mayor may face another fight on convention center front
- Oct. 14, 2009: Mayor sees convention center as 'jobs' package
- Oct. 9, 2009: Nashville attracts more convention business
- Sept. 29, 2009: Council questions convention center 'team'
- Sept. 21, 2009: Mayor says Country Music Hall of Fame plans to expand
- Sept. 16, 2009: Mayor gives proposed convention center new price tag
- August 19, 2009: Special meeting called over Convention Center Authority
- August 17, 2009: Auditor will review spending for new convention center
- August 12, 2009: Marriott to run convention center hotel
- June 16, 2009: City selects developer to build Music City Center hotel
- June 2, 2009: Council approves land purchase for Music City Center
- May 19, 2009: Proposed convention center step closer to reality
- April 14, 2009: City leaders say proposed convention center needed now
- March 6, 2009: Greyhound probably won't appeal zoning vote
- March 5, 2009: Zoning board denies proposal to move Greyhound
- Feb. 24, 2009: Businesses voice opposition to Greyhound station relocation
- Feb. 6, 2009: Greyhound looks at Murfreesboro Rd. location
- Feb. 5, 2009: Rocketown will move to accommodate convention center
- Jan. 29, 2009: Plans for new convention center unveiled
- Aug. 15, 2008: Public shares ideas on proposed convention center
