Irving boosts UD in Bush library hunt

[Cheesesteak]

Irving boosts UD in Bush library hunt

Traffic studies, hotel data, tourism agency helping small school compete, documents show

Tuesday, March 21, 2006
By ERIC AASEN / The Dallas Morning News

IRVING – How can a small Catholic university with no presidential family ties remain in the hunt to win the George W. Bush library?

It might be luck. It could be location. But one of the most important reasons could be the partnership that the University of Dallas has formed with Irving.

Documents released Tuesday afternoon to The Dallas Morning News paint a clearer picture of that relationship, as well as UD's efforts to land the library. They show how the university has worked behind the scenes to survive the cut, competing with more prestigious colleges to become one of three finalists. And they show that both UD and Irving have much at stake – and much to gain.

The University of Dallas has reached out and formed a deep and formal partnership with Irving and the Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau. As a result, the university with 3,000 students is able to draw on expertise from traffic studies to hotel data, elements important to making the library a successful project.

The visitors bureau has helped market the university's product, hoping it will create a lasting impression on the first family.

The partnership could involve money: Irving has proposed to commit up to $50 million in hotel and motel tax revenue for a UD library and museum, described as George W. Bush Library and Institute at Freedom Park.

The library would be located on school property at the corner of State Highway 114 and Loop 12. One e-mail talks about positioning the project as the "Crossroads of Democracy."

Correspondence between the city and university – you could call them love letters – outline the courtship between the two, as well as the quiet confidence both sides have about luring the library.

"We believe the library's location, visibility and the sheer magnitude of the project's vision will create a sustainable impact over a very long term," visitors bureau executive director Maura Allen Gast wrote in a letter to the university.

"The University of Dallas site has all the right ingredients – prime location, scenic beauty and accessibility – and will be an outstanding investment in our city's future development," read a letter from Mayor Herbert Gears and then-city manager Steve McCullough.

Strategies outlined
Irving officials on Tuesday released hundreds of pages of documents in response to an open records request from The News. Although the documents don't include specific library site plans, they outline strategies to land the library, as well as win the public relations battle.

Documents show the city's financial advisoer has conducted a funding capacity analysis of Irving's hotel tax revenues, while the city's bond counsel declared that the hotel funds could be used to fund for a library project.

Working with the city has been important in helping to launch UD's project, university officials say. Bob Galecke, UD's senior vice president for finance and administration, points to the city and bureau's expertise, from tourism business to demographic data.

"You're always looking for resources," he said last night, "and we felt there were resources here that would help with the proposal."

Partnering with UD makes sense, said Mr. Gears, who was first approached by university officials last summer regarding the project.

"It was obvious that the city might have some resources to make available to the project," he said. "It seemed like a worthy project for the city and worthy of our partnership."

But even a partnership has limits. The city can only do so much because the UD owns the land, Ms. Gast said.

"The city is a partner in it, but the university is the one who's driving it," she said. "And we have to respect that throughout the process."

That partnership is fueled by desires from both the city and university to improve their stature. Both would gain national notorietypublicity, which might help UD student enrollment and bring in thousands of new visitors within city limits.

More important, It would alsoit would create momentum for the city's plans for Texas Stadium, which would be located near UD's Bush library. Irving officials believe that the stadium will probably be torn down and transformed into a tourist attraction after the Cowboys leave for a new home in Arlington in 2009.

"While we believe the presidential library will have some return in overnight stays and revenues, we believe its greater visitor impact will be how it influences the development surrounding the location," according to an ICVB memo from last fall.

Regardless of whether the library lands in Irving, Ms. Gast said, publicizing the UD project allows investors and developers to learn more about Irving, which will help stadium redevelopment.

"How do we make the most of it, in terms of economic development?," Ms. Gast said. "How do we make the most of what can be an incredible asset?."

Other assets
UD may still be in the hunt for other reasons.

Some point to the scenery of the university's land, which offers views of area skylines. First lady Laura Bush is reportedly fond of the UD land. Others say the location – near highways and D/FW International Airport – is a factor. And some point to the fact that the university is flying under the radar, keeping a low profile in the intensifying public relations battle.

The documents show that both city and university officials have left no rock unturned in their effort to gather nuggets to help sell the library. They've tried to capitalize on its location and assets in and near the city, including the Boy Scouts of America headquarters.

Also among the discussions: Creating a list charting strengths and weaknesses of each site. Finding an available Web site address for the library. And dealing with a subpoena to view the UD plans: "We are taking legal steps to 'quash' this request to disclose our proposal for public scrutiny," according to an e-mail sent to Irving and UD officials.

At one point last year, while Arlington was still in the hunt for the library, officials talked about sending "a spy" to Arlington City Council meetings to monitor what the library proposal discussions.

The e-mails also indicated the that the city has consulted with Skip Rutherford, chairman of the foundation behind Bill Clinton's library, about traffic counts and counting travelers from out of state.

Also among the documents: City and tourism officials expressed concerns last summer that the city "has an opportunity to be a little more visible in the bid than we have been to date."

"The SMU president is talking pretty openly about their project, and getting all of the coverage, while we are still having to remain silent," Ms. Gast later wrote in an e-mail to Mr. Gears. She wanted the city and university to get more aggressive on the matter.

Mr. Galecke is confident so far with the university's public relations campaign.

"We are responding to the committee's desires to be private, and that's where we're maintaining our position," he said.

For now, Irving and UD wait for a decision. Both city and university officials seem confident they've offered their best sales pitch.

"At the end of the day, have we done everything we can?" Ms. Gast asked. "I think we have. Absolutely."

[Bergermeister]

The George W. Bush Presidential Library on the beautiful campus of Southern Methodist University, University Park, Texas.

[Stallion]

did you all note the sentence that said that Irving is willing to support the project-at a PRIVATE SCHOOL- with 50 Million dollars in city revenues. How much is Laura Miller giving SMU? Now I can understand how UD has stayed in the ballgame.

[SMU Football Blog]

You mentioned Laura Miller. I now find this thread offensive and it must be deleted.

I keep being told that someday, Laura Miller will run for higher office and that just makes me laugh and laugh and laugh.

[PK]

Dog Catcher?

[abezontar]

Why would Laura Miller give any money to SMU's proposal when she wrote a letter recommending UD's site?

And honestly, as much as the City Council, Dallas County Commissioners, and the Mayor screw things up and make a big stink about actually getting anything done, I think having them involved would be more of a hinderance than a help, even if they did finally agree to give money.

[Eddie P]

I too would rather keep the City of Dallas and their clown council as far away from this as possible.

[Bergermeister]

Hey! Dallas gots them some bridges..... and just BARELY missed out on a Downtown baseball stadium, a DALLAS Cowboys football stadium that could have brought a Final 4 and a Super Bowl (maybe roller derby), a new state-of-the-art home for the Cotton Bowl Classic and Texas vs. OU, Tech vs. A&M and the Dallas Texas Motor Speedway over at Pinnacle Park. But, you can't have everything. Dallas is getting the important stuff... a park across Woodall Rogers and a revitalized Deep Ellum and don't forget those bridges... to nowhere. (Well, I guess the I-30 one will get Dallasites across the Trinity Recreation Center and on down the road to The Entertainment Capital of Texas... Arlington.)

[SoCal_Pony]

More important, It would also create momentum for the city's plans for Texas Stadium, which would be located near UD's Bush library. Irving officials believe that the stadium will probably be torn down and transformed into a tourist attraction after the Cowboys leave for a new home in Arlington in 2009. "

Tourist Attraction???...I had to laugh when I read this part....visions of AUTO WORLD from Michael Moore's masterpiece movie 'Roger and Me' come to mind...