Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Once Upon A Time ...

This is my favorite quote from today's joint City Council/County Commission meeting about the future of the Pyramid.

"Give us the building, let us sign a deal with Bass Pro and live happily ever after," said Councilwoman Barbara Swearengen Ware.

The County Commission recently rejected a proposal to sell its share of the Pyramid (along with the coliseum and land under the Liberty Bowl) to the city. For the Bass Pro development deal to move forward, both the City Council and County Commission have to approve it.

The development agreement gives the retailer a year to sign a lease on the Pyramid.

This quote from City Council member Shea Flinn, who advocated blowing up the Pyramid if the two elected bodies don't agree to the proposal, was a close second:

"We had the Big Dig. Let's have the Big Boom," he said.

7 comments:

gatesofmemphis said...

Do we have some bigass pile of capital waiting to fill the holes people want to add to the gazillion other brownfields?

Memphis' will to destroy (especially without replacement) is almost a religion.

Save This MG said...

There must be something going on that we don't know about causing the Commission to change their minds about selling their share. I'm not sure I understand why they would want to hold on to it and I'm still not totally convinced that someone associated with the city isn't getting some kickback from Bass Pro on this deal. Something sure is smelling fishy about this deal.

marycash said...

I don't think we have a bigass pile of capital for anything!

I think Flinn was just frustrated that they were so close to a deal, but they can't move forward without the Commission's vote. And his question was: If the Bass Pro deal doesn't work out, what are they going to do with the building?

And I think the Commission wants to hold onto it b/c they're not totally convinced that Bass Pro is the best deal.

autoegocrat said...

I am so glad this deal fell through. I've got nothing against Bass Pro in particular, but in the Pyramid? No, no, no. If they put Bass Pro or anything like it in this Memphis' most iconic building then this city will have officially jumped the shark.

Save This MG said...

As far as I know, the deal still hasn't fallen through. Bass Pro is just going to have to get the approval of both governments. I HOPE is falls through. I'm not sure what the best fit would be but I don't think it's going to be a giant bait shop.

autoegocrat said...

Correction: a certain Council member has informed me that the Pyramid is in fact not iconic.

So, I'm all for breaking out the dynamite.

gatesofmemphis said...

I lose my sense of humor quick with demolition talk. It makes me very vulnerable to rickrolling.