From the MJ:

 

Art Central Foundation eyes old Masonic Temple

Downtown building is one of four whose future the city is considering.

By Michael D. Pitman, Staff Writer 10:54 PM Saturday, February 25, 2012

MIDDLETOWN — The city is considering the future of four downtown properties, including the former Masonic Temple, which a local organization has an interest in continuing to use.

Cincinnati State Technical & Community College is planning to use the former CG&E building, 1 N. Main St., and the senior center, adjacent to the Middletown City Building, as it expands into Butler County.

That leaves the city with the former Bank One, First National Bank, Masonic Temple and Manchester Inn & Conference Center buildings in its portfolio of downtown buildings. And as the city begins to look at the future of these buildings, the Art Central Foundation is asking the city to consider selling or donating the former Masonic Temple to them.

“We approached the city of Middletown last year about acquiring the property for continued use by the foundation,” said Jim Edwards, vice president of the Art Central Foundation. “Our goal here is to have a permanent home for our organization, its programs and to help in the revitalization of the downtown area.”

The Art Central Foundation has been in its building at 4 N. Main St. for four years, first being tenants of the late Perry Thatcher, who died in December 2010, and now tenants of the city. The foundation is only charged by the city the cost to maintain the building, which was $14,573 in 2011.

Officials with the Art Central Foundation would like to make improvements, including adding an elevator to the property, but doesn’t want to invest if they don’t have a long-term future at the site.

“We don’t want to sink money into a building that’s not ours. That’s not fiscally responsible,” said Art Central Foundation president Sue Wittman, who added that the organization has suspended and moved events from the building because of the uncertainty. “The building suits our purposes beautifully.”

The city had purchased the former CG&E, Bank One, First National, Masonic Temple buildings in October 2010 for $300,000 and the Manchester Inn & Conference Center in February 2011 for $175,000. And while city leaders will debate how to unload the buildings — since they don’t want to be in the property ownership business according to Mayor Larry Mulligan.

Mulligan said the city needs to evaluate all of its downtown properties and determine their best uses.

“It could very well be that the Art Central Foundation acquires (the former Masonic Temple building),” he said. “There are a lot of options that we’ll probably be considering. We don’t need to be in any rush to do anything.”

A contingent of supporters of the Art Central Foundation addressed council last week, including Cynda Kash, a board member with Citizens for Historical and Preservation Services of Butler County. She was also concerned with the fate of the Manchester Inn and former First National Bank building.

“We know they’re mothballed, but as my experience as a preservationist, that’s just a forerunner of saying a building is deteriorating and has to come down,” she said.

The city spent $297,000 to maintain the buildings in 2011. Those payments included $172,330 in utilities and $74,800 for maintenance, which included one-time mothballing costs for the Manchester Inn and First National Bank properties. The city also collected $173,200 in rent revenues from tenants in the former Bank One, First National Bank and Masonic Temple buildings. One of those tenants is the Art Central Foundation.

The city stands to be paid $202,000 when the Cincinnati State deal is completed and Higher Education Partners purchases the CG&E building to develop the college’s downtown campus.

“We obviously want to make sure the Cincinnati State deal is inked and they have the buildings that they need before we consider putting buildings on the market or donating buildings,” Gilleland said.

The city’s contract with Higher Education Partners does hinge on the separate agreement Higher Education has with Cincinnati State. The city’s contract will only be sign once Cincinnati State signs its deal.

City officials are fine-tuning a contract they are set to sign with Cincinnati State’s developer, Higher Education Partners, and that agreement hinges on the developer and school signing their contract.

The former CG&E building is one of five city-owned properties in downtown that were former privately owned buildings. And once all contracts are signed in the Cincinnati State deal, City Manager Judy Gilleland said phase two of shaping downtown will begin — selling off the remaining city-owned buildings that were purchased in anticipation of Cincinnati State’s downtown campus.

"The city had purchased the former CG&E, Bank One, First National, Masonic Temple buildings in October 2010 for $300,000 and the Manchester Inn & Conference Center in February 2011 for $175,000. And while city leaders will debate how to unload the buildings — since they don’t want to be in the property ownership business according to Mayor Larry Mulligan".

THEN WHY DO YOU KEEP PURCHASING PROPERTY ALL OVER THE CITY MULLIGAN? WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS NOT WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

Mulligan said the city needs to evaluate all of its downtown properties and determine their best uses.

SO BASICALLY, WHAT YOU ARE SAYING HERE IS THAT THE CITY IS PURCHASING PROPERTY AROUND TOWN WITH NO CLUE AS TO THE END GOAL OF THE PURCHASE? THAT IS ILLOGICAL AND INEPT THINKING AT IT'S BEST. THE DAM CITY LEADERS, YEARS AGO, SAID THE CITY WAS GETTING OUT OF THE REAL ESTATE BUSINESS........ANOTHER LIE AMONG MANY OVER THE YEARS.

"We don’t want to sink money into a building that’s not ours. That’s not fiscally responsible,” said Art Central Foundation president Sue Wittman"

"THAT"S NOT OURS (OR, IN THE CITY'S CASE, HAS NO PLANS FOR USAGE). "THAT'S NOT FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE".....HEAR THAT MULLIGAN? MS. WITTMAN SHOULD BE CONDUCTING THE PURCHASING/SELLING, NOT COUNCIL. SHE HAS SOME COMMON SENSE.

The city spent $297,000 to maintain the buildings in 2011. Those payments included $172,330 in utilities and $74,800 for maintenance, which included one-time mothballing costs for the Manchester Inn and First National Bank properties. The city also collected $173,200 in rent revenues from tenants in the former Bank One, First National Bank and Masonic Temple buildings.

SO, NOT ONLY DID THE TAXPAYER ABSORB THE PURCHASE COST, BUT MORE MONEY WAS WASTED ON UTILITIES AND UPKEEP AND NONE OF THE PURCHASES ARE COMING CLOSE TO MAKING ANY MONEY FOR THE CITY. THIS IS NOT A GOOD ROI.

"We obviously want to make sure the Cincinnati State deal is inked and they have the buildings that they need before we consider putting buildings on the market or donating buildings,” Gilleland said

THIS WHOLE IDEA OF THE CITY PURCHASING PROPERTY, TAKING A BATH ON UTILITY/UPKEEP COSTS WHILE THEY WAIT, SOMETIMES IN VAIN FOR A BUYER, IS A MONEY LOSER AND STUPIDITY AT IT'S FINEST. TO HANG ONTO A BUILDING FOR YEARS, THEN DONATE IT BECAUSE IT HAD NO VALUE/NO TAKERS IN THE FIRST PLACE IS A MISUSE OF TAXPAYER MONEY. PRIVATE PARTIES WHO WOULD TAKE THE DONATED BUILDING HAVE BENEFITED FROM THE TAXPAYER WHO'S MONEY PURCHASED IT IN THE FIRST PLACE. LET PRIVATE BUSINESS PURCHASE THEIR OWN PROPERTIES, NOT STEAL IT FROM THE PUBLIC.

The former CG&E building is one of five city-owned properties in downtown that were former privately owned buildings. And once all contracts are signed in the Cincinnati State deal, City Manager Judy Gilleland said phase two of shaping downtown will begin — selling off the remaining city-owned buildings that were purchased in anticipation of Cincinnati State’s downtown campus

"SELLING OFF THE REMAINING CITY-OWNED BUILDINGS THAT WERE PURCHASED IN ANTICIPATION OF CS'S DOWNTOWN CAMPUS" GILLELAND, WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THERE WILL BE BUYERS? WITH THE PROPERTY TRACK RECORD OF DOWNTOWN, I WOULDN'T GET MY HOPES UP. ANOTHER "SHOT IN THE DARK" GAMBLE BY THE CITY LEADERS. IN THE END, EXACTLY HOW DID THE CITY BENEFIT FROM ALL OF THESE BUILDING PURCHASES AND MONEY-LOSING VENTURES? SHOW ME WHERE THIS WAS JUSTIFIED. MERCY!

At least with the Arts Central Foundation in the Masonic Temple, they are paying utilities and saving the costs to mothball.

Vivian, I doubt Middletown could even get a seat at the table with a company like that. Our ED person, city admin, and council are playing Monopoly while other communities know how to conduct real, not pretend, business.

Pacman wrote: I just DO NOT get it.  I wish somebody would explain this to me.

Pacman,

It is pretty easy to explain.  Our city keeps electing council members who put their personal agendas, and those of their friends and political backers, ahead of what is best for our city.

Example???  With all of the problems and issues facing our city, what was the very first initiative put forth by our newest councilwoman???  Did it deal with any of the thorny issues or pressing problems facing our city??? NO!!!  It was to deviate from longstanding city policy by renaming Bicentennial Commons after one of her friends and campaign supporters!!!

Nothing but fluff!!!  Nothing at all to improve the plight of our city!!!  This is not to say that Knight Goodman is not a good man, or that he has not contributed to our city, but so have many other people, including thousands who were not supporters of Ms. Mort in the last election.  And with all of the serious, weighty issues facing Middletown right now, should renaming a park after a politcal crony really be the first action item on any councilperson's agenda???

Art Central Foundation hosts Mardi Gras event
Funds raised will help provide summer art classes.

By Michael D. Pitman, Staff Writer 6:53 PM Saturday, February 11, 2012

    MIDDLETOWN — The Art Central Foundation’s Mardi Gras celebration is said to be “as much fun as you can have outside of New Orleans.”
    And the foundation’s president, Sue Wittman, wants to prove it.
    On Feb. 18, the Art Central Foundation will hold its fourth annual Mardi Gras fundraiser at a new location — the Pendleton Art Center at 1105 Central Ave.
    “We can expand, have a bigger dance floor, have more room to add games,” said Wittman. “It’s just a fun atmosphere.”
    The foundation had held its annual fundraiser for the past three years at the old Masonic building on Central, but it was at capacity. Last year 125 people attended, but with a larger space Wittman anticipates many more people coming.
    “I think the more people you bring into the downtown the better,” said Wittman. “This is another time during the month that people can enjoy the Pendletown Art Center.”
    The goal is to raise $5,000 to $6,000 for the Art Central Foundation, she said.
    “It’s good for us to have a bigger venue so we can continue to grow the event,” she said.
    The entertainment Robin Lacy & DeZydeco, a band with roots in Cajun and Zydeco-style music, but is also known around the region for its blues, old school country and rock roots. They’ve played the party for Wittman’s admittedly selfish reasons.
    “One of my favorite bands is Robin Lacy and DeZydeco,” she said, “and Mardi Gras is their time of year.”
    Pendleton Art Center Marketing Director Suzanne Sizer said getting more people in the door of the facility is always a good thing, and it also helps downtown Middletown.
     “We are so glad to have all the people who support the Art Central Foundation come downtown,” said Sizer. “We’re so pleased the Art Central Foundation is having its party there, especially since Mardi Gras is such a fun party.”
    Lacy said his band has developed into a niche no one else has attempted to get into — being the band that plays Mardi Gras music.
    His band has played the three previous Art Central Foundation’s fundraisers and said, “It’s a lot of fun.”
    However, he’s looking forward to playing a larger venue. While he hasn’t been to the PAC yet, he hopes the band can move around like it does during one of their outdoor concerts.
    “In the past, it’s been in a pretty small, contained area,” he said. “It does make it a lot more fun when you can move around, talk with the people in the crowd and throw beads out.”
    Since the PAC opened last year, it’s hosted a number of community events, including the Charity Ball, the chamber of commerce’s annual meeting and the area Realtor’s annual meeting.
    And bringing people downtown is “bringing some liveliness there.”
    The fundraiser supports the Art Central Foundation, which one of its missions is to provide children with summer art classes.
    “It gives them something fun and creative to do,” Wittman said.
    Art Central Foundation is in its seventh year and began, Wittman said, as a request by Light Up Middletown organizers to help decorate some of the vacant buildings in downtown. The “Got Art” campaign was born, and the foundation took over Music on Main and transformed it into the Main Street Art and Music Festival.
    The foundation also focuses on access to the public arts and education.
    “If the goal is to make downtown Middletown an arts community, you need to educate the youth so they’ll know the value of arts to a community” when they’re older.
    The Mardi Gras fundraiser is sponsored by Flowers by Roger, Brios at the Green and All About You Catering, which Wittman said “have been huge supporters of the Art Central Foundation fundraiser and our events.” New sponsors include SunCoke Energy and the Mattress Monkey, which is donating a Serta Mattress with headboard valued at $1,900 to be auctioned off.
    Admission is $30 a ticket and includes appetizers and a goodie bag with beads, mask and eight doubloons. The doubloons are good for buying drinks and playing games (where you can win more doubloons). People can also buy more doubloons, which will only be accepted for drinks, games and raffle baskets.
    And while costumes are optional, people usually have a lot of fun with them, Wittman said.
    Advance tickets are available online at www.artcentralfoundation.org or at the Pendleton Art Center. For more information, visit the website or the Art Central Foundation’s Facebook page.

 

The downtown area will be the second coming. It will be the greatest thing you will witness and experience.

Journal article....March 8th......

Cities focus on downtown revivals
Hamilton, Middletown see projects as catalyst for more activities

Major pending developments in the downtowns of Butler County’s two largest cities could help spark what the communities need to bring their cores back to life, business leaders said.

in Middletown for a community college branch campus could be catalysts of more development and activity.

Next month in Middletown, construction could start on Cincinnati State Technical and Community College’s branch campus......COULD START

The results could mean more jobs and amenities for residents

Middletown business leader Jay Moorman said his city has reached a tipping point with the opening of Pendleton Art Center and the Cincinnati State plans......THE TIPPING POINT

Middletown’s plans center around education, entertainment and the arts, said City Manager Judy Gilleland. YEP, JUST WHAT EVERY BLUE-COLLAR WORKING-CLASS TOWN NEEDS. THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS TOWN WILL CERTAINLY LATCH ON TO THIS JUDITH.


AK Steel’s headquarters and paper mill companies used to be blocks away from downtown Middletown. Most recently in 2011, Fifth Third Bank closed its downtown Hamilton branch and Butler County shuttered its downtown Middletown Family & Children Services location. SHOULDN'T HAVE INCLUDED THIS IN THE STORY. IT IS NOT "GOOD NEWS" AND CITY LEADERS DON'T WANT TO HEAR OR READ ABOUT REALITY. NOR DO THEY WANT TO SOLVE REALITIES PROBLEMS.

“It’s going to happen whether we like it or not. The explosion in Middletown. You’ve got one exit up from Middletown, you’ve got developments, you’ve got big swath of shopping malls, you got residential properties. One exit down, same thing. Middletown’s kind of that last little stop on I-75 for things to really explode and developers are starting to see that and they’re starting to see the fact that properties are very inexpensive right now in Middletown. We need to be prepared for that,” Kay said. A PERVERBIAL EXPLOSION....THE EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD....WATCH OUT! NICE EMBELLISHMENT BY THE WAY.



City Manager Judy Gilleland said she thinks there’s a future for the city in having an educational environment downtown.

THAT'S IT? THAT'S YOUR PLAN? THE FUTURE OF THE CITY IS IN EDUCATION? NOT DECENT PAYING JOBS? NOT AN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS CAVING IN NOR ROADS THAT ARE GETTING DOWN TO GRAVEL? NOT ELIMINATING SECTION 8 AND THE CRIME AND IMPOVERISHED AREAS IT HAS BROUGHT TO TOWN? NOT HELPING THE SCHOOLS IMPROVE TO THE POINT THEY ARE ATTRACTIVE TO OUTSIDERS AGAIN? NOT HELPING EXISTING BUSINESSES PROSPER AND NEW BUSINESSES START UP? NOT REDUCING THE TAX RATE TO A MANAGEABLE LEVEL FOR PEOPLE? NOT ELIMINATING THE IGNORANT MONEY-LOSING, HAIR-BRAINED CLUSTERS USING TAXPAYER MONEY? NOT GETTING OUT OF THE REAL ESTATE BUSINESS?

“We’ve certainly been down in the trenches for a few years now. I would like to think we’re able to poke our heads up and see a few successes at this point. There’s nothing easy about working against the economy, so we certainly have our work cut out for us in the future,” Gilleland said

"POKE OUR HEADS UP AND SEE A FEW SUCCESSES AT THIS POINT" GOOD ONE JUDITH!

Jay Moorman owns BeauVerre Riordan Stained Glass Studios. The oldest continually operating stained glass studio in the U.S., it has been a staple on Central Avenue going on nine years. For six of those years, it was alone, Moorman said.

“It was a scary time,” he said.

He was part of a group that looked to form a Main Street organization and first approached Pendleton about opening the art center, now caddy-corner from BeauVerre. News of Cincinnati State and the opening of Pendleton was a tipping point, Moorman said.

He said he never thought five years ago, things would be where they are now

GETTING THAT LOAN FROM THE CITY THAT STILL HASN'T BEEN PAID BACK (OR HAS IT?) WAS A "TIPPING POINT" TOO, WASN'T IT MOORMAN?

“People want to get involved in downtown and care,” he said. “I couldn’t be more encouraged.”

UH, THAT MAY BE A TINGE OF AN EXAGGERATION BUD. IN REALITY, ONLY A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE FROM THE CITY WANT TO GET INVOLVED DOWNTOWN. YOUR ARTS THEME WON'T ATTRACT THE BULK OF THE CITIZENRY. IT IS BEING SET UP WITH THE ARTS THEME FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE FRIENDS OF THE CITY AND NOT THE GENERAL POPULACE. THE FLAVOR OF THE BULK OF PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN IS NOT IN THE ARTS. IT'S IN NASCAR, COUNTRY MUSIC, LOW END SHOPPING AND ENTERTAINMENT. IT'S THE LIFESTYLE MIDDLETOWN PEOPLE CAN AFFORD SINCE THE CITY HASN'T PURSUED DECENT PAYING JOBS HERE TO ELEVATE THE ECONOMIC STATUS OF IT'S PEOPLE. YOU DON'T GIVE THE PEOPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE DISPOSABLE INCOME, BUT YOU SET THE DOWNTOWN AREA UP WITH AN ARTS THEME THAT CAN ONLY BE SUPPORTED BY DISPOSABLE INCOME. WON'T WORK IN THIS TOWN. PEOPLE HAVE NO EXTRA MONEY TO SUPPORT IT. JMO