Middletown Forum : Downtown Plan http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/ This is an XML content feed of; Middletown Forum : Community Events : Downtown Plan Mon, 05 Oct 2026 16:44:41 +0000 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:41:28 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 10.12 360 www.middletownusa.com/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=2227 Middletown Forum http://middletownusa.com/images/blog-logo.jpg http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/ Downtown Plan : Well Murdock let us all hear your... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2227&PID=13843&title=downtown-plan#13843 Author: Pacman
Subject: 2227
Posted: Nov 12 2009 at 8:41am

Well Murdock let us all hear your lively plan for the Downtown area?]]> Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:41:28 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2227&PID=13843&title=downtown-plan#13843 Downtown Plan : Tear the whole damn downtown down..........it's... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2227&PID=13835&title=downtown-plan#13835 Author: Murdock
Subject: 2227
Posted: Nov 12 2009 at 6:07am

Tear the whole damn downtown down..........it's as dead as some bloggers on this site!!!]]> Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:07:48 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2227&PID=13835&title=downtown-plan#13835 Downtown Plan : Exactly, Mike. The "WE"... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2227&PID=13811&title=downtown-plan#13811 Author: spiderjohn
Subject: 2227
Posted: Nov 11 2009 at 2:06pm

Exactly, Mike.
The "WE" in this never-ending equation never seems to involve any of the downtown property owners or local(out of towners?) business owners.
 
A reading room?
Seems as if we have plenty of reading space downtown now, even in the existing businesses(with no customers).
I love the "Arts"--though "Arts" usually need to be subsidized, and would be a tough sell in downtown Middietown where no one who don't live here ever wants to visit.
 
Coffee shop?
We can't even keep the ONE we have in town busy!
The Anchor is the only surviving downtown restaurant(thank goodness for them!).
 
Hey--I love these dream world concepts as much as anyone, however we need to accept the reality of our downtown area.
The dead paper mills still stand--the burned-out buildings still stand--the sewer system is on the verge of collapse needing a 100 mill fix. Many of the buildings simply need to be leveled. The city doesn't have the $$ to support any further renovation.
Miami U reps can talk and plan forever--that is what they do best, along with spending OPM.
 
Maybe someone will find that deep pockets investor who will bankroll these concepts privately. I hope so. Where is Mr.Thatcher? Judge Valen? Mr.U Mr.Isroff? 
]]> Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:06:58 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2227&PID=13811&title=downtown-plan#13811 Downtown Plan : In this day of the falling dollar... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2227&PID=13806&title=downtown-plan#13806 Author: Hermes
Subject: 2227
Posted: Nov 11 2009 at 1:35pm

In this day of the falling dollar and hard times who is going to spend money on art ??
 
It is beyond ridiculous for city government to even suggest such an idea. As Pacman said, if you want to do it do it with PRIVATE funds not tax dollars. This whole thing sounds like a sick joke straight out of the politicians comic book.  Thumbs%20Down
]]> Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:35:43 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2227&PID=13806&title=downtown-plan#13806 Downtown Plan : Is it really a City Governments... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2227&PID=13805&title=downtown-plan#13805 Author: Pacman
Subject: 2227
Posted: Nov 11 2009 at 1:29pm

Is it really a City Governments job to create of all things an Art District downtown with our tax money, where ever that tax money should happen to come from?  If the city wants an Art District they should look towards rpivate funding and I would suggest some of you people that want it pony up some money to fund such a project.   There is nothing more sobering and eye opening than knowing that your bucks are on the line.  It is easy to say do it when somebody else is footing the bill. The city can not provide the basics, let alone delve into this type of project. ]]> Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:29:35 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2227&PID=13805&title=downtown-plan#13805 Downtown Plan : mdizzie wrote:If you want people,... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2227&PID=13803&title=downtown-plan#13803 Author: Mike_Presta
Subject: 2227
Posted: Nov 11 2009 at 1:16pm

Originally posted by mdizzie mdizzie wrote:

If you want people, anyone that has decent money, to live in downtown, we need to clean up the exteriors. We also need to get some more artists shops opened, as well as a corner market or two. Maybe a coffee shop and small reading room. Areas for collaboration and intelligent conservation to take place. ...  But we need to make those changes first.
Mr./Ms. Dizzie,
So, if that's what is needed, what is stopping you?  Simply round up some investers or some venture capitalists, and then you (and whoever else is included in the "we" that you mentioned in the above quoted copied from your post) can do all of those things and then sit back and watch the money roll in!!!
 
I hope that you make a FORTUNE!!!  I sincerely DO!!!
]]> Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:16:37 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2227&PID=13803&title=downtown-plan#13803 Downtown Plan : I like mdizzie's input, but... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2227&PID=13790&title=downtown-plan#13790 Author: gemneye70
Subject: 2227
Posted: Nov 11 2009 at 6:59am

I like mdizzie's input, but I also agree with Vet and Ms. Moon that there is a lack of focus and vision by city leaders to make it happen.  I would love for the downtown area to thrive.  For some reason people in Middletown seem to look at business here as inferior from those in surrounding communities and therefore don't support them.
 
It would take a lot of private money by somone with an interest in seeing Middletown ressurected to get anything like this done.
 
Thanks for all the inputs everyone.
]]> Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:59:16 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2227&PID=13790&title=downtown-plan#13790 Downtown Plan : MdizzieWhat do we do to promote... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2227&PID=13789&title=downtown-plan#13789 Author: Vivian Moon
Subject: 2227
Posted: Nov 11 2009 at 6:48am

Mdizzie
What do we do to promote art in our school system?
How many active young artist do we have in Middletown?
When was the last time we had a large outside judged Art Show here in Middletown with artist from all over southern Ohio?

You need sewers and streets before people will move to downtown to live and open a new business. You need to clean up the downtown area top to bottom

Then you need an ACTIVE City Planner to move local businesses back into the old buildings downtown like bookstores, barber shops, beauty shops, lawyers and dentist. Then you could get rid of all these half empty strip malls that litter the landscape.
NOWEVER OUR CITY HAS NO VISION OR BUSINESS PLAN..
]]> Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:48:51 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2227&PID=13789&title=downtown-plan#13789 Downtown Plan : Does anyone REALLY believe that... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2227&PID=13788&title=downtown-plan#13788 Author: VietVet
Subject: 2227
Posted: Nov 11 2009 at 6:38am

Does anyone REALLY believe that this town, with it's past history of industry, blue collar image and large percentage of non-college educated people, will be able to support an "arts theme" that is being presented? Who is laying the groundwork for this in convincing city hall that this is the right thing to do? Why isn't this suggestion for the direction of the downtown being questioned by the city leaders? I certainly would offer some doubts if I were them. Everyone realizes that this town is not sophisticated. For the most part, the make-up of this town is industrial park-factory/retail/service industry/small government/fast food workers. Do we really associate any of these trades with encompassing the arts in their lives? Could the arts really pull from any of these professions in any number to support it? Doubtful.

To adopt the theme around the arts for the downtown, the creators of this theme must be counting on participation from Mason, West Chester, Centerville, Springboro and the surrounding communities that personnify (sp?)the arts. If no support from these areas, the arts theme will die on the vine also. Is this a good idea for bringing life back to Middletown's downtown area? I'm not so sure. Wouldn't a better idea be to make the theme more closely tied with the lifestyles that are inherent to the people who live here? Don't know exactly what that is but it "ain't" the arts. ]]> Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:38:18 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2227&PID=13788&title=downtown-plan#13788 Downtown Plan : Since this building is in the... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2227&PID=13786&title=downtown-plan#13786 Author: mdizzie
Subject: 2227
Posted: Nov 11 2009 at 4:20am

Since this building is in the downtown district, it should be torn down. Then rebuilt with exterior period finishes, color and molding. Even copper gutters would bring back the historical charm, but would probably get stolen and sold for scrap metal. Best not to go all out on that one.

If you want people, anyone that has decent money, to live in downtown, we need to clean up the exteriors. We also need to get some more artists shops opened, as well as a corner market or two. Maybe a coffee shop and small reading room. Areas for collaboration and intelligent conservation to take place. If I were to live in down town, I would want to go to work at my gallery, or for my employer, walk home, walk, not drive, walk home or even better, walk to the corner store for fresh meat and veggies for dinner. That is so possible if some rental owners got fresh with their ideas about how to get people into their spaces. To make the down town desirable, you have to make it..... desirable. That sounds stupid, but the more positive things people hear about it, how middle class people are moving into new loft apartments, and the corner market makes the best beef sandwich. People will flock once again to downtown. But we need to make those changes first. ]]> Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:20:17 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2227&PID=13786&title=downtown-plan#13786