Middletown Forum : Downtown Grants http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/ This is an XML content feed of; Middletown Forum : Community Revitalization : Downtown Grants Tue, 06 Oct 2026 22:33:30 +0000 Thu, 05 Sep 2013 06:25:12 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 10.12 360 www.middletownusa.com/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=5390 Middletown Forum http://middletownusa.com/images/blog-logo.jpg http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/ Downtown Grants : Journal- Sept 5th.......Pendleton... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5390&PID=39513&title=downtown-grants#39513 Author: VietVet
Subject: 5390
Posted: Sep 05 2013 at 6:25am

Journal- Sept 5th.......

Pendleton ready to display renovations

MIDDLETOWN —
This week’s First Friday will give the Pendleton Art Center the opportunity to show off extensive renovations on the second floor.

That floor now contains two ballroom spaces that can be rented for public events like weddings, reunions and community meetings. The existing space holds about 350 people while the new, smaller space can hold 100, said Suzanne Sizer, the spokeswoman for the facility.

The upstairs renovations were completed with the help of a facade grant from the city that allowed newly installed windows to let more light onto the second floor. Pendleton received $12,500 for the windows, to pressure-wash the exterior, paint the north side, paint signage, install new awnings, and replace a window in the front. The north side of Pendleton became visible from Verity Parkway after the Swallens building was torn down. That side of the building was painted purple, the color of the Middies.

YESSIR, PRESSURE WASHING THE EXTERIOR, PAINTING IT PURPLE, THE "COLOR OF THE MIDDIES", NEW AWNINGS AND SPIFFY WINDOWS TO ALLOW MORE LIGHT IN THAT SECOND FLOOR (FOR AMBIANCE OF COURSE) CERTAINLY TRUMPS ANY FOCUS ON THE LOUSY STREETS, CRUMBLING SEWERS, INCREASED CRIME, OVERWHELMING DRUG ACTIVITY IN TOWN, LOSS OF BUSINESS, GENERAL DECAY OF THE REST OF THE CITY AND EMPTY LOTS WITH NO REPLACEMENT FROM THE BUILDING DEMOLISHING FRENZY THAT IS OCCURING. GOTTA KEEP THE 50 ARTISTS IN TOWN HAPPY AT THE EXPENSE OF THE OTHER 48,000 PEOPLE WHO NEED THE BASICS UPGRADED.

“We’re going to start doing art exhibits here,” Sizer said of the new space. “This smaller room is really going to be nice for smaller meetings and can be used a lot more than a hall.” She suggested it would be good for local groups like Kiwanis and Rotary.

IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE DOWNTOWN FOLKS ARE TOTALLY OBLIVIOUS TO THE MAJORITY OF THE CITY'S INTEREST. TUNNEL VISION AT IT'S BEST FROM THESE ARTS PEOPLE. SELFISH, EXCLUSIONARY ATTITUDES.....AND WE ARE FORCED TO CATER TO THIS?

The larger hall hosts about six to eight events per year, examples including the Art Central Foundation’s Mardis Gras party

NO DOUBT, WITH THIS AMOUNT OF ACTIVITY, THE TAXPAYER CERTAINLY DID GET THEIR MONEY'S WORTH IN FOOTING THE BILL.

“I just appreciate the work the Pendleton has put into trying to get this place turned around. I think it’s a good fit for us. We tend to move along in the upper-scale event you don’t see everywhere,” said Spicer. Her business has catered such well-known events as the annual Charity Ball that benefits Atrium Medical Center

THANK THE PEOPLE WHO INVOLUNTARILY PAID FOR ALL OF THIS MS. SPICER. ]]> Thu, 05 Sep 2013 06:25:12 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5390&PID=39513&title=downtown-grants#39513 Downtown Grants : I got a Great IDEA. How about... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5390&PID=39042&title=downtown-grants#39042 Author: ktf1179
Subject: 5390
Posted: Aug 05 2013 at 10:09am

I got a Great IDEA. How about we have 2 Downtown's? Downtown on the East side built near  I-75 where new business can move in and build their new buildings, and Old Downtown which could be all empty buildings made into a Museum's  as a relic to what Middletown use to be. Oh wait it is that already. LOL]]> Mon, 05 Aug 2013 10:09:18 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5390&PID=39042&title=downtown-grants#39042 Downtown Grants : Speaking of downtown, is there... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5390&PID=38924&title=downtown-grants#38924 Author: VietVet
Subject: 5390
Posted: Aug 02 2013 at 6:37am

Speaking of downtown, is there "trouble in paradise"?.....Journal story

Middfest wants to move to MUM campus

MIDDLETOWN —
When Middfest returns this October, it will not be on Donham Plaza for the first time in its history.

After 32 years of introducing the city to the nations of the world in and around Middletown’s City Building, Middfest plans to move the bulk of its activities to Miami University Middletown for a multi-country retrospective, said the organization’s executive director, Virgina Ritan

“I didn’t particularly want to move out of downtown, but circumstances happen. Maybe we’ll be back; who knows?” Ritan said.

CIRCUMSTANCES HAPPEN? DETAILS?

The change was necessitated in large part by new arrangements at the City Building. Middfest and other offices moved out of the City Building to make room for Middletown City Schools offices. That made holding a festival on Donham Plaza impractical.

“We decided we simply couldn’t plan anything that complicated not knowing where we going to be,” Ritan said. “So we began to talk to Miami, and they welcomed us.”

Downtown supporters were disappointed but understanding about Middfest’s relocation. Adriane Scherrer, the director of the We Can Business Incubator, which is temporarily housing Middfest’s offices, said Donham Plaza is in poor condition.

“If the Broad Street Bash grew to a point where we needed more open space to have it, with the condition the plaza is in right now, I wouldn’t move the Bash down there. It doesn’t reflect well on our community,” Scherrer said. “They’re not planting anything, and they haven’t been able to keep up with the deterioration of the bricks on the plaza.”

"DOESN'T REFLECT WELL ON OUR COMMUNITY"- HMMM "NOT PLANTING ANYTHING", "NOT KEEPING UP WITH THE DETERIORATION".....BUT, BUT, THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND MONEY FOR OTHER THINGS DOWN THERE LIKE BUYING BUILDINGS, THEN GIVING THEM AWAY AND FACADE IMPROVEMENTS AND PAC AWNINGS.

WHAT? DONHAM PLAZA, RIGHT OUTSIDE GILLELAND'S WINDOW IS DETERIORATING? HOW CAN THIS BE? DID THEY CONCENTRATE SO MUCH ON CINCY STATE AND THE PAC THAT THEY FORGOT OLD DONHAM PLAZA AND THE AESTHETIC APPEAL OF THE CITY BUILDING? SAY IT AIN'T SO! OLD JEFF WHAT'S HIS NAME IS A LANDSCAPER AND WORKS OUT OF THE CITY BUILDING RIGHT?. WHY HASN'T JEFF ? TAKEN UP THE CARE OF DONHAM THROUGH THE BEAUTIFY MIDDLETOWN PROGRAM (OR WHATEVER IT"S CALLED)

Linda Moorman, who co-owns BeauVerre studios, said, “Middfest International will be missed downtown this fall. We feel that the partnership with Miami University is such a good fit for the festival and will breathe new life and direction into the event.

“Middfest, to us, is a walking museum that comes to Middletown once a year and lets us all learn about our neighbors in other countries,” she said. “We support this change and wish them good weather.”

DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THE DOWNTOWN FOLKS ARE TOO TORN UP ABOUT MIDFEST LEAVING. KINDA NONCHALANT ABOUT IT AREN'T THEY? A NICE POLITE SENDOFF FROM ONE OF THE DOWNTOWN GURUS. DID MIDFEST NOT FIT INTO THE DOWNTOWN PLANS SO THEY REDUCED THE FUNDING, KICKED THEM OUT OF THE CITY BUILDING AND KINDA "NUDGED" THEM OUT? MIDFEST FITS INTO THE "ARTS AND CULTURE" THEME DOESN'T IT? DUNNO.

]]> Fri, 02 Aug 2013 06:37:19 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5390&PID=38924&title=downtown-grants#38924 Downtown Grants : Their hands are not clean on so.... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5390&PID=38880&title=downtown-grants#38880 Author: over the hill
Subject: 5390
Posted: Jul 31 2013 at 1:16pm

Their hands are not clean on so. main st. Lot's of repairs done on houses belonging to council and city employees with diverted moneys and supplies.Check it out. Kohler knows all about it but will deny,deny deny!]]> Wed, 31 Jul 2013 13:16:01 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5390&PID=38880&title=downtown-grants#38880 Downtown Grants : Doug McNeil and the Atrium (Premiere),... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5390&PID=38878&title=downtown-grants#38878 Author: acclaro
Subject: 5390
Posted: Jul 31 2013 at 12:25pm

Doug McNeil and the Atrium (Premiere), got $5.5 Mm from street infrastructure funds; the city got a hospital that was in Middleton, to be moved to a site its partially in Middletown (for tax considerations). I guess one could argue if you need open heart surgery, you benefited from saving 20 minutes in driving.

As for downtown, the catalysts for that is Doug Beam, Mulligan(s), Kohler, others living on Main, taking city money, to prop up their property valuation. its that simple.

not rocket science here; about as obvious as a man wearing a blue print suit and tie in a nudist colony). Heck, Forest Gump figured this one out.   

  ]]> Wed, 31 Jul 2013 12:25:25 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5390&PID=38878&title=downtown-grants#38878 Downtown Grants : Middletown29 wrote:Practically... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5390&PID=38874&title=downtown-grants#38874 Author: VietVet
Subject: 5390
Posted: Jul 31 2013 at 11:03am

Originally posted by Middletown29 Middletown29 wrote:

Practically every project on the east side received some find of taxpayer support through city paid infrastructure improvements, tax abatement, or tax deferral.


C'Mon 29, look at the activity out by the freeway generating money flow, selection of eateries, choices of shopping and self-sufficiency (no awnings or facade help for these businesses) and look at the downtown that you seem to defend time and again......no comparison as to bang for the buck. If the freeway area was indeed funded through taxpayer support as you say, and we already know the taxpayer costs and freebie handouts for your downtown, what area seems to be thriving more? Question for you and your downtown buddies.....we know what the artzy people got out of this fiasco......what the he-- did the rest of us get for our money? The downtown is a joke when considering time and money spent on this so-called artzy, cultural crap with most in town not interested, and seeing the end result. ]]> Wed, 31 Jul 2013 11:03:54 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5390&PID=38874&title=downtown-grants#38874 Downtown Grants : Lets face facts and analyze Middletown's... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5390&PID=38873&title=downtown-grants#38873 Author: acclaro
Subject: 5390
Posted: Jul 31 2013 at 10:52am

Lets face facts and analyze Middletown's historic, indeed mammoth failures on facts.

Lets start with the city leadership's nonsensical focus upon downtown as a destination or hub for new residents and individuals coming for a visit. They chose this strategy for one reason---because the Moorman's happened to have a business in town and moved it downtown, then by gosh, Middletown is going to be a hub of art! Guess what? That is wrong for many reasons. Firstly, there is extremely nice art meccas from Cincinnati to Dayton, nothing uniqie in Middletown. Same with music, education. Its called market parity peple.

Next, art doesn't compensate for high taxes, dismal street/ infrastructure, concern many would have associated with breathing AK Steel output, school system reputation, crime, poverty. So...calling Middletown an art destination is negated on what hypothetical benefit (which is in parity with countless areas offering competition of same venue), with 10 negatives that outweigh the perceived benefit. So, at end of day, its a negative, + 1 doesn't absorb 10 net -, its that easy to review and visualize results.

Besides bargain, fire sale prices for houses, what is the allure for people moving in? There is none. Regardless of what I pay for at a fire sale, what good does it so to buy low and sell...even lower? That is why nothing is moving in real esate.

In sum, Middletown is and will never be a destination city. Two, regardless of low prices, Middletown will never attract new residents that the net + influx is > than - outflux. Why? For one + benefit, there are 15 net- negatives.

That is the reason this dumping money down the drain, the downtown "Money Pit" is doomed.

Middletown will never come back. It will never be an art center based upon one entity doing it, ergo, The Moorman's BV, Stained, et al. Just like the Atrium will NEVER be a biomedical center and catalyst.

The Fat Lady sang...35 years ago folks. Sorry about the misfortune, but---its reality time.

Perhaps Old Historic Guy also does asphalt? Maybe his rate for street restoration is cheaper per mile, than the city's estimate.

Someone please...turn the lights out. Middletown is Detroit. The old lack of visonaries just can't see it. Objective minds did and can.               
]]> Wed, 31 Jul 2013 10:52:48 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5390&PID=38873&title=downtown-grants#38873 Downtown Grants : Middletown29 - Practically every... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5390&PID=38870&title=downtown-grants#38870 Author: Vivian Moon
Subject: 5390
Posted: Jul 31 2013 at 9:27am

Middletown29 - Practically every project on the east side received some find of taxpayer support through city paid infrastructure improvements, tax abatement, or tax deferral.

Middletown29
    Comparing “Your Downtown” to the East End is like comparing a watermelon to a grape.
    Not that long ago you had Downtown Buildings that once held businesses that offered employment and paid property tax. The majority of these buildings have now been given away to NON-PROFITS that will never pay another dime in property taxes into the community coffers. Not only did you give the buildings away in an act of pure desperations you are now helping fund the restoration of these buildings with tax payers dollars.
Where is all that BIG BUCK PRIVATE investment that I keep hearing about from City Hall.

]]> Wed, 31 Jul 2013 09:27:31 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5390&PID=38870&title=downtown-grants#38870 Downtown Grants : Practically every project on the... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5390&PID=38869&title=downtown-grants#38869 Author: Middletown29
Subject: 5390
Posted: Jul 31 2013 at 8:22am

Practically every project on the east side received some find of taxpayer support through city paid infrastructure improvements, tax abatement, or tax deferral.]]> Wed, 31 Jul 2013 08:22:07 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5390&PID=38869&title=downtown-grants#38869 Downtown Grants : Bill wrote: over the hill... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5390&PID=38865&title=downtown-grants#38865 Author: VietVet
Subject: 5390
Posted: Jul 31 2013 at 6:31am

Originally posted by Bill Bill wrote:


Originally posted by over the hill over the hill wrote:

WOW, ktf1179,Very succinct in your analysis. I don't understand how you can see it so clearly and those at the city building can not. What you said should be our city vision to follow forward. I love art but not to the total exclusion of the rest of our city and what is best for the masses not the "chosen few".JMO Thank you ktf1179 and VET

The problem with any idea about what the city could do is that (1) we don't have the $$ for it and (2) is it even the city's role to do what you are outlining?  As for the East End, where is the money to do all this beautifying you mention?  You talk as if there is some endless pot.  The main reason anything gets attention downtown is that there are fed dollars for certain things and there are city dollars that can easily be swiped (misused?) from one fund and used in a different venture.  My guess is that the work that could be done in the East End either is way too expensive, even compared to the downtown spending, or we are not able to get any kind of government funding for any of the work.  Simple as that.


Correct if I'm wrong but isn't most of the development in the East End done with private money....ie-no government money asked for? Lowes, Applebees, Kroger, Towne Mall, Drury Inn, Bobby Evans, Wally-Mart....all done with private dollars. All out by the freeway with high visability as opposed to downtown, 7 miles to the west with a 10 car thru-put on any given day. Downtown is, for the most part the exact opposite, right? Total welfare state down there. Didn't we have money from the feds or state to beautify the entryway ramps out on I-75? Thought Kohler wanted a fancy fountain out there at one time. What happened to the finishing touches after the construction was completed? The entryway to the city has not been finalized. Looks like it's still awaiting completion and has been forgotten about by city leaders. Where's the landscaping and the fancy wrought iron fence on top of the bridge that Centerville and Austin Blvd. have? All the emphasis on the downtown while the highly visable I-75 entry looks the way it does? Wrong focus....inept thinking....again. The East End way of development, using the private sector money, seems to be a tad bit more successful than the city method of using taxpayer dollars to pay for it all downtown.]]> Wed, 31 Jul 2013 06:31:59 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5390&PID=38865&title=downtown-grants#38865