Comments on: Jefferson County Votes 2-1 Against FACC Request

By: Mark Cohen

Mark Cohen — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:06:43 +0000

That is because right now the question IS unanswerable, it would be purely speculative as there are many factors to consider starting with the USDA and Iowa State Bank – neither of whom is prepared to comment on this until we get there.

By: FACC Board Decides Not To Pursue County Support 2 | Fairfield Voice

FACC Board Decides Not To Pursue County Support 2 | Fairfield Voice — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:55:27 +0000

[...] that they will not pursue LOST funds from the county. The Jefferson County Board of Supervisors voted 2-1 against holding an election to allow county residents to decide whether to reallocate LOST funds to form a public-private [...]

By: FACC Board Decides Not To Pursue County Support | Fairfield Voice

FACC Board Decides Not To Pursue County Support | Fairfield Voice — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:20:43 +0000

By: Will Merydith

Will Merydith — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:17:56 +0000

What happens if the private-public partnership is not formed? That is the question that nobody seems to be able to answer.

During the public hearing at the Fairfield City Council, a resident raised this very question. Except he was arguing that it wouldn't be closed, and that private donors/entities wouldn't let it fail.

By: egc52556

egc52556 — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 12:45:12 +0000

I keep coming back to the same question: what's the alternative? The options are limited:

1. Sell it (no buyers have appeared)

2. Convert it to some other use (See this article: http://www.fairfieldvoice.com/2009/12/05/just-the... by Mark Cohen which says "The parties have determined that significant value only can be obtained from an educational or civic organization that has need of a performing arts center. Significant value probably cannot be realized from conversion of the center to commercial, retail or industrial use")

3. Close it. (Does anybody benefit from a large shuttered facility in Fairfield's downtown?)

4. Raze it. (Probably not enough money for that, right?)

5. Support it. (This will take time, patience, and money. But consider the alternatives.)

Am I missing another choice?