when you have a title, but:

no money

no real power

don't own any of the properties involved

 

you really can't do much

Your chronicle of the last few years is basically correct.

We were managing what was left of the mall, parking garage and downtown area. After the young guy (Chuck) moved on, another full-time director was hired, and given office space in the Chamber complex. We attempted to organize the businesses all the way up Central to the railroad tracks, with little success. The small "un-connected" business owners trusted us(me) but had no faith in the city. I was given the duty of walking the entire area repeatly, asking for support and inquiring what could be done to help them. Since I was recognizable local face, they were quite open with me. As you mentioned, Mr.Thatcher, the Blakelys, etc. were against us. They "had their own plan" and did not need our intrusion. Well---since they owned their property, I had no beef with that. I also got along openly and honestly with them, since I socialized with them.

Mr.Isroff was also a key partnership figure, while also being tied to the Thatcher/Blakely group as an investment partner. He became somewhat of a "mole" in the Partnership, and imo was playing both sides of the fence to his best interest. "I like and respect Mr.Isroff, however he was not open here imo.

 

After hitting the final wall of being unable to reach any constructive united direction, we decided that that the Partnership was no longer necessary or working, and honestly we had nothing left to manage or control(and felt un-wanted-sob) and chose to dissolve ourselves without spending more city $$(our director was the only paid employee--the rest of us were strictly un-commpensated(in any way) volunteer members).

 

Most amazingly, Commission(now called Council) urged us to keep going, and tried to give us $75,000 in funding for ???. To our credit, we declined and all walked away in frustration.

 

Anyone have a different version?

 

The city used the old Downtown Middletown Partnership as a "mall and parking garage management" firm when the City Centre Mall still existed.  They provided the majority of the funding.  Once the mall was gone, there was no need to fund the organization.  Prior and during the mall's removal, the organization attempted to fund itself outside of the city's coffers through a Special Improvement District (SID) which would asssess property owners to fund the organization which would market the downtown area and make beautication improvements in the district.  It's my understanding that several large property owners---including Mr. Thatcher--were against the idea.  Mr. Thatcher still pouting that his "People's Plan" did not get approved by Council.  He and Peggy Blakely (who once headed up the downtown partnership, go figure) worked to lobby other property owners against the plan.  They owed the Cingery building together under the Venture partnership and Peggy and her husband owned property on their own and through The 2005 Group.

 

Dick Isroff has be a big supporter of this organization.   Glad to see this all resurfacing.  As you say, it has proven successful in other communities.