Recently the StarTribune published a glorified press release for the City of Burnsville which speaks of the importance of the city bringing another full-service hotel to town, this time in the Heart of the City. While the article provides a lot of PR for the currently non-existent project, here’s to hoping we can break this down and show exactly why all of this is hubbub about nothing.
From the article:
“A hotel has absolutely been in the picture from the start,” said Skip Nienhaus, Burnsville’s economic development coordinator.
So was a successful performing arts center, white table cloth restaurants, bustling businesses, packed condos, beautiful gardens, vibrant shops, and more. None of those things came and thus the picture needs to be repainted–eliminating the need for a hotel. If you take a look at Apple Valley’s less-than-vibrant ghostdowntown, the hotel there has done absolutely nothing to attract anything to the area even though there are only two hotels in town. This hotel isn’t going to bring anything more when not only are there nine hotels in Burnsville, one of those is a full-service hotel located just down the street.
Since then, development proposals that included a hotel have come and gone.
[...]
City officials have declined to identify the hotel investors until a purchase contract for the land has been finalized.
[...]
Nienhaus said the investors haven’t specified a brand yet, but have said it would be a full-service hotel.
In other words, nothing has happened yet and details are non-existent. This was clearly the time to put out an article on the topic to tell everyone that they are in the very preliminary stages of something and that their hard-earned tax dollars are not being wasted on nothing!
City officials have said they also believe that the Burnsville Performing Arts Center, which the city built as part of the Heart of the City project, may be boosting the hotel market. The arts center was never expected to make money, but last year it lost the least money of any year since opening in 2009. This year it’s also expected to record lower-than-budgeted operating costs, according to city spokesman Marty Doll.
“May be” (it’s not).
“Was never expected to make money” (liar, liar, pants on fire).
“It lost the least money of any year since opening in 2009″ (it still lost more than they were claiming it ever would and we’re talking $800,000 when you include building costs).
“Lower-than-budgeted operating costs” (in other words, as we’ve done for several years in a row, we over-inflate the budget so we can make it and put out an article that claims exactly this).
The rest of the article goes on to talk about a hotel building boom and includes Bloomington directly on site at the Mall of America, one of the areas the article claims is exactly why Burnsville needs another hotel. The irony is astounding. However, it goes on to mention Rosemount’s Hotel Hell located by railroad tracks and in the middle of nowhere. Nothing says to Burnsville’s residents, “we need a hotel,” like Rosemount’s building of a rural hotel chain next to a gas station and railroad crossing.
What do you think about this article? Is this simply a fluff piece to show how Skippy is doing something useful or do you think this is all another big load of nonsense that will never materialize and will see a 6 sentence article after the fact? Do you think Burnsville needs another hotel? Do you think this rising building boom in other cities means Burnsville needs one too when occupancy is still less than 50%? Whatever you have to say go ahead and comment on as I’d love to hear your thoughts.
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December 4th, 2012 at 9:54 am
Burnsville isn’t actually what I would consider a destination place so I wonder what type of people they are imagining a new hotel to attract? People wanting a cheap alternative to pricey close-to-the-airport hotels? The “MOA as a destination” people? Most of the people I’ve come in contact with from other states don’t even think of Burnsville when they travel to MSP/St. Paul for business because they think it’s too far away, way out in the boonies and would rather stay in the city.
This is a puzzler.
December 4th, 2012 at 9:55 am
There was another hotel near the Heart of the City, off Hwy 13 and I35W. Now it is gone, which should hint to those goof balls in city hall that a hotel over there is not needed. Sure, it didn’t look like the best place ever, but it still wasn’t able to make it.
While the efforts to make it look nicer in downtown Burnsville seem to have been effective, as I have said before I really wish they would spread the wealth around the rest of the city.
Now with Walmart over the hill, it makes sense to push some more business down there as that area is not generating much revenue for the city today as there is nothing else there.
December 4th, 2012 at 10:10 am
My prediction: Hotel will be an utter success.
The hotel will be filled the same way the PAC is: Off the pocketbooks of the families from the Giggling Girl Dance Competitions. The same families that have absolutely no say in the matter. Some school or dance academy tells them that they have no choice but to travel to (insert regional or statewide dance contest here) for three days, necessitating a stay in a hotel.
These families are bilked out of their hard-earned money for admission fees and contest fees (you know…the BPAC’s subsistence) and now will be bilked out of $89/night at a Holiday Inn Express next door (instead of driving from the place over by Burnsville Center).
The silver lining is the folks from the farthest away won’t be tricked into staying at the glorified crack houses over by 35W and Burnsville Parkway and won’t have to deal with the possibility of their Giggling Girl Dancers seeing a Rack waitress and learning that their dance skills may translate into a safety net after dropping out of high school/Normandale. Well…if you’re willing to dress and act like a whore and make money using your body, that is.
December 4th, 2012 at 10:38 am
People don’t want to be in fake urban areas, they want to be in real urban areas like Minneapolis
December 4th, 2012 at 10:51 am
People don’t want to be in fake urban areas, they want to be in real urban areas like Minneapolis
———–
Hey Matt, I agree. This whole “heart of the city” thing..I think they meant well but trying to create an artificial ‘downtown’ area? I just don’t think it’s working the way it was envisioned to. I think they wanted to see more foot traffic, more people working/playing/living/existing in this la-la faux Mayberry. I don’t even know if Burnsville ever historically HAD a downtown, like what you see in cities like Redwing, Rosemount..rows of buildings set across from each other on a main street. Burnsville was mainly farmland for many years which is why I don’t think there was one of those downtown areas for people to shop and shoot the shit with each other.
I think the main reason these planned faux-urban areas don’t usually work is it’s cold here so many months out of the year. People like to stay warm and would probably rather drive to run errands than walk in the freezing cold from store to store. I find myself walking so much less now that I moved from the west coast.
December 4th, 2012 at 10:59 am
I do believe Rosemount would benefit from a hotel though.
December 4th, 2012 at 11:04 am
I would love to hear your reasoning.
December 4th, 2012 at 11:59 am
National Guard training, hockey tournaments to name a few.
December 4th, 2012 at 12:13 pm
links,
Why can’t they use the underutilized hotels in AV? Is 5 miles all that much?
December 4th, 2012 at 12:22 pm
it is more of a benefit to the city to have visitors stay in town and spend money locally, no?
December 4th, 2012 at 12:33 pm
links,
It is, if it works. However I really doubt the availability of a hotel in Rosemount is necessary with the currently available amenities and that hotel is unlikely to spur future development of those necessary assets.
For me, when I’m looking for a place to stay in an area I’ll be visiting I rank hotels on a few criteria including price and proximity to other amenities such as restaurants, shopping, and other things to do during my down time. Rosemount, as it currently stands and appears to stand at least for the next 5 years, does not offer me anything that would keep me there simply for its proximity to the National Guard facilities or hockey arena. I would likely choose Eagan or Apple Valley to get those things.
Now, if I was a huge shitty Midwestern-style pizza aficionado, I would make Rosemount my first choice and I would drive to Eagan or Apple Valley for the other stuff.
That hotel is going to remain empty, as many hotels don’t even make it to 40% occupancy as it is, for most of the time and will likely become a rundown and miserable place due to its location and lack of visitors. I wouldn’t be surprised if ends up like just about every other rural hotel–empty, desolate, and dirty.
December 4th, 2012 at 12:42 pm
I hear what you are saying but it’s use is based on an entirely different set of criteria than what you yourself would be seeking. I have stayed in many hotels traveling for hockey, and picking a hotel was not based on shopping and restaurants it is proximity to the rink. With the relationship that Carbone’s has with the local hockey association both RAHA and Carbone’s win with this addition and keep more money locally.
December 4th, 2012 at 12:46 pm
links,
Growing up traveling all over the East Coast for meets (most every weekend from September through April and much of the summer) I found that we preferred staying as far from the event as possible. Kept both rates and noise down.
In fact, for high school states we stayed 30 miles from Penn State exactly so we could get a good night’s rest. I suppose hockey players are different but I know that regardless of the sports my children play in the future, I will be following the same model I did as a kid in athletics.
December 4th, 2012 at 12:52 pm
More power to them. This is just a fluff piece, but if the city can convince some private party to build a hotel, I am all for it.
I just hope the city does not decide they need to get into the hotel business.
December 4th, 2012 at 12:55 pm
Chad,
The problem would be the preferential deals the City would provide to the hotel to come in–much like what they did w/Med Cruise and the shit-cleansing water filtration system at the Mayor’s personal playground in front of the BPAC.
December 4th, 2012 at 12:59 pm
Bill-
We stayed in the same hotel as our teammates for obvious team building reasons. We had the option to stay wherever we would want but never once did we stay in the next town over for the sake of getting a good night’s sleep. Proximity to the rink rules out other amenities being most of the time is spent there anyways. Duluth was the hardest place to get hotels for the entire team because the sheer amount of big tournaments they run and we almost had to stay in Cloquet.
December 4th, 2012 at 1:27 pm
I was curious when the old AAA was demolished and while looking for my answer (2007) found this link in case anyone is interested.
http://www.ci.burnsville.mn.us/index.aspx?NID=649 – No clue as to the date on this website page though.
December 4th, 2012 at 1:54 pm
Both the hotels proposed for Burnsville and Rosemount could be profitable ventures. A number of businesses in Burnsville (Emerson – Northern Tool -Pawn America – etc) could hold off sire meetings, seminars, and training events in the PAC rather than Bloomington as they currently do. If a hotel nearby can help reduce the operating deficit of the PAC I’m all for it.
As for the Rosemount motel – the Sunday through Thursday business from the Flint Hills refinery alone might be enough to make it a go. The refinery averages about 75 out of town visitors a day, most currently staying in Eagan or the near the airport. During the spring and fall maintenance periods (6 weeks each) over 1,000 skilled laborers fill hotels in Hastings, Red Wing and as far as Zumbrota.
December 4th, 2012 at 1:57 pm
SB,
I don’t know so I’m going to ask why can’t these companies use the Nicollet Inn for their seminars, meetings, and training events?
December 4th, 2012 at 2:18 pm
linkstorinks you’re talking with a guy who was in a pansy activity (swimming) that may or may not even be a “sport” depending on your point of view. They aren’t used to, or keen on, adversity and so they need perfect conditions to function (just like the whining we had to hear endlessly about the Olympic pool water temperature being a degree or two off).
Primadonnas like swimmers need to choose hotels wisely to get their precious beauty sleep to be able to glide along in water, where you aren’t even dealing with your own body weight (perhaps the reason a guy of Bill’s gearth chose swimming vs. anything involving running, jumping or otherwise using strength).
He won’t understand.
December 4th, 2012 at 2:21 pm
This coming from the guy who got a little boo-boo and quit playing the game he chose so he didn’t have to suck it up and be a man.
December 4th, 2012 at 2:48 pm
Huh? I’m still on the ice, just coaching now.
December 4th, 2012 at 2:54 pm
Oh so many mediocre players run out their failed careers by coaching others to even less stellar levels. Good for you.
December 4th, 2012 at 3:02 pm
Can you even swim across a pool nowadays or does your “exercise regimen” consist of walking from the car to the Golden Tee machine and shopping for even larger sweatpants?
December 4th, 2012 at 3:05 pm
I can do at least three laps.
December 4th, 2012 at 3:08 pm
The hot tub doesn’t count.
December 4th, 2012 at 3:09 pm
Admit it, you just love fantasizing about me in a pool/hot tub and that’s why you’re still responding.
December 4th, 2012 at 3:12 pm
Why don’t the two of you get a room (at the new hotel, get it)?
December 4th, 2012 at 3:17 pm
lefty, they won’t ever have a bar stocked with enough alcohol to make me want to do that.
December 4th, 2012 at 3:31 pm
Any fantasy about that would have led to stepping out in front of the nearest Union Pacific locomotive, not typing comments onto some two-bit blog.
December 4th, 2012 at 3:41 pm
Canadian Pacific has their holiday train coming to the area next week. Does that help?
December 4th, 2012 at 3:47 pm
Then how come you like to look at his bum?
December 4th, 2012 at 3:53 pm
Lefty, when you can’t tell the difference between making eye contact while talking to him and “looking at his bum”, mistakes happen.
December 4th, 2012 at 7:58 pm
So how well is the newly remodeled Best Western “Premiere” on nicollet doing?
I’ll bet not that well judging how easy it is to get seated at Morgans on any given Saturday night at 7:00pm or so. So then why do the “investors” think they can make one work at HOC? I’m guessing that someone will be left holding the bag if and when it gets built, and that someone will be the tax payers of Burnsville.
And enough about Bill’s, MSPD,s, and Lefty’s fantasies please, I’m trying to eat!
December 5th, 2012 at 11:42 am
mspd, is this ok for you to step in front of:)
bb
December 5th, 2012 at 1:49 pm
Sure. Whatever would cleanse the image of Bill in a hot tub from my brain.
December 7th, 2012 at 8:41 am
if you have visions of bill in a hot tub, you need to give this guy a call.
1800fuckedinthehead.
bb