Costs MORE to Build a New Hops Stadium than to Renovate the Existing Hops Ballpark
Is that true? Here's the comparison from the 409-page Meeting Minutes of the City Council - 07 Mar 2023.
These estimates appear to be incomplete, imo. The Cost to Renovate the Gordon Fabre Recreation Complex to accommodate the new requirements for the Hops baseball games appears to be overestimated. The Cost to Build a New Hops (Short Season LLC) Stadium for Entertainment appears to be underestimated.
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Before I go further, the Westside Commons and Wingspan Building are already designated for Entertainment use AND are located on the MAX Light rail train. This mass transportation greatly alleviates traffic congestion after a concert or other event.
There is NO NEED to build a second location for concerts. Westside Commons has been used for years with at least 15 concerts, such as the hard rocking Pat Benatar concert in 2018 (Heartbreaker, Hit Me With Your Best Shot).
The original purpose of the Gordon Fabre Recreation Complex was for ACTIVE participation. That's its function today.
There was NOT A VOTE BY WE THE PEOPLE to change the form, fit, or function to be an Entertainment Complex. That is what the new New Hops Stadium (Short Season LLC) wants to do for PASSIVE participation.
And the City of Hillsboro is forging ahead, pushing for approval by the Planning and Zoning Hearing Board. The Planning and Zoning Hearing Board is bending to some extent to the wishes of the City of Hillsboro and the Hops Short Season LLC group of 30 investors.
We are talking about an existing complex built with OUR TAXES that is virtually being given away to Short Season LLC for their future profits. That is flat out WRONG.
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Thus, the cost comparison is weighted in favor of the New Hops (Short Season LLC) Stadium. The construction effort, moving rapidly and eagerly to get the bulldozers to the Gordon Fabre Recreation Complex to jump on the "dirt work" for the New Hops Stadium, and cost do not include loss use costs to demolish 3 ball fields AND to build 3 new ball fields.
Until these costs can be accurately estimated and added to the cost comparison table, no decision should be made. However, it appears that the City of Hillsboro Council has preemptively made a unilateral decision without Voter Approval.
In my opinion, Renovation is the more sensible, and less expensive solution. We do not need another concert venue when we have the Westside Commons, especially one without public transportation, and potentially blocked and hemmed in to the north by Sunset highway in the event of a catastrophe.
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I have to stop for now, but will add more questions tomorrow, such as the following:
Are there Evacuation Routes so spectators and participants can get out of the New Hops Stadium in the midst of a catastrophe (i.e., an active shooter, a Subduction Zone earthquake bigger than 1993, a suicide bomber and fire) while in a panic?
Can Emergency vehicles and Firetrucks can get in quickly to address a catastrophe? Remember, the north side is hemmed in and blocked by Sunset highway.
Where is the Traffic Study? Where is the Environmental Impact Statement?
Will Earthquake Building Codes be followed, adhered to, and pass inspection to be in compliance?
What about the Noise code, Monitoring volumes, and protecting our ears from damage?
What about Energy (electrical) codes and Light damage concerns, such as light pollution, spill light (trespass), and skyglow (dark sky)? What controls are there for light intensity and spill from 150-feet tall light poles with banks of lighting? That's as tall as a 15 story building!
WE DEMAND A SAY AND VOTE BEFORE THE "DIRT WORK" STARTS.
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