Arlington Asked to Bid for Bush Library

[Cheesesteak]

Star-Telegram.com (07/19/05) --- The White House also invited SMU and Baylor University to submit proposals for the George W. Bush Presidential Library.

[Dooby]

This will be Turner's greatest test. If he wants a lasting legacy at SMU, he needs to deliver the Bush Library to SMU. He has all the tools. About a fifth of the SMU board of trustees are on a first name basis with the President (as much as you can be). Raising the money will not be a problem. The land is there.

Here's some of what the letter said:

The invitation letter describes the ideal proposal as offering an accessible, state-of-the-art library. Coupled with that should be an institute to focus on public policy, providing opportunities for research and a platform for international leaders to speak on "encouraging liberty around the globe," the letter said.

"Part of its mission will be to further the domestic and international goals of the Bush administration, including needed program reforms, compassionate conservatism, the spread of freedom and democracy around the world, and defeating terrorism,".

In addition to the library and institute, the letter said proposals should include a museum on Bush's life and administration, an archives for documents generated during the presidency, and other facilities including a restaurant, gift shop and possibly an IMAX or standard theater.

[newshound]

Just leave the mayor and that stupid judge out of it and we might have a chance.

[MustangStealth]

We shouldn't have to worry about the mayor as long as it's in HP or UP.

[SMUnick]

If we get the bid where will they build it?

[Dutch]

It will be on the former Ms.Baird's Bread site at Mockingbird & Central. which unfortunately is in the City of Dallas, not HP or UP.

[Ikus]

Spend the money on upgrades for Moody Coliseum, Perkins Natatorium, Westcott Field and Haggar Tennis Stadium. Hell, put a golf course around the fountain in front of Dallas Hall.

[Dooby]

We shouldn't have to worry about the mayor as long as it's in HP or UP.

SMU absolutely has to worry about Laura Miller screwing this up. Bear in mind that the Cowboy stadium was going to be paid for with Dallas County tax revenue. She still found a way to screw it up.

SMU has to show community support, and sorry to say, the support of HP and UP alone ain't gonna cut it. No doubt in my mind that whatever proposal is put forward will include a letter or video from her highness. Also, no doubt that she will be cursing under her breath the whole time she does it.

Make no mistake, Laura Miller will have a chance to screw it up.

[Dooby]

Spend the money on upgrades for Moody Coliseum, Perkins Natatorium, Westcott Field and Haggar Tennis Stadium. Hell, put a golf course around the fountain in front of Dallas Hall.

There is no other word for this other than stupid. I have said it before. Put aside whatever feelings you have for Bush, this going to be the equivalent of a free quad for SMU- a $200,000,000.00 complex raised largely from donors with no past, present or future connection to SMU. Not to mention the publicity and the visitors each year.

[d_pony]

the library if we get it is not planned to be built on the Mrs. Beard's bread site

[EastStang]

I would expect it to be put somewhere on campus where it will be seen. Perhaps the football practice field next to the Meadows Gallery. Then, we'd have to build a new football practice field, which probably isn't the worst thing in the world. Secondly, can UP annex the Mrs. Baird plant?

[jtstang]

If it comes at all, I expect it'll be located off the SMU Blvd. entrance from Central where all of those condos are being bought up and will be razed.

[SMUnick]

When will we find out who gets the library???

[BUS]

The doobie has hit the nail on the head.

This is outside money and outside interest that will flow blessings upon SMU for YEARS. This is exactly what we need and I sure hope that it comes to be.

[RE Tycoon]

I believe the article said the decision will be made before the year is out. The deadline is Sept. 15th to submit a proposal. The main negative against SMU is acreage. The Arlington site is 25-30 acres and I believe Baylor is looking at a 100 acre site. This will be a large comlex which means SMU will have to go vertical, and if they decide to do it in UP that will become a problem due to height restrictions. The Mrs. Baird site is very small and oddly shaped. My guess would be across Central on Yale Blvd. (I don't understand why we don't lobby to get that street name changed) where SMU owns that old theater and I believe the office buliding. If they did that, the entirety of Yale Blvd. would almost certainly have to be bought out and either redeveloped (which I'm for) or incorporated into the library. I've always thought that area could be a nice mixed-use area with restaraunts shops and apts., regardless if the library is there or not.