The Journal has reported againtoday (2/6/2018) that neighboring residents to the MiddletownPaperboard building observed a suspicious vehicle just previous tothe fire. It has also been reported that the building is a meetingplace for teens and “others.” The record of police reports inthe vicinity contains numerous reports of suspicious activity overthe years since the factory closed. See oneexample below (with names and address ofcomplainant redacted). This isonly one of hundreds of police runs surrounding this building. Howmany other incidents may have gone unreported?

The entire area has been a hotbed of drug related problems. It might be concluded that city hall’srepeated mishandling of give-away sale of commercial properties forsupposed revitalization all over downtown has had the effect ofpromoting vandalism, theft, drug activity and all other relatedfelonious offenses. And we, the citizens, continue to allow cityhall to ruin our city.

The police report said

MIDDLETOWN DIVISION OF POLICEOne Donham Plaza Middletown, Ohio 45042 513-425-7700 OFFENSE TYPE:SUS./VEH

WHERE OCCURRED: ...PARK ST

DATE REPORT: 09/07/2016 EARLIEST TIME: 18:46 LATEST TIME:21:23

PROPERTY DAMAGED DAMAGE TOFENCE - $0.00

NARRATIVE: I was dispatched tothe 400-block of Park on a report of a group of juvenile malesthrowing propane tanks and destroying other items. Upon arrival, Imade contact with complainant. He advised that groupof juveniles on bikes were in the area trying to get into the factorythere at 409 Park. I did observe that part of the fence had been bentback, where complainant stated that these individuals had gonethrough with their bikes. I did not locate any damage oncomplainant’s property. I kept a check in the area for thejuveniles. I advised a report would be on file, and cleared.

Kirby-570--- 2L9 --- ep/6 Copy to Juvenile Detectives

It appears that the call topolice was made nearly 3 hours before the end time of the report. And apparently none of the juveniles were on scene when policearrived.

Maybethe city’s advertised plan to rent office space at Goetz Towerdidn’t have the desired effect of making it “look like” aviable business venture that could get a loan to rehab it…. Or, ifthey did get a loan on that promise, they may have had a better usefor it elsewhere.

Inany case the flood was most likely due to negligence and probablywould not have occurred had there been rehab activity going on (asclaimed). There was no heat in the building, there are no gas metersand the sprinkler system pipes froze and burst.

Nowthere seems every possibility that the Tower could follow the“demolition road” since there must be considerable costly damagetop to bottom. “Historic Goetz Tower LLC” have no one butthemselves to blame, but you can bet that Middletown tax payers willpay again.

Also, the former SeniorCitizens Building (which the city virtually paid Mike Allen to take)appears to have little or no activity and may just follow the samepattern of promise, renege and abandon.

The building onVerity Parkway that burned down over night was, I believe, the formerMiddletown Box Board business. The news media said it was beingconsidered suspicious.

It was purchased byBP Logan LLC in 2012 for $5000 from The Newark Group. It wasapparently abandoned after the interior was stripped of everything ofvalue. This occurred with the knowledge of “city hall” whosesloppy handling of supposed revitalization agreements has left uswith another nuisance to be razed at the city’s expense.

Does the gutted andabandoned property known as The Strand Theatre look similar on asmaller scale? The neighboring property owner, Mr Robinette (LibertySpirits), is complaining about it affecting his property. Of coursethe city will have to make that right!! No matter that the downtownis dotted with Mr Robinette’s abandoned revitalization projects.

Next...the MikeAllen Real Estate Holdings LLC. Anybody seen any activity there?