QuoteANDERSON, Ind. -- Anderson's school superintendent has proposed closing the central Indiana city's landmark Wigwam high school gym as part of a plan that also includes cutting 65 teachers' jobs.
The Herald Bulletin reports that closing and selling the 9,000-seat gym was one of the recommendations Superintendent Felix Chow listed at a school board meeting Tuesday.
Chow's plan also includes cutting 65 teacher positions, introducing all-day kindergarten and basing grade promotions on students' competence.
School officials have discussed closing the Wigwam before, but never received board approval. The newspaper has reported the district paid nearly $350,000 in utility bills for the gym in 2008, while it generated less than $8,000 from events.
The Wigwam is the second largest high school gymnasium in the world, second only to the Fieldhouse in New Castle.
http://www.indystar.com/article/20110209/SPORTS02/102090382/Anderson-school-chief-plans-shut-Wigwam-gym?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|IndyStar.com (http://www.indystar.com/article/20110209/SPORTS02/102090382/Anderson-school-chief-plans-shut-Wigwam-gym?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CIndyStar.com)
http://heraldbulletin.com/education/x820636506/Chow-Close-Wigwam-cut-82-jobs (http://heraldbulletin.com/education/x820636506/Chow-Close-Wigwam-cut-82-jobs)
Should have been done a long time ago! Sell it and put the damned thing back onto the tax roles, or tear the damned thing down!
Quote from: Palehorse on February 09, 2011, 12:05:51 PM
http://www.indystar.com/article/20110209/SPORTS02/102090382/Anderson-school-chief-plans-shut-Wigwam-gym?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|IndyStar.com (http://www.indystar.com/article/20110209/SPORTS02/102090382/Anderson-school-chief-plans-shut-Wigwam-gym?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CIndyStar.com)
http://heraldbulletin.com/education/x820636506/Chow-Close-Wigwam-cut-82-jobs (http://heraldbulletin.com/education/x820636506/Chow-Close-Wigwam-cut-82-jobs)
Should have been done a long time ago! Sell it and put the damned thing back onto the tax roles, or tear the damned thing down!
It's about time. It's worst than owning a boat. A hole in the water where your throw money and can't fill up. An old relic that time has passed and should be buried.
It's about time. :thumbsup:
Man I so agree. In 2008 annual utilities costs topped $350,000.00 for that unused facility! (I bet it is closer to 450k now). It generates zero revenue surrounding taxation, and the recent reorg surrounding moving educational classes from the learning center to the wigwam could easily be relocated or absorbed within the other facilities.
The place is nothing but a drain on local taxpayers, and a memorial to antiquated days gone by that is no longer necessary or needed.
WOW, I think it should be gone, too. This must be some kind of record.
:spooked: Is this the dawning of the age of Aquarius? :spooked:
Quote from: Palehorse on February 09, 2011, 03:21:17 PM
:spooked: Is this the dawning of the age of Aquarius? :spooked:
If they can't make it a money maker, which they can't, tear it down. Let's not do what they did in New Jersey. They tore down one stadium down to build a new one and they stilled owes $40 million on the old one. But what the hell, it's only taxpayer money.
The worst thing that they could do is "donate" it to some charitable NFP, which would remove it from the tax rolls completely. It would get the annual utility costs off our backs though. . .
Quote from: Palehorse on February 09, 2011, 04:39:32 PM
The worst thing that they could do is "donate" it to some charitable NFP, which would remove it from the tax rolls completely. It would get the annual utility costs off our backs though. . .
What in hell is the gas bill, just to heat the damn place and cool it in the summer.
Over $300,000 per year in utility bills according to channel 8.
Quote from: Anne on February 09, 2011, 06:34:05 PM
Over $300,000 per year in utility bills according to channel 8.
They better take some of that money to fix the pot holes that are coming.
Quote from: The Troll on February 09, 2011, 06:31:50 PM
What in hell is the gas bill, just to heat the damn place and cool it in the summer.
It was $350,000 for utilities for that place in 2008, and utility costs have gone up as we all dmaned well know. . . So. . .
Quote from: Palehorse on February 09, 2011, 07:06:41 PM
It was $350,000 for utilities for that place in 2008, and utility costs have gone up as we all dmaned well know. . . So. . .
Just like watching you're money going up in smoke and steam. Isn't it a wonderful that the dumb asses won't shut it down. :wall:
Quote from: The Troll on February 10, 2011, 02:34:43 PM
Just like watching you're money going up in smoke and steam. Isn't it a wonderful that the dumb asses won't shut it down. :wall:
:yes: :yes: :yes: :yes: :yes:
What is the Anderson Wigwam. It's an old high school gymnasium where an old high school team, the Anderson Indians played.
It has a 50 to 60 foot high ceiling in it, talk about empty heating space and rows and rows of seats around the basketball floor. It is not a 4 to 5 story building, it's a damn gymnasium. The Indians basketball team like the real Indians of Anderson are gone. What will it be in 20 years? It will still be a old high school gymnasium costing the city tax payers way over $7 million in utilities alone.
What does it take to get some smart people in the city government to get rid of the old white elephant. Huh?
Well I'm agin' it! :razz:
:biggrin:
The City should have acquired the Wigwam long ago. Hopefully the time's not past for its usefulness.
People have been paying a Food & Beverage Tax for years that has supposed to have been going for a non-existent convention center.
The City takes over the Wigwam and it can be used as a convention center etc. as well as an extension of the Parks since Anderson Parks has no indoor facilities. Fix it up and sunset the F & B Tax.
The City shouldn't make the mistake in continually ignoring the Wigwam like the County did in ignoring acquiring Killbuck Park and Golf Course for a major county park - something Madison County doesn't have, and now won't, without a large outlay of cash the County lacks, unless someone donates property.
Quote from: Y on February 20, 2011, 09:57:11 PM
Well I'm agin' it! :razz:
:biggrin:
The City should have acquired the Wigwam long ago. Hopefully the time's not past for its usefulness.
People have been paying a Food & Beverage Tax for years that has supposed to have been going for a non-existent convention center.
The City takes over the Wigwam and it can be used as a convention center etc. as well as an extension of the Parks since Anderson Parks has no indoor facilities. Fix it up and sunset the F & B Tax.
The City shouldn't make the mistake in continually ignoring the Wigwam like the County did in ignoring acquiring Killbuck Park and Golf Course for a major county park - something Madison County doesn't have, and now won't, without a large outlay of cash the County lacks, unless someone donates property.
Someone must have read this posting it would seem. Either that or the "Great Satan" has taken physical possession of several current city leaders.
A "consultant" has floated the idea of turning the WW into a convention center, and it seems to be gaining popularity. . .
Quote from: Palehorse on June 06, 2012, 11:05:57 AM
Someone must have read this posting it would seem. Either that or the "Great Satan" has taken physical possession of several current city leaders.
A "consultant" has floated the idea of turning the WW into a convention center, and it seems to be gaining popularity. . .
I got one small question. Just who will come to Anderson, Indiana for a convention, where is the night life and where will they stay that is close and convenient? Huh? As Henry would say, just asking. :biggrin:
Why doesn't the Church of God buy it. They practically own Anderson. Anderson was at one time shared by GM and the Church of God. :yes: :yes: Why don't Anderson just give it to the Church of God and take a tax deduction. :wink: :wink:
Quote from: The Troll on June 06, 2012, 07:16:57 PM
I got one small question. Just who will come to Anderson, Indiana for a convention, where is the night life and where will they stay that is close and convenient? Huh? As Henry would say, just asking. :biggrin:
The casino and the plethora of hotels that have sprung up near it I would guess.
Quote from: The Troll on June 06, 2012, 07:16:57 PM
Why doesn't the Church of God buy it. They practically own Anderson. Anderson was at one time shared by GM and the Church of God. :yes: :yes: Why don't Anderson just give it to the Church of God and take a tax deduction. :wink: :wink:
Probably because they already have a lot of other churches that they've shuttered and are pimping off to other venues where they can, and besides, they've got that Giant complex now at 67th and Columbus to force the congregation to pay for!
Quote from: Palehorse on June 06, 2012, 11:05:57 AM
Someone must have read this posting it would seem. Either that or the "Great Satan" has taken physical possession of several current city leaders.
A "consultant" has floated the idea of turning the WW into a convention center, and it seems to be gaining popularity. . .
I hope the idea does gain popularity, but the city is going to have to clean up that near west side area for it to work properly.
http://heraldbulletin.com/local/x243087624/Police-investigating-break-in-vandalism-at-Wigwam
Police investigating break-in, vandalism at Wigwam
ANDERSON, Ind. — Police are investigating a break-in at the Wigwam on Saturday afternoon.
At around 3 p.m., somebody broke a window on the north end of the building on the first floor, entered the now-vacant former home of Anderson High School basketball and set off a number of fire extinguishers. The haze caused by the extinguishers set off the fire alarm in the structure, alerting the fire department.
I wonder how long it will be before the WigWam is a pile of ashes like the old AHS?