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Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Proposed legislation may allow money from the BP oil spill to be used to build a conference center and a hotel on a state park. Two bills introduced last week in Montgomery want to see land at the Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores used to build a convention center along with private development of an adjoining hotel.
Legislation sponsors Sen. Trip Pittman and Rep. Steve McMillan told the AP the goal is to create an upscale site on the Alabama coast to attract conventions like those drawn to Sandestin in the Florida Panhandle. McMillan, who is also a Baldwin County real estate broker, says a convention complex at the park would generate badly needed revenue to operate other state parks during tough budget times.
Opponents say the legislation is a giveaway of valuable state land and a boondoggle for taxpayers. Former Lt. Gov. Bill Baxley said it ignores the fact that Sandestin was built with private money, not state money. The legislation would allow the state to seek proposals from companies wanting to build a hotel on 29 acres where the Gulf State Park Lodge once stood. The company would not own the property, instead leasing for up to 99 years.
McMillan told the AP that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to use the money intended for Mobile and Baldwin counties in a way that could benefit the entire state. The legislation is expected to go in front of the Economic Development and Tourism Committee on Wednesday.
Rep. K.L. Brown of Jacksonville is a member of that committee.
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Keywords: Gulf State Park beach property hotel convention center Steve McMillan Trip Pittman Alabama Senate House Bill Baxley
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