By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Gainesville consultants say large convention center a bad idea
Hotel still a possibility for city
Placeholder Image
Gainesville is unlikely to see a convention center development any time soon, after consultants discouraged the idea in a Thursday presentation to City Council. The contracted economic feasibility consultants said an already oversaturated market, weak occupancy levels and slow upticks in demand made construction of a publicly subsidized large-scale gathering place a bad idea. Linda Wilson, president of Key Advisors Inc., said the center was shooting for more than what Gainesville lends itself to, and risked operating on annual shortfalls.