The legislation would allow the state to seek proposals from companies interested in building a hote

Editor s Note: The following story is about a plan to build a hotel and convention center in Gulf State Park, a 6,150-acre state park in Gulf Shores, Ala. The park includes 2 1/2 miles of white sand beaches along the Gulf, a modern campground for both RVs and tents, rent a car washington dc cheap price rental cottages, and nature trails, plus both fresh and saltwater fishing and swimming. There are 496 campsites within the park s 11 1/2 square miles; all have electrical, water and sewage hook-ups. The park also contains an 18-hole championship golf course that is open seven days a week and includes a pro shop and snack bar.
Bills pending in the Legislature would let the state use compensation from the BP oil spill fund to build a conference center and let a private developer to build an adjoining rent a car washington dc cheap price hotel. The goal of Gov. Robert rent a car washington dc cheap price Bentley and other proponents is to create a site on the Alabama coast that can attract large conventions like those now drawn to Sandestin in the Florida Panhandle and other Gulf coast sites.
Alabama s state parks were built for all of the people to enjoy, not just rich people who can afford to sit on their balconies and drink martinis and thump their cigar ashes on a beach that belongs to all of the people of Alabama, said Charley Grimsley, who oversaw state parks when he served as state conservation commissioner rent a car washington dc cheap price between 1993 and 1994.
The sponsors of the legislation, Republican Sen. Trip Pittman of Daphne and Republican rent a car washington dc cheap price Rep. Steve McMillan of Gulf Shores, say a convention complex at the state park would generate badly needed revenue to operate other state parks during tough budget times and would boost tourism rent a car washington dc cheap price and tax income rent a car washington dc cheap price in Alabama s biggest vacation spot.
Some officials in Montgomery and in Baldwin County have long dreamed of having a hotel and conference center at Gulf State Park that is big enough rent a car washington dc cheap price to compete for large conventions like those now going to Sandestin. That vision gained momentum in 2004 when Hurricane Ivan wrecked the beachside lodge at Gulf State Park, which had accommodated small conventions.
The Perdido Beach Resort, a convention hotel in Orange Beach, has been a consistent opponent. The hotels owner, Grimsley and others successfully sued to block plans by former Gov. Bob Riley s administration to let an Atlanta company operate a convention hotel at Gulf State Park. The group already operates the Hotel at Auburn University. The Alabama Supreme Court ruled the plans didn t abide by state law.
An attorney for Perdido Beach Resort, former Lt. Gov. Bill Baxley, said the legislation would put his client out of business, and 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 interested in building a hotel on the 29 acres of beachfront where the Gulf State Park Lodge once stood. The governor, state conservation commissioner and a legislative committee would have to approval a proposal. They could also reject all proposals and negotiate a deal with one of the companies. The company would not own the beachside property, but could get a lease of up to 99 years.
Baxley said the legislation throws out the idea of government accountability because it exempts the hotel project from many of the safeguards in state law, including bid requirements and the approval ofconstruction plans by the State Building Commission.
For Bentley, the project would mean keeping a promise he made in his first news conference after being elected governor in November 2010: Building a convention complex on the coast that would attract Alabama groups now holding conventions at Sandestin because their meetings are too big for any of Alabama s beachfront hotels.
His bill is scheduled for consideration by a House committee rent a car washington dc cheap price Wednesday. If the Legislature rent a car washington dc cheap price passes it, construction isn t likely to start soon. That s because Baxley said his client will be filing suit again.
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