Comments on: Museum projects to look at http://elginite.org/blog/2008/02/17/museum-projects-to-look-at/ Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:03:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: RS http://elginite.org/blog/2008/02/17/museum-projects-to-look-at/#comment-43842 RS Mon, 18 Feb 2008 01:41:20 +0000 http://elginite.org/blog/2008/02/17/museum-projects-to-look-at/#comment-43842 Well I think there's still some discussion about whether it would be a concert hall for classical music or a general purpose events venue. The Elgin Symphony Orchestra wants a pure concert hall for their exclusive use. That's nice, but it's expensive and hard to justify. Ed Schock, the mayor, wants a general replacement for the Hemmens, a venue that would host all sorts of events. I'm skeptical generally speaking of the need for a Hemmens replacement. I don't think it's the role of the city to be doing bread and circus. And I really don't think that Hemmens has or can have as much of an impact on downtown business as they are claiming. Neither do I think the building needs to be acoustically perfect for people to book it. I think we should recognize that the Hemmens is sufficient for its purpose, to provide a venue for community groups to perform. That's it. I don't think Patty Hemmens ever thought that she wanted a place to host the Rolling Stones, or that the city should be booking such events. With the opening of the Sears Centre Arena, large acts do have a place to perform, and residents can take advantage of that. Whether the arena will turn out to be a good bargain for Hoffman Estates remains to be seen, but it is a great bargain for us, because it's just across the street and we didn't pay anything to build it. Well I think there’s still some discussion about whether it would be a concert hall for classical music or a general purpose events venue. The Elgin Symphony Orchestra wants a pure concert hall for their exclusive use. That’s nice, but it’s expensive and hard to justify. Ed Schock, the mayor, wants a general replacement for the Hemmens, a venue that would host all sorts of events.

I’m skeptical generally speaking of the need for a Hemmens replacement. I don’t think it’s the role of the city to be doing bread and circus. And I really don’t think that Hemmens has or can have as much of an impact on downtown business as they are claiming. Neither do I think the building needs to be acoustically perfect for people to book it.

I think we should recognize that the Hemmens is sufficient for its purpose, to provide a venue for community groups to perform. That’s it. I don’t think Patty Hemmens ever thought that she wanted a place to host the Rolling Stones, or that the city should be booking such events.

With the opening of the Sears Centre Arena, large acts do have a place to perform, and residents can take advantage of that. Whether the arena will turn out to be a good bargain for Hoffman Estates remains to be seen, but it is a great bargain for us, because it’s just across the street and we didn’t pay anything to build it.

]]> By: jessica elgin http://elginite.org/blog/2008/02/17/museum-projects-to-look-at/#comment-43817 jessica elgin Sun, 17 Feb 2008 17:05:41 +0000 http://elginite.org/blog/2008/02/17/museum-projects-to-look-at/#comment-43817 i haven't been paying attention; is there talk of building a concert hall for $125 million? where would it be located, and what sort of concerts? interesting since we have hemmens with the more expensive concerts pretty regularly... i haven’t been paying attention; is there talk of building a concert hall for $125 million? where would it be located, and what sort of concerts? interesting since we have hemmens with the more expensive concerts pretty regularly…

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