Will a performing arts center be our next big controversy? Well, let’s hope not. However, when you reflect on our track record for making significant and successful decisions concerning the proper growth and development of the Fayetteville and Cumberland County community we seem to have an overabundance of  bias, greed, special interest and a major deficiency of leadership, common sense, economic prudence, intelligence and intestinal fortitude. 

Now, don’t misinterpret my intention here, I think our community should have, and deserves, a quality, safe and prestigious Performing Arts Center. In addition, I have no problem with it being located in Historic Downtown Fayetteville, nor would I have a problem with it remaining as part of the Crown Coliseum Complex.

No doubt we need to do something. Our current facility is an embarrassment. This being the case, I have no preference as to whether we give our existing auditorium a major renovation or level it to the ground and build anew. I, like many other city/county taxpayers just want the decision and the process to reflect intelligence, dignity, economic sense and common sense. 

The 320,000 residents of  Cumberland County deserve that.

Unfortunately, for those of us who have been around here for 30 years or so, we are naturally conditioned for the worse possible scenario. It’s almost like living in Superman’s “Bizarro World,” where everything appears in reverse and opposite of reality. We are living with the reality of these past decisions every day. I.e. Crown Coliseum, JP Riddle Stadium,County Jail, Festival Park Building, Prince Charles Hotel and the future Transportation Hub. All the result of when city and county politico’s cater to inflated egos and self-interest undeterred by logic, self control and short-term memories.  

The recent discussions about what to do about the Memorial Auditorium (FPAC) have the propensity for becoming the next community dividing controversy because what has already taken place. It is beginning to resemble an advocacy for a new FPAC to be built in Historic Downtown Fayetteville.  

People are already talking and red flags are already starting to fly after the Civic Center Commission and County Commissioners ordered up a $47,000 renovation assessment conducted by Eric Lindstrom of sfl+a Architects. No doubt a reputable and talented architect whose corporate office and residence are located in Historic Downtown Fayetteville. Hmmmmm? What dog could he possibly have in that fight? 

As fate would have it, his assessment was damning withrenovation estimates that could exceed $39 million. This anticipated outcome laced with a few scary scenarios about serious balcony safety concerns and looming liability lawsuits, set the stage for a Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) vision with a price tag of nearly $60 million. Yes. $60 million. More than the Crown Coliseum originally cost, and we remember how the general population felt about that. 

This is when the second set of red flags started flying.

It’s difficult, if not impossible, to compare DPAC, Durham County and its metro community with our Memorial Auditorium, Cumberland County or our Historical Downtown. Here’s why: 

Durham’s Per Capita Income is 23 percent higher than ours and their Median Household income  is 14.8 percent higher than that of Fayetteville/Cumberland County. 

In addition, the development of DPAC was part of a specific downtown revitalization plan involving some of Durham’s largest corporations  like Capitol Broadcasting Company that owns several TV stations in the area including Fox 50 TV. (Big bucks were invested here!) 

Another major contrast is that the DPAC was intended to be an added attraction complementing the already popular American Tobacco Historic District and Durham Bulls Athletic Park, which is the home of the CBC’s baseball team the Durham Bulls. 

Enough of repeating that old adage “A rising tide, floats all ships.” 

Hey, we get it!  I can see how DPAC fit into the overall revitalization and economic development plans. DPAC was successful in rising the tide and ships did float. However, Downtown Fayetteville and Cumberland County is not Durham so this adage doesn’t apply here. We have no water, no tide and no ships. 

The cost for building DPAC in 2007/2008 was $48 Million. Not only did Capitol Broadcasting Company step up but, so did Duke University and Blue Cross/Blue Shield. The last time I looked we had no huge charitable corporate entities here in our community. Their contributions alone were valued at 16 percent of the construction cost. 

There is no doubt that an improved facility would benefit our community. But, knowing what we know, we should try to avoid controversy by approaching this project with our “eyes wide open” not “eyes wide shut.”

We must learn from past mistakes and be proactive asking tough questions, seeking feasible solution and doing the right things for the right reasons. Let’s act responsible, mature and make sure we cover all our bases keeping the best interest of our county population at the forefront, not like we did in the case of Sanderson Farms.  

For instance, if we know this project is going to be expensive what would be the harm in getting two opinions? Why not bring in another independent unbiased architectural firm to do the exact same assessments? After all, what’s another $47K when you’re looking to spend $38 to $60 million? Then, once we feel confident with that, we begin asking the right questions: How are we going to pay for it? Where are we going to locate it? What impact will it have on the Crown Coliseum and Expo? Who will manage it? Will we be able to compete with Raleigh’s Duke Energy Center for shows or DPAC’s industry giant Nederlander Organization and its Professional Facilities Management team that operates the facility. 

How will this impact our economic development downtown? How would it impact the economic development of the Crown Complex out on the bypass? What other like facilities have done major renovations? In a few months Raleigh’s Memorial Auditorium will undertake its first renovation in 25 years. They have budgeted $10 million.

No matter which way we go, build new or renovate, downtown or uptown it can be a win-win for everyone in the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community if we move forward with this project by being responsible, accountable and prudent by looking at all our options and learning from our past missteps, mistakes and lessons learned.  

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