Downtown
Printed From: MiddletownUSA.com
Category: Middletown City Government
Forum Name: Economic Development
Forum Description: Local government efforts to develop the local Middletown area economy.
URL: http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5837
Printed Date: Apr 27 2024 at 3:27pm
Topic: Downtown
Posted By: 409
Subject: Downtown
Date Posted: Aug 18 2014 at 8:11am
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From MJ: Downtown development ‘picking up steam’ By Rick McCrabb Staff Writer MIDDLETOWN — Several downtown buildings will have new owners and new businesses open in them as the redevelopment of downtown is “picking up steam,” according to Denise Hamet, the city’s director of economic development. Hamet recently toured parts of Over-the-Rhine, and she compared the rebirth of that section of Cincinnati to what’s happening in Middletown. “We just need to continue to build momentum,” she said. She said the future of several downtown properties — Manchester Inn, Goetz Tower, Sorg Opera House, Sorg Mansion, Rose Furniture, and the former Middletown Senior Citizens Center and The Middletown Journal — appear bright as developers apply for historic tax credits and invest in the projects. Former Middletown Journal building The former Middletown Journal building on N. Main Street will be the new home of Middletown Antiques, which was located on Central Avenue. Middletown Antiques owner Gary Montesi received a facade grant to repair the exterior windows of the former newspaper building, according to Amanda Burkholder, manager of Downtown Middletown Inc. Kathy Bowermaster will move the antiques store into the building and possibly use the first and second floors, she said. Manchester Inn Illinois investor William Grau, owner of Historic Urban Development, LLC, was in Middletown last week, Hamet said, to tour the Manchester Inn. The 92-year-old hotel that has been closed for more than three years. She expects Grau, once he gathers “a little more information,” to announce his plans for the Manchester. Those plans call for the building to either be converted into 60 market rate apartments or leave it as a hotel, depending on the data Grau gathers, according to Hamet. Grau has made repairs to the hotel’s leaking roof and treated it for mold. He plans to invest $10 million into the property. He has until Sept. 1 to take over ownership of the Manchester Inn, according to the development agreement. Earlier this year, City Council voted unanimously to sell the Manchester Inn to Grau. The city purchased the Manchester for $175,000 after it closed in 2011 and forgave about $150,000 in debt as part of a bundle of downtown properties when it thought Cincinnati State Technical and Community College was going to use the Manchester for its culinary and hospitality programs as part of its Middletown branch campus. The city was asking $325,000 for the Manchester, but accepted Grau’s $1 offer. Former Middletown Senior Citizens Center The former senior center, 140 N. Verity Parkway, will be occupied by Cincinnati State Middletown possibly by January 2015, said Michael Chikeleze, director of the campus. The space will be used as a student services center. He called the former senior center “a great property,” and because it’s located a short distance from the campus, it will create additional foot traffic downtown. Sorg Mansion, Sorg Opera House The renovations of the Sorg Mansion and Sorg Opera House are continuing, Hamet said. Mark and Traci Barnett, who live in Baltimore, purchased the mansion for $225,000, and have overseen extensive renovations to the exterior of the property this summer. The mansion has received $212,500 in tax credits from the Ohio Development Services Agency and the total project to renovate the S. Main Street property is estimated at $1,319,000. The Barnetts have said once renovated, the Sorg Mansion will serve as an owner-occupied bed and breakfast. Meanwhile, just down Main Street, repairs are being made to the interior and exterior of the Sorg Opera House.The Sorg Opera Revitalization Group (SORG) continues to raise money to help offset the cost of remodeling the opera house. The second annual Halloween street party fundraiser, “Spirits of Sorg,” is planned for Oct. 25. Former Rose Furniture building The former Rose Furniture building, which was heavily damaged by rain last fall, will be demolished later this year, said Mike Robinette, part owner of Historic Rose Furniture LLC. He said the facade on the building will be saved. Also, Robinette said, he has applied for tax credits to renovate the Goetz Tower and hopes to begin demolition in the spring of 2015. ------------- Every morning is the dawn of a new error... |
Replies:
Posted By: Stanky
Date Posted: Aug 18 2014 at 10:33am
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Wait, I thought the Journal was going to become lofts? Momentum.....things happening....downtown is hot...blah blah blah. Wake me when we get there. |
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Aug 18 2014 at 11:23am
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Ok, after we have all read what Ms. Hamet has said and after the downtown PR smokescreen has cleared, let's look at what we really have downtown........ Former Middletown Journal building The former Middletown Journal building on N. Main Street will be the new home of Middletown Antiques, which was located on Central Avenue. Middletown Antiques owner Gary Montesi received a facade grant to repair the exterior windows of the former newspaper building, according to Amanda Burkholder, manager of Downtown Middletown Inc. Kathy Bowermaster will move the antiques store into the building and possibly use the first and second floors, she said LIKE STANKY, I TOO WONDER WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LOFT IDEA TALKED ABOUT OFF AND ON FOR MONTHS BY THE JOURNAL. ALL OF A SUDDEN, OUT OF THE BLUE, WE HAVE A CHANGE IN PLANS AND AN ANTIQUE STORE IS MOVING IN. IS BOWERMASTER COMING FROM ANOTHER LOCATION? IF SO, THAT'S NOT GROWTH, THAT'S JUST CHANGING LOCATIONS, OCCUPYING ONE BUILDING BUT LEAVING A BUILDING VACANT. NO GAIN FOR OCCUPANCY IN THE DOWNTOWN RIGHT? Manchester Inn Illinois investor William Grau, owner of Historic Urban Development, LLC, was in Middletown last week, Hamet said, to tour the Manchester Inn. The 92-year-old hotel that has been closed for more than three years. She expects Grau, once he gathers “a little more information,” to announce his plans for the Manchester. Those plans call for the building to either be converted into 60 market rate apartments or leave it as a hotel, depending on the data Grau gathers, according to Hamet. Grau has made repairs to the hotel’s leaking roof and treated it for mold. He plans to invest $10 million into the property. He has until Sept. 1 to take over ownership of the Manchester Inn, according to the development agreement. SO GRAU HAS UNTIL SEPTEMBER 1st TO TAKE OVER OWNERSHIP. WHAT HAPPENS IF HE DOESN'T MEET THAT DEADLINE? IT'S FAST APPROACHING. HOW MANY ACTUALLY THINK HE'LL MEET THIS DEADLINE? 60 MARKET RATE APARTMENTS? IS THERE ANY INTEREST IN LIVING IN THAT LOCATION? WHAT IS DOWN THERE TO ATTRACT 60 MARKET RATE BUYERS? AS OF NOW, I SEE VERY LITTLE TO LURE PEOPLE THERE AS OPPOSED TO SOME OTHER LOCATION OFFERING A DIVERSE CHOICE TO CATER TO PEOPLE'S INTERESTS. AND JUST HOW DOES ONE INVEST OVER 10 MILLION IN THIS, SELL 60 APARTMENTS AND MAKE ANY PROFIT? DON'T UNDERSTAND THE THINKING ON ROI FOR THIS. Former Middletown Senior Citizens Center The former senior center, 140 N. Verity Parkway, will be occupied by Cincinnati State Middletown possibly by January 2015, said Michael Chikeleze, director of the campus. The space will be used as a student services center. He called the former senior center “a great property,” and because it’s located a short distance from the campus, it will create additional foot traffic downtown. BUT THE "FOOT TRAFFIC" WILL BE OVER BY THE CITY BUILDING KINDA OUT OF THE WAY OF THE MAIN ACTIVITY CENTERED AROUND BROAD AND CENTRAL, RIGHT? AND WITH THE NEWS THAT CS HAS DECLINING STUDENT ENROLLMENT NUMBERS, JUST HOW MUCH WILL THIS "STUDENT SERVICE CENTER" BE USED? The renovations of the Sorg Mansion and Sorg Opera House are continuing, Hamet said. Mark and Traci Barnett, who live in Baltimore, purchased the mansion for $225,000, and have overseen extensive renovations to the exterior of the property this summer. The mansion has received $212,500 in tax credits from the Ohio Development Services Agency and the total project to renovate the S. Main Street property is estimated at $1,319,000. The Barnetts have said once renovated, the Sorg Mansion will serve as an owner-occupied bed and breakfast. STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS INVESTMENT BY THESE FOLKS. THEY PAID 225 THOU FOR THE BUILDING. THEY WILL PUT A TOTAL OF 1.3 MILLION INTO IT AND PLAN ON MAKING IT A BED AND BREAKFAST. JUST HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO RECOUP THAT 1.3 MILLION PLUS THE 225 THOU TO THE BREAK EVEN POINT? YA GOTTA THINK, GIVEN THE LOCATION AND AMENITIES CLOSE AT HAND THAT WOULD GENERATE INTEREST, THAT IT WILL TAKE A VERY LONG TIME TO REACH THAT POINT I WOULD THINK. Meanwhile, just down Main Street, repairs are being made to the interior and exterior of the Sorg Opera House.The Sorg Opera Revitalization Group (SORG) continues to raise money to help offset the cost of remodeling the opera house. The second annual Halloween street party fundraiser, “Spirits of Sorg,” is planned for Oct. 25 SERIOUSLY, AT THE RATE THESE WELL-INTENTIONED OWNERS ARE RAISING MONEY, AND THE AMOUNT NEEDED FOR A COMPLETE RESTORATION, WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF THIS BEING BROUGHT TO FRUITION IN THE NEXT DECADE OR TWO? Former Rose Furniture building The former Rose Furniture building, which was heavily damaged by rain last fall, will be demolished later this year, said Mike Robinette, part owner of Historic Rose Furniture LLC. He said the facade on the building will be saved AND, PRAY TELL, WHAT WOULD BE THE NEW BUILDING'S FUNCTION AFTER IT IS BUILT AND THEY DEMOLISH THE CURRENT STRUCTURE? DOES ROBINETTE AND COMPANY HAVE A GAMEPLAN ON THE NEW CONCEPT AS YET? STORY DOESN'T SAY. IMO, THESE ARE ISSUES THAT HAMET NEVER EXPLAINS IN HER RAH RAH CONTINUOUS CHEERLEADING OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA. VERY LITTLE EVER COMES TO FRUITION AFTER SHE GIVES US THE SUNSHINE THAT IS FORECAST FOR THE DOWNTOWN. THIS APPEARS TO BE ANOTHER INCIDENT WHERE SHE HAS TURNED ON THE SUNSHINE PUMPING MACHINE AT THE CITY BUILDING WHEN, IN REALITY, HISTORY TELLS US THAT IT IS CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF RAIN EVERYDAY DOWN THERE. ISN'T THAT THE TRUTH OF THE SITUATION HAMET? ------------- I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over. |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: Aug 18 2014 at 11:25am
| No one is buying the talking points Middletown is regenerating. Stefano's doesn't have a fraction of the traffic it did, and Comb's barbecue, while good, is not doing as well as expected with daily traffic. On the east end, the only reason the mattress retailer and Burlington Coats is moving is associated with cheap rent, next to a highway. It has nothing to do with belief in Middletown. Just a pitstop off 75. |
Posted By: spiderjohn
Date Posted: Aug 18 2014 at 11:59am
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Loft apartments in the back maybe? Met the guy who bought the Manchester--very nice--a lot of good plans, apparently with the right backing. Seemed to be someone we shouldlike and support. The restaurant situation downtown seems bleak, while the Meadows, Stefanos and BBG continue to do well imo. Beau Verre group is ready to open their brew pub maybe this week--also a nice place. Say what u want, that group keeps on chugging and hopefully they will find more success down the road. I just don't see the sense in the $$ involved with either Sorg project + the Ross building etc. Hope to b proven wrong there. Middletown and the former downtown area are both a very tough sell. Too many opportunities where things continually happen. We will come back in some way, but it will take a while imo. But--we have two great music shows @ MU-M in Sept. and Oct. Tickets are selling--be there for a good time! |
Posted By: Factguy
Date Posted: Aug 18 2014 at 2:32pm
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Aren't you the guy that was going to buy the Bank One building? You upset alot of people working in Donham with your comments about the 'give-aways." |
Posted By: spiderjohn
Date Posted: Aug 18 2014 at 3:16pm
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Aren't you the inside guy that posted here that I wasn't going to get it regardless? And that the insider Walden group was already chosen? After reading your prior posts , my partner and I decided that it wasn't worth $300,000 and why bother if we honestly had no shot. Why should anyone pay for a building down there when all of the others have been given away + a taxpayer funded subsidy? "I" upset the Donham group with my "giveaway" comments--that is hilarious. More likely the citizens feeling that way towards council and admin. |
Posted By: middletownscouter
Date Posted: Aug 18 2014 at 3:44pm
| So if Mr. Grau doesn't take ownership of the Manchester Inn by September 1st does that mean the city has to give him his dollar back? |
Posted By: FmrMide81
Date Posted: Aug 18 2014 at 3:50pm
| His dollar plus interest-which will probably come into the thousands knowing the astute business acumen displayed at City Hall |
Posted By: middletownscouter
Date Posted: Aug 18 2014 at 4:06pm
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More likely he'd want back whatever money he's already spent on repairs to the building. Though my feeling would be to point out that he bought a BUILDING for ONE DOLLAR. You get what you pay for, chief. |
Posted By: Historic House Guy
Date Posted: Aug 18 2014 at 8:18pm
| Hey Steve, how many jobs did you create this month? |
Posted By: over the hill
Date Posted: Aug 18 2014 at 8:31pm
| Things were going pretty quite around and then the jerk Histric House Guy shows up again. I don't know what your problem is but it's wearing mighty thin on this forum. I guess you mother never told you if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. Crawl back under your rock. |
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Aug 19 2014 at 6:07am
Uh, awfully hard to create jobs House Guy when you are no longer an employer in a position to offer them, right? You and Factguy really have it out for this individual. What could this person have possibly done to both of you to get it to the vendetta level? Oh, and Factguy, I would be willing to bet that most people on this forum don't give a crap whether the people in city hall are mad or not. Keep believing the city propaganda and drinking their snake oil, designed for those who are most gullible. ------------- I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over. |
Historic House Guy wrote:Posted By: bumper
Date Posted: Aug 19 2014 at 7:10am
hh you are one sad son of a biscuit eater!! you must be having lot of jealousy that steve has made a good life for himself, while you have not!! keep sanding on those windows and you will get there one of these days!
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Posted By: John Beagle
Date Posted: Aug 20 2014 at 3:01pm
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------------- http://www.johnbeagle.com/" rel="nofollow - John Beagle Middletown USA News of, for and by the people of Middletown, Ohio. |
Posted By: over the hill
Date Posted: Aug 20 2014 at 3:27pm
| JB: Do they play this on loud speakers in the city building on a regular basis? I wondered what that sound was in the elevator. |