Middletown Ohio


Find us on
 Google+ and Facebook


 

Home | Yearly News Archive | Advertisers | Blog | Contact Us
Thursday, March 28, 2024
FORUM CITY SCHOOLS COMMUNITY
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Manchester/Snider on hold
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Manchester/Snider on hold

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
409 View Drop Down
Prominent MUSA Citizen
Prominent MUSA Citizen
Avatar

Joined: Mar 27 2009
Status: Offline
Points: 1014
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 409 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Manchester/Snider on hold
    Posted: Oct 01 2015 at 3:11pm
MJ:
Middletown brewery, hotel on hold, developer says

By Ed Richter
Staff Writer
MIDDLETOWN —
Plans to transform a vacant Middletown building into a brewery and hotel are on hold, according to the developer behind the project.

A lack of support from the city is among the reasons William Grau said he is putting the Snider Building microbrewery and Manchester Hotel projects on hold.

The Illinois-based developer told this news outlet he is also considering selling both properties.

“The Manchester Hotel and Snider Building/Brewery are currently on hold pending an increase in outside support and interest in the projects … ” Grau said in an email to this news outlet.

For the second time in the past several months, Grau did not submit an application for Ohio tax credits. Last spring, Grau opted not to submit the tax credit application for Manchester Hotel, saying the strategy then was to get the microbrewery in Snider Building up and running first to create a destination venue before starting the hotel portion of the project.

When asked what has been the biggest challenge in getting the financing secured so these projects can begin moving forward, Grau said, “selling downtown Middletown.”

“The fact that the city seems to be focusing all their efforts on the I-75 interchange and neglecting the downtown is very disappointing,” Grau said.

That could not be further from the truth, according to Denise Hamet, Middletown’s economic development director.

“The city continues to invest and support economic development efforts in all parts of the city,” she said. “For example, we are working to enhance and expand the airport; we are completing multiple phases of roadway improvement of Yankee Road and are coordinating fiber installation in the area; we are supporting the NTE Energy plant installation along Cincinnati Dayton Road; we are working with Towne Mall owners to facilitate re-development, and we are working with landowners east of Interstate 75 to get their sites shovel ready and also are supporting a new gas station project that will soon be underway.”

Hamet said those were only a few of the projects Middletown is working on to drive development forward.

“We know that there are many aspects of economic development, including quality of life, infrastructure, workforce development, transportation, and available sites,” she said. “A revitalized urban area is a great tool to attract millennials, it attracts tourists, and also provides services supporting businesses and residents.”

Grau said he also could not get grants from Duke Energy or interest from JobsOhio and the Ohio Department of Development for the projects. The state development department oversees job creation and the historic tax credit programs.

Both buildings are structurally sound, according to Grau, and roof leaks have been repaired. Ongoing inspections and repairs are being completed as necessary, he said.

In the past year, Grau has run into snags getting through the pre-application process with the State Historic Preservation Office to get the projects cleared to allow the historic tax credits application to be submitted.
Every morning is the dawn of a new error...
Back to Top
acclaro View Drop Down
Prominent MUSA Citizen
Prominent MUSA Citizen
Avatar

Joined: Jul 01 2009
Status: Offline
Points: 1878
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote acclaro Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 01 2015 at 3:42pm
Perhaps Butler Metro Parks will buy it for a 1000x return

Called this one correctly out of the gate. Can't blame the guy. Hamlet spending too much time on the gas station and changing the menu for Friday night at the Canal House. It is not, what it was said to become.
'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill
Back to Top
VietVet View Drop Down
MUSA Council
MUSA Council
Avatar

Joined: May 15 2008
Status: Offline
Points: 7008
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote VietVet Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 01 2015 at 3:47pm
Now wait a minute. Do you mean to tell us that Grau can't get his projects off the ground because he can't sell the downtown area to any potential financial investors?

How can this be?

The downtown supporters have assured us that CS and the artzy theme was working and that the downtown was showing signs of life and growing with new businesses opening all the time. Hamet and the supporters are always telling us what a real gem we have down there. Someone is wrong here.......but which one?

Could it be that the embellishment game, so popular with the city leaders, is losing it's thunder?

Hamet says they are developing all over the city. If that's the case, why do we constantly hear only about the downtown and very little about the other areas of town? Seems as if the primary focus is on their little gem downtown.
I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over.
Back to Top
Cooper View Drop Down
MUSA Resident
MUSA Resident


Joined: Apr 25 2014
Status: Offline
Points: 62
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cooper Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 01 2015 at 4:00pm
Mr. Grau was actually being quite the gentleman. What he wanted to say outright was, "there isn't a viable market in Middletown."

The timing couldn't be worse. Forbes Magazine is back in town mid October revisiting cities named in their previous article. Someone reach out to Cohen at MMF and see if they'll do a $ 15 Million bridge loan for Grau. Or even better, maybe the former President at Cincinnati State will be kind enough to do a fund raiser on CET for it.

I hear the train a coming, its just around the bend. What a disconnect. He thought city hall was going to do the heavy lifting, not he. Or that's what he was told. They did build Cincinnati State for O'dell. The dominos are falling. Run. 
Back to Top
Perplexed View Drop Down
MUSA Citizen
MUSA Citizen


Joined: Apr 22 2009
Status: Offline
Points: 315
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Perplexed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 01 2015 at 4:41pm
I can only imagine how the "Wonder Boy Dougie" will explain all of this malarkey? So many projects, so much tax dollar infusion of funds, so little accomplished. It's time for Forbes Magazine to revisit Middletown.
Back to Top
Cooper View Drop Down
MUSA Resident
MUSA Resident


Joined: Apr 25 2014
Status: Offline
Points: 62
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cooper Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 01 2015 at 6:58pm
“We know that there are many aspects of economic development, including quality of life, infrastructure, workforce development, transportation, and available sites,” she said. “A revitalized urban area is a great tool to attract millennials, it attracts tourists, and also provides services supporting businesses and residents.” Denise H economic development.

Build it, and the millennials will come. Another screw up and throw it on wall, hope it sticks. Won't see this in a lifetime. No golf. No microbrewery. No mixed use swank apartments. Can you grow marijuana inside the ball room as one of the state sites when it becomes legal in November? 
Back to Top
Factguy View Drop Down
MUSA Resident
MUSA Resident


Joined: Dec 07 2009
Status: Offline
Points: 217
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Factguy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 01 2015 at 8:36pm
Mr. Grau expects the city to provide the same package given to AKS and Atrium in cash, about five million.
Back to Top
Perplexed View Drop Down
MUSA Citizen
MUSA Citizen


Joined: Apr 22 2009
Status: Offline
Points: 315
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Perplexed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 01 2015 at 9:03pm
After all of this time are we to believe that Mr. Grau recently mentioned his requirement of another giveaway of $5,000,000? How can anyone of reasonable intelligence buy this line of malarkey?
Back to Top
Vivian Moon View Drop Down
MUSA Council
MUSA Council


Joined: May 16 2008
Location: Middletown, Ohi
Status: Offline
Points: 4187
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Vivian Moon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 02 2015 at 11:35am
Sooo...is this the straw that will break the back of the "Downtown Dreamers"?
I was told by a council person that they received a complete file on Mr. Grau before they voted to transfered the two properties to his company. Didn't this file reveal the fact that Mr Grau had no money of his own to invest in the restoration of these properties? All council members voted yes on this deal.
This project is another royal screwup and failure caused by Miss Judy and city council.
And then you must ask...what was the advice from the MMF on this great real estate deal?
Millions of tax payers money wasted and they have the nerve to ask for more money.









Back to Top
Perplexed View Drop Down
MUSA Citizen
MUSA Citizen


Joined: Apr 22 2009
Status: Offline
Points: 315
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Perplexed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 02 2015 at 3:36pm
Miss Vivian, just think of the printed "FLUFF" that Eddie Richter routinely spews out about the "former downtown" on behalf of his One Donham Abbey buddies. What a journalist???
Back to Top
Richard Saunders View Drop Down
MUSA Resident
MUSA Resident


Joined: Jun 30 2010
Status: Offline
Points: 232
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Richard Saunders Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 02 2015 at 11:33pm
Good thing that Joey Mulligan was there looking out for the taxpayers on this deal.

And now he wants to do just as good of a job for us at the state level?

You betcha!
Back to Top
Dean View Drop Down
MUSA Resident
MUSA Resident
Avatar

Joined: Apr 15 2014
Status: Offline
Points: 162
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dean Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 03 2015 at 12:58am
This council's waste has been sufficient enough in Middletown. No need to further destroy Butler Cty or a state position. Surely you jest this would be run for Boehner's seat? No thanks.
Back to Top
middletownscouter View Drop Down
MUSA Citizen
MUSA Citizen
Avatar

Joined: Oct 11 2010
Location: Sunset Park
Status: Offline
Points: 501
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote middletownscouter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 05 2015 at 8:55am
Originally posted by Factguy Factguy wrote:

Mr. Grau expects the city to provide the same package given to AKS and Atrium in cash, about five million.

When a hotel or microbrewery would bring as much revenue into town as two of our city's largest employers then maybe it would warrant that kind of investment from the city.

And since he was given the building for ONE DOLLAR and the city appears to be assisting with all the different paperwork, I think that we've been more than accommodating on his business endeavor. It appears his strategy for this project rivals the underpants gnomes from South Park:

1. Collect underpants. (Get building for next to nothing.)
2. ??? (Let other people do everything else for him.)
3. Profit.

If that works out for him, let me know where to sign up.
Back to Top
Dean View Drop Down
MUSA Resident
MUSA Resident
Avatar

Joined: Apr 15 2014
Status: Offline
Points: 162
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dean Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 07 2015 at 8:37am
Or is he following the road map of the Moorman's on BV, Pendletown, GeoCRE, Rose building, Duncan Oil, Cohen Brothers, Pratt's 75,000 consulting fee for the private equity that takes percent fee for Cincinnati State tuition, Denny's Lumber, and others, for 5,000-10,000 for painting, and of course, the school district, the library system, and the city itself. And others.
Back to Top
Vivian Moon View Drop Down
MUSA Council
MUSA Council


Joined: May 16 2008
Location: Middletown, Ohi
Status: Offline
Points: 4187
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Vivian Moon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 07 2015 at 9:20am
SOOO....what will happen with these buildings when Grau just gives up on this project and walks away?
How much money does he really have invested in these two properties?


Back to Top
Richard Saunders View Drop Down
MUSA Resident
MUSA Resident


Joined: Jun 30 2010
Status: Offline
Points: 232
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Richard Saunders Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 08 2015 at 4:22am
Originally posted by Dean Dean wrote:

This council's waste has been sufficient enough in Middletown. No need to further destroy Butler Cty or a state position. Surely you jest this would be run for Boehner's seat? No thanks.
Of course Larry and Little Joey have wasted our tax money.  They are both useful idiots for the Nazis known as Moving Middletown Forward (MMF).

Little Joey isn't running for  Boehner's U. S. House seat.  He's running for Tim Derickson's 53rd District Ohio House of Representatives seat.  (Derickson cannot run again due to the term limit provisions.)

Remember the $75,000 of our tax money that the Mulligans and the other council members voted to give MMF?  They use it to finance the campaigns of their stooges who run for Middletown council, Butler County Commission, and now (for the first time) a state representative.


Back to Top
acclaro View Drop Down
Prominent MUSA Citizen
Prominent MUSA Citizen
Avatar

Joined: Jul 01 2009
Status: Offline
Points: 1878
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote acclaro Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 08 2015 at 10:14pm
Why isn't Tim Derickson running for Boehner's position? I just don't see any value in Reynolds running, particularly on running a budget as auditor. If that is a winning strategy, I give up on wasting a vote in Ohio as a fiscal conservative.  
'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill
Back to Top
Factguy View Drop Down
MUSA Resident
MUSA Resident


Joined: Dec 07 2009
Status: Offline
Points: 217
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Factguy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 08 2015 at 11:55pm
There was a lengthy thread about Middletown Moving Forward in mid April of 2009 and Moving Middletown Forward. Many would disagree MMF has the power and influence you suggest Mr. Saunders. Think about this fact for a moment. MMF was founded in 2005. It took them 9 years to obtain non-profit status. Nine years. That should give some insight into their efforts and commitments. Its an organization given a title and visibility for its members as figureheads, but its about as powerful as a regiment of Kentucky Colonels commanding legions of fictitious soldiers. If you check the CIC registration, doubt they have filed an annual report in 10 years. Neighborhood Watch groups are more task driven than MMF.    
Back to Top
VietVet View Drop Down
MUSA Council
MUSA Council
Avatar

Joined: May 15 2008
Status: Offline
Points: 7008
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote VietVet Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 09 2015 at 5:51am
Originally posted by Factguy Factguy wrote:


There was a lengthy thread about Middletown Moving Forward in mid April of 2009 and Moving Middletown Forward. Many would disagree MMF has the power and influence you suggest Mr. Saunders. Think about this fact for a moment. MMF was founded in 2005. It took them 9 years to obtain non-profit status. Nine years. That should give some insight into their efforts and commitments. Its an organization given a title and visibility for its members as figureheads, but its about as powerful as a regiment of Kentucky Colonels commanding legions of fictitious soldiers. If you check the CIC registration, doubt they have filed an annual report in 10 years. Neighborhood Watch groups are more task driven than MMF.    




If this is true, then why is the mayor and other influential people in town on the board? Why waste the time setting this up if it has no clout? Must be someone listening to them as the council members and those inside the city building seem to march to the beat of their drum, follow their game plan and worship every word spoken by Cohen and company. Isn't it true that one could surmise that the city manager and all of council serve as the mechanism for administering MMF policy and place MMF on somewhat of a pedestal?
I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over.
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down



This page was generated in 0.109 seconds.
Copyright ©2024 MiddletownUSA.com    Privacy Statement  |   Terms of Use  |   Site by Xponex Media  |   Advertising Information