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SALE OF VERITY SCHOOL

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Vivian Moon View Drop Down
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    Posted: Jan 26 2015 at 3:14am

Posted: 12:00 a.m. Monday, Jan. 26, 2015

Church’s plans for school seen as positive

By Rick McCrabb

Staff Writer

MIDDLETOWN 

    While Middletown school board members wished the vacant school and property sold for more at auction, they believe plans for the former Verity Middle School are positive for the Middletown community.

    Last month, Berachah Church was the highest bidder at a live auction for the former Verity Middle School property, 1900 Johns Road, and the nearly 60 acres that surround the building. Berachah bid $293,000 for all three parcels, $3,000 more than the Performing Arts Academy, said George Long, district business manager. The property was appraised at $740,000, he said.

    By selling the property, Long said the district it will save $330,000 — the cost of demolition — and that money can be spent renovating Middletown High School and building a middle school. He said if the school was demolished, the 60 acres would be appraised at $250,000.

    School board members are expected to vote tonight, Jan. 26,on whether to sell the property to Berachah or keep it and possibly have it demolished.

    “We don’t need it right now,” said Marcia Andrew, board president. The church’s plans would serve a lot of students, which could be beneficial for the entire community, she said.

    Lamar Ferrell, Berachah pastor, said he has heard nothing but positive comments from the community since it was announced that the church plans to purchase the property.

    “This is of monumental importance to help this city,” Ferrell said. “This is a win for the community. We want to be a blessing.”

    Ferrell said restoration of the former Verity School, which closed in 2012 as a way to reduce $5 million from the district’s budget, is estimated at $1.6 million, meaning the total investment will be about $1.9 million. Berachah has secured a feasibility study and master site plan from the McKnight Group, a Grove City-based company, and the church is ready to move ahead with construction, he said.

    Berachah has been approved for financing through American Saving Bank and the church, which worships in Middletown High School, is debt free, he stressed. He said the capital campaign is called Overflow and the first offering is set for April 12. The goal is to raise $700,000 over the next three years, he said.

    The plans call for a 1,000-seat sanctuary to be built on the front of the building that faces Breiel Boulevard. Ferrell said the property would be used to serve the community in numerous ways, including seasonal outreach at Freedom Court, a summer lunch program, Vacation Bible School, a community health clinic, Red Cross classes, children’s summer theatre, after-school mentoring, community rooms, Upward Sports, practice fields and Elley’s Hope Playground, designated for children with disabilities, at nearby Lefferson Park.

 

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TonyB View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote TonyB Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan 26 2015 at 3:07pm
I guess it depends on who's eyes you are looking. The new middle school could have been built on the property.
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Vivian Moon View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Vivian Moon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan 26 2015 at 3:48pm
The new middle school SHOULD HAVE been built on this property.....period

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Bocephus View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bocephus Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan 26 2015 at 4:02pm
Nice deal on the property? Guess the property value in Middletown has tanked so much?

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acclaro View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote acclaro Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan 26 2015 at 4:10pm
Humor me.

Is it just me, or is anyone else recognizing the enormous sale of property in Middletown to Non Profits/

Non profits don't pay property tax. Lowered property tax causes problems in funding many pivotal services including schools, city services.

Sell large volumes to non profits would seem to have disadvantages to selling to a For Profit business.

Something missing?  
'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill
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spiderjohn View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote spiderjohn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan 26 2015 at 7:40pm
I have been saying the same thing for years, particularly about property "exchanges" in the former downtown area.

City pays good $$ for former business(taxpaying job creators), then gives it away to non-profits who pay no taxes and create few tax-paying jobs.

Virtually every big parcel is ending up like this

And some wonder why our tax revenues don't increase?

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acclaro View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote acclaro Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan 26 2015 at 8:08pm
Buying one's way to prosperity doesn't seem logical when ownership is selling property to non profits on values 20% of tax valuation or a $1.00. 

Something will give and we know what it is. 

It's impossible to prosper when give-aways out number businesses moving in. Throw in the heroin visibility, Summit 2 in February, and sunshine and calmer seas doesn't look to be an accurate forecast.
'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill
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FmrMide81 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote FmrMide81 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan 26 2015 at 8:48pm
But...but...but...Burlington is going to open!!!  Doesn't that mean jobs, prosperity, and better schools for all????
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Vivian Moon View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Vivian Moon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan 26 2015 at 9:05pm
I still have lots of questions concerning the downtown give-a-ways non profit buildings

Q: How did HEP sell the CG&E building  for 5.6 million dollars when it was only appraised at 3.2 million and
      two floors are still not completed? This deal smells to high heaven and needs a full investigation by the state....
Q: The old Senior Citizens building and the 1st National Bank buildings are now owned by HEP. When are these
      buildings going to be restored? Both buildings were given to HEP for ZERO DOLLARS. So when these building
      start falling down will we the taxpayer get to pay for the demo of these buildings also?

Big questions and City Hall has no answers to my questions?
Please remember who veto yes to these deals come election time. It's time for a major change at City Hall.
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