Implode Intel now!

Mayor Wynn wants to put off the Intel shell implosion, scheduled for February 25. The federal General Services Administration apparently doesn't think too much of this idea.  According to its spokesman:

To turn back now would cost taxpayers millions of additional dollars, deprive citizens of their badly needed new courthouse for at least two more years, and could potentially jeopardize the construction funding in the future[.]

Wynn's heart is in the right place.  As I pointed out a few months ago, a federal courthouse won't do much to enliven Republic Square, which the City hopes will develop into an Austin-style piazza.  Wynn's thinking that downtown is now hot; we can do better than a stodgy courthouse; let's find a deal that makes everyone better off.

I'm all for finding a replacement for the federal courthouse.  I'm just a spectator, but I think it will be hard.  The GSA will demand that the new buyer pony up:  (1) the GSA's original purchase price; (2) millions for design work and other prepatory work that would have to be redone; and (3) enough extra to make it worth GSA's while to find another, now more expensive, site.

The Mayor might have a specific suitor in mind.  If so, great.  Let's get a deal done.

But unless there's a buyer willing to take and re-use the shell, it needs to go.   

Probably the most important reason is that I'm geared up to watch the implosion -- I'm going to have an awesome view from my building just a block and a half away.  (Personally, I think they should drape the shell in a giant white dropcloth with "Intel" spelled out in giant, black letters- -- let Intel have a little free "publicity" as the implosion is replayed on local news stations everywhere.) 

The other reason is that it has taken the federal government forever and a day to get to the brink of actually imploding this thing.  If it gets put off, it could be years before the gubmint gets around to rescheduling the implosion.  It's got no incentive to hurry because it doesn't have carrying costs.  Unless there's a good (>>50%) chance that saving the shell will get us a new owner, we need to get rid of it while we can.

Comments

[M1EK]

I like the idea of a courthouse there - it is going to expand the public/civic space at Republic Square (a silver lining in the OklahomaCity-inspired design cloud). I'd also agree that it's unlikely the Feds can move quickly enough to make this a good deal.

Federal courthouse needs to be downtown. I _don't_ want to see a foolhardy move a la Travis County's tax office move to Airport Boulevard. People who can't afford cars ought to be served first, not last, by government offices - which means they need to be right where the major transit routes run (also why I was against the new library, recall).

[Bruce]

They should have a contest for imploding the Intel shell. People who were laid off during the tech bust can write letters explaining why they should get to push the button.

[Jeff Wood]

Bruce thats a great idea. I think that shell has been there long enough. It's been an eyesore for so long it should drop. If they really wanted to save it, why did it take this long to search for a suitor? Seems like a very last minute reaction to me.