By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-991893.mp3
Dallas, TX – The giant "observation wheel" planned for Founders Plaza in downtown Dallas may go elsewhere. KERA's BJ Austin says Great City Attractions has dropped its application for Founders Plaza and is looking at "city-owned" locations this week.
Plans to put the 174 foot observation wheel at Founders Plaza got tentative approval from Dallas County Commissioners. But there were subsequent objections about a Ferris wheel type ride so near Dealey Plaza, especially with the 50th anniversary observance of the JFK assassination coming up in 2013. So, the company, Great City Attractions, out of Scotland, withdrew the application. Phillip Jones, president of the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau says the company is now talking to the "city" about a location - a downtown park location perhaps, with a lot of foot traffic.
Jones: They don't want to spend a lot of money prettying up or beautifying an area, such as a parking lot. It won't work in a parking lot. And it never does. That's why they've had great success with putting their wheels in historic districts and historic plazas. And that's whey their first choice was Founder's Plaza, but due to the opposition and the concerns about sensitivity they understand that that's probably not the right thing to do in Dallas.
Jones says Great City Attractions is giving Dallas a second chance, touring potential sites in and around downtown this week. And city officials welcome the "wheel".
Jones: In my discussions with Mayor Rawlings, this is all in line with his efforts to make Dallas a more fun city.
Jones expects Great City Attractions to pick two possible sites this week. He says there is aggressive competition from cities like New York and Las Vegas to be the first city in the U.S. to have one of these observation wheels. And the goal is to have the "Dallas Wheel" turning in April of next year.
Related Link: greatcityattractions.com