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 - BMW Motorcycle Business Activity
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

BMW Motorcycle Business Activity

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
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 Topic: BMW Motorcycle Business Activity
    Posted: Mar 23 2019 at 11:55am
Journal story tells us there is activity at the old Seniors Center downtown. Looks like the owner has a substantial investment in this business and has set a goal of opening this summer. I congratulate him on his efforts and his faith in investing in Middletown.

I find it interesting that he is opening a BMW motorcycle dealership and repair shop in Harley-Davidson country. From the ratio of BMW ownership versus Harley ownership, it would appear he is outnumbered in interest as to choices in motorcycles. Certainly, Middletown is more of a Harley town, moreso than the more refined BMW rider. Still, it appears he has done his homework and is satisfied that there is a market for his product here. Interestingly, he offers the comment that Middletown is midway between the larger markets of Dayton and Cincy, and that would be a logical location choice to make with regard to ease of access to his dealership, but I question his downtown location choice. An I-75 location would be the logical choice for ease of access for potential customers but I must admit, the choice of a location seven miles to the west is surprising. To the BMW owner wanting service or to the potentially interested BMW buyer, the downtown location may be a liability due to the somewhat confusing route to get to the downtown by those not familiar with Middletown. That may result in a negative, first-time impression to potential clients I would think. If you get frustrated trying the find the place, you may be inclined to just turn around and balk at visiting.

Another interesting thing in the story was the comments made by Larry Mulligan.

From the story....

"Mayor Larry Mulligan said the city is on an upswing. He said downtown can offer unique retail shopping and there is plenty of support for entrepreneurs through the efforts of Downtown Middletown Inc. as well as public/private partnerships tools that can be used.The city has been working to assist potential business owners and entrepreneurs through various incentives and tax abatements. In the past few years more than 35 new businesses have opened up in downtown Middletown that include restaurants, distilleries, microbrews in addition to having Ohio’s first Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area."

According to his statement here, it would appear that Mr. Mulligan thinks that because there is some development in the DOWNTOWN area, the city is on "the upswing". As always, it is ALL about the downtown in this city for Mulligan and his supporters. Never a mention about what Mulligan and the downtown supporters have planned for the "upswing" for the rest of the city. They fail to encompass any other section of this city EXCEPT for their dam downtown area. Given Mulligan lives down on S. Main St. with his residential area being connected to the downtown, I can understand Mulligan defending his turf to protect his property values. He doesn't want to live next to a dilapidated downtown area. I would ask Mulligan if he thinks others who live here in other, forgotten about, "non-protected" parts of town shouldn't have the same luxury that he seems to enjoy as to property value protection as well. It is all about protecting the members of the "important" people in this city. It has nothing to do with equal treatment in all segments of this city. Never has really.

It is nice to see some parts of town get attention although the downtown has overwhelmingly gotten much more than it deserves. It is also not pleasant to see others left to fend for themselves for decades while their neighborhoods deteriorate and receive absolutely no help from this city. Some areas of town lack shopping amenities altogether. The city needs to adopt more of a "share the opportunities" focus IMO. It is sad to see only one area of town get all the attention. It is also the wrong way to go if inclusion for everyone is valued. The city is good at taking the money from the people who live in non-valued areas of town but they fail miserably in making their areas more livable. Why the tunnel vision focus city leaders?

Shouldn't everyone who lives here be valued as citizens and if this is true, shouldn't the city ask for the opinions of those same citizens concerning their city provided needs?

I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over.
Back to Top
buddhalite View Drop Down
MUSA Citizen
MUSA Citizen
Avatar

Joined: May 11 2017
Location: Middletown
Status: Offline
Points: 499
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote buddhalite Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Mar 23 2019 at 12:40pm
I asked those very questions of councilpersons when the deal was inked.  None of it makes sense.

Chipotle doesn't want to build anywhere near downtown.  They want to be where the people are.

A BMW motorcycle dealership in downtown Middletown? It just in no way makes sense.

And FWIW - the big 3 on council don't care about anything east of Breiel Blvd and it's been that way for quite some time.  I'm resigning myself to the fact that the only east end growth that Middletown will ever see is what is forced upon them.

You have to come, you have to pay for it, you have to build it, you have to foot the bill.....unless you are downtown in which case we will pay for your signage, give you the land/buildings, pay for utitilty improvement and give you tax incentives out the wazoo.  

It's not going to change.
"Every government intervention [in the marketplace] creates unintended consequences, which lead to calls for further government interventions." -Ludwig van Mises
Back to Top
Mike_Presta View Drop Down
MUSA Council
MUSA Council
Avatar

Joined: Apr 20 2008
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 3483
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Mike_Presta Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Mar 23 2019 at 5:15pm
And don't forget, we taxpayers will be "donating" a big wad of dough so that the "downtowners" can have fiber optics and Wi-Fi in their little playground as well.
 
“Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012
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 (1) Thanks(1)   Quote VietVet Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Mar 23 2019 at 11:18pm
buddhalite:

"And FWIW - the big 3 on council don't care about anything east of Breiel Blvd and it's been that way for quite some time. I'm resigning myself to the fact that the only east end growth that Middletown will ever see is what is forced upon them."

The ironic part of this statement is that despite the overwhelming help and special attention the downtown is receiving, the private sector developed east end is STILL more diverse, more active, more attractive and offers more choices to the people of this city than the downtown has ever offered. The downtown developers, with the entire effort and support from the city leaders, coupled with all the city giveaways from the city leaders, still can't match the shopping activity and interest out by the Towne Mall area.

Let's face it downtown supporters, your artzy utopia isn't (and may never be), the top feature for shopping, entertainment nor interest for the people in this town. More than a decade of trial and error failed development should have told you this by now. What will it take for you to realize it may never get any better than it is now?.......but the money, special favors and focus just keeps coming as the downtown supporters coupled with their city leader partners just keep kicking the can down the road, don't they. Why insist that it will work after all these years when you know that progress has been slow coming? Time to pull the plug on only downtown development and start concentrating on ALL areas of this town.   
I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over.
Back to Top
buddhalite View Drop Down
MUSA Citizen
MUSA Citizen
Avatar

Joined: May 11 2017
Location: Middletown
Status: Offline
Points: 499
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote buddhalite Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Mar 24 2019 at 8:37pm
Ditto, Vet.  Ditto.

How is it that we see it so clearly, yet the majority of the populace doesn't?
"Every government intervention [in the marketplace] creates unintended consequences, which lead to calls for further government interventions." -Ludwig van Mises
Back to Top
spiderjohn View Drop Down
Prominent MUSA Citizen
Prominent MUSA Citizen
Avatar

Joined: Jul 01 2007
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 2749
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote spiderjohn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Mar 25 2019 at 2:56pm
obviously a pair of visionaries.....

nice fluff piece yesterday from Sam the Man....it IS going to improve--there is far too much public $$ invested to let it fail now. Actually there are nice businesses down there, and a lot of individuals spending their own time and $$. Murphy's and Canal House are shut down, and the Rock and Roll shop has re-located to the area mentioned below, but Swire is Hot, Triple Moon is the place to be seen and Gracies is quality.

Look for mid-Central Ave to continue to grow, with Jug, Java J, Stefanos(re-opening), Combs bbq, and the House of Brews. Area is now zoned commercial, so houses will go and retail, food, liquor will eventually take over imo. Also we have Veracruz, Spinning Fork and their Bourbon Kitchen.

BTW best food in town is now coming from Browns Run
Also the best music
Back to Top
buddhalite View Drop Down
MUSA Citizen
MUSA Citizen
Avatar

Joined: May 11 2017
Location: Middletown
Status: Offline
Points: 499
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote buddhalite Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Mar 26 2019 at 3:48pm
This is really a tale of two Middletowns......in fact it mirrors much of our country.  25% make so much noise you think they're the majority - but everything they do fails because...oh yeah, they're just 25% (or less in many circumstances).

Do as I have done at all times of the day and night.  Watch downtown - then go watch the east end.

There's just no comparison.

All the money we've spent on the downtown area and most of it is still vacant, trashy, full of transients and beyond.  Sure there's about 2-3 blocks of nice stuff...soap you can't afford, impractical unaffordable food for blue-collar families, tons of alcohol (count a lot of conscientious Christians out of that) and a desire to expand DORA even more), lack of 7-day a week entertainment options, groceries, etc.....and any objective person would tell you that it's not worth the continual dumping of tax dollars into that end of town especially when we have sewer issues, streets that are decaying faster than Popeye's teeth and public safety staffing at what I am sure is a population adjusted all time per-capita low....

Yikes.  I almost hate thinking about all this - too depressing.  Funny though - I go downtown and get depressed.  I go back to the east-end and I'm not depressed at all.  Sure there's the mall fiasco - but we didn't want the outlet mall, we didn't want rapid warehouse growth, we didn't want anything other than to recreate the 1950's downtown where Grandpa took us for ice cream and long walks along Central Ave...........and we lost it all to our surrounding communities.  Heck the Uhaul guy wanted to re-purpose the Elder beerman store into a Uhaul rental and storage place...but we're too uppity even for that!  Too much control in the hands of those who shouldn't have control because they have NO VISION or the WRONG VISION!

I kinda remember (although I wasn't paying much attention back then) about some big-box retailer wanting to come to this city and bring millions in tax revenues - and our city demanded they pay for a bridge.....I might be mistaken - but it sure sounds like something we'd do.

We should be like Monroe - just open our arms and welcome business - we'd have many less problems in our fair city...and jobs galore and industry every where and less crime, less vagrancy, less drugs.....

It works everywhere it is tried - but we still have these visions of simple, small and overpriced nonsense that keep our city from being the booming city that it can be.
"Every government intervention [in the marketplace] creates unintended consequences, which lead to calls for further government interventions." -Ludwig van Mises
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: Mar 26 2019 at 4:19pm
spider:

"obviously a pair of visionaries....."

Nice shot!!!
I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over.
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 (1) Thanks(1)   Quote VietVet Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Mar 26 2019 at 5:07pm
buddhalite:

"This is really a tale of two Middletowns......in fact it mirrors much of our country. 25% make so much noise you think they're the majority - but everything they do fails because...oh yeah, they're just 25% (or less in many circumstances)."
I have noticed this as well. Seems since the Obama years, the minorities in this country have gotten the grease simply by becoming the squeaky wheel. Seems they receive more attention than the 80% majority nowadays. This is a new twist on a democratic society. This is the primary reason I switched parties. After decades of being a Democratic Party supporter I switched. Obama and his minority sponsored policies caused the switch.

buddhalite:

"We should be like Monroe - just open our arms and welcome business - we'd have many less problems in our fair city...and jobs galore and industry every where and less crime, less vagrancy, less drugs....."

But buddhalite, our leaders always tell us they are business friendly. Are you suggesting that may not be true, that Middletown leaders are not open-minded about business and hand select what fits their special agenda similar to what we see in their downtown area? (Marty Kohler was good at this by the way). Amazing isn't it? Hamilton is a mirror image of Middletown, only a tad bit larger. Same demographics-same blue collar factory town with a splash of county government offices thrown in.....However, they have made the decision to advance into today's world and have grown from their decision. The "corn field" that was Monroe in the 50's has grown and marketed themselves into a mini version of Springboro when they started their growth. Monroe is making the transition from a former sleepy little farm town to a nice, decent, livable community with good schools and updated housing to attract quality people to locate there. They've thrown in some light industry as well. Same goes for Springboro, a one traffic light farming burg on Rt.73 in the 50's to a community of wealth and influence now. The former and current leaders of both communities have really planned well and we see the end results. You can also see the positive results from West Chester, literally cow pastures on both sides of I-75 back in the early 60's to current. Hell, even Franklin, who has always played Middletown's small brother, has done better than Middletown if for no other reason than their schools are better. If West Chester, Monroe and Springboro can take their sleepy little cow pastures and transition them to what they are now, what happened to Middletown, who was always more advanced than these communities......until the 70's that is. Since then, Middletown leaders have totally failed to identify what was needed for this city to advance in modernized growth. The only modern growth that is seen is out by the Towne Mall and that was driven, not by the city, but by private developers. This is proof positive the city needs to keep their hands off of development and let the private developers take over modernizing the city. Looking back in time, it doesn't appear we had very smart planners the last four decades. Looks like the smart ones went to West Chester, Monroe and Springboro. You could make the assertion that ALL communities have been moving past Middletown the last four decades. Why does it appear that the Middletown leaders are in a stalled vacuum as to development? Better yet, just stay out of the development arena. Your not good at it at all. The Economic Development department in Middletown is a joke compared to other cities.
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 0.066 seconds.
Copyright ©2024 MiddletownUSA.com    Privacy Statement  |   Terms of Use  |   Site by Xponex Media  |   Advertising Information