Nothing wrong with having hopes and dreams.......bottom line though is that, to date, it is all hype, "feel good about something" embellishment until it happens. The downtown has a long way to go before it reaches the halfway point in occupancy. Hamet can say businesses are "looking" at the downtown area all she wants. If they aren't actually locating there, it is all talk. Good luck to these folks who wish to have an arts culture downtown. I still believe it only caters to a very small contingent of the town's population and a few who live in other towns. It was wrong to cater to such a small segment of the area population with this theme. Downtown revitalization ideas should have come from the MAJORITY of the people, not a select few. Show us some real tangible activity and make believers out of us.

To compare Cincinnati which has a national convention center, two major pro teams,two major D 1 basketball and football programs, an opera, a globally renown symphony, and countless opera facilities, and playhouses, to Middletown, is to compare a 2011 Mercedes to rusted 1956  Chevy out of a cornfield.

Middletown is not a destination site of any sort. Granted, a few stragglers might wander in when visiting a relative, or a friend of a shop owner every year, but to even insinuate it as a pt of destiny is folly.

How many comprise "many"- the term used in the feel good Journal? Is many > 2, 10, 15?  And, to mention in the same article, by the city's own ED (also a non resident), that UDF is downtown, I want to stick my head in the sand and avoid showing the redness in my face.

So former ED Director Neil, (joking of course), how many counties have been tracked to date in front of PAC, that then sojourn to UDF to fill their tank up for the descent to Cincinnati or Dayton? If I want to go to an arts destination, I go down to Cincinnati, where I have my season CSO tickets, or Playhouse in the Park, or the Aronoff Center.

Starving artists forums are available in many locales, and they generally are not perceived to be a point of destiny. Now the Biltmore House Neil, that's a point of destiny.   

I had a professional colleague invest $ Mm's in a Frank Lloyd Wright stainless steel building (3 story in downtown Dayton) when the Dayton Dragons opened up. He thought he'd carve out nice office space and gift shops, and make a nice return. Well, the Dragons were a pt of destination, but not peripheral Dayton. His building was within a 10 minute walk of the building near the old IBM bld. After a year and his $ Mm wasted, he listed it with Miller Valentine, and 6 yrs later, it is still FOR SALE.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I never knew a UDF gas station and a hard to get to art studio open once a month, to be a magnet that would fall within a "destination" category. But what do I know, I was just a Brand Manager for P&G and Coca Cola.

Mercy, where to start.....

Neil: "Vet, should downtown Cincinnati not have pro sports stadiums, the Aronoff Center, Music Hall, or the Museum Center just because the population in the immediate area don't or can't use the facilities much? No, the idea is to draw others from out of the immediate area."

NO NEIL, I THINK IT'S SAFE TO ASSUME THAT ON ANY GIVEN DAY AT GREAT AMERICAN BALLPARK, THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE WHO ATTEND ARE FROM CINCINNATI. THE REDS ARE THERE TO ATTRACT THE LOCALS FIRST AND THE RESIDUALS FROM OUT OF TOWN SECONDLY. I WOULD IMAGINE THE ARONOFF, MUSIC HALL AND THE MUSEUM CENTER WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED FOR THE LOCALS ALSO, RELYING ON OUTSIDERS TO SUPPLEMENT THE ATTENDANCE FIGURES AS A SECONDARY CONSIDERATION.

Neil: If you want to cater to locals here in Middletown, good luck. Doesn't sounds like a great way to revitalize an area when all you would be talking about are opening up food pantries, an Aldi's, cash for gold shops, or maybe a Nascar souveneir store. Why focus a revitalization effort on the population that doesn't have any money?

I DOUBT VERY SERIOUSLY THAT THE PEOPLE OF MIDDLETOWN WOULD CHOOSE FOOD PANTRIES, GOLD SHOPS AND A NASCAR SOUVENIR STORE AS A CATALYST FOR DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT. MOST OF US HAVE MORE CLASS THAN THAT. THE ONLY REASON THAT THOSE TYPES OF STORES ARE HERE IS BECAUSE THE CITY LEADERS HAVE CREATED A CLIMATE OF LOW INCOME, WELFARE THAT IS ATTRACTING PEOPLE TO THIS TOWN, CAUSING THIS RESIDUAL EFFECT. IF THE CITY LEADERS WOULD HAVE HAD ANY CLASS AT ALL, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE SET UP THE PROGRAMS THAT ATTRACTED THIS SEGMENT OF SOCIETY HERE.....AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN A MAGNET FOR THESE TYPES OF BUSINESSES. THE PEOPLE NEVER HAVE HAD ANY SAYSO IN HOW THE DOWNTOWN WAS TO BE STRUCTURED.....ONLY A FEW SELECT "FRIENDS OF THE CITY" GET THAT CHANCE.

Neil: "But it is making downtown an occasional destination for some out of area folks."

PRECISELY NEIL. THE PENDLETON IS MAKING THE "DOWNTOWN AN OCCASIONAL DESTINATION FOR SOME OUT OF AREA FOLKS". KEY WORDS HERE......OCCASIONAL (AS IN ONCE IN A WHILE IT IS A VIABLE DESTINATION) AND SOME OUT OF AREA FOLKS.....SHOULDN'T DOWNTOWN MIDDLETOWN BE THE DESTINATION OF THE RESIDENCE WHO LIVE HERE FIRST WITH THE "OUT OF TOWNERS" BEING A RESIDUAL EFFECT? USUALLY, WHEN A CITY DEVELOPS SOMETHING WITHIN A CITY, IT IS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE TOWN'S CITIZENS. NOT FOR SPECIAL INTEREST, MINORITY NUMBERED "FRIENDS OF THE CITY" NOR DO OUT OF TOWNERS GET THE PRIORITY FOR INTEREST. "OCCASIONAL" DOESN'T CUT THE MUSTARD NEIL WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT REDEVELOPMENT. I BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT "CONTINUAL", "FULL TIME" AND "DAILY"......WORDS THAT WOULD IMPLY "NOT PART TIME" ATTENDANCE.

Neil: "But I'm inclined to give it 3-4 more years before making a judgment on it."

I AGREE ON THIS POINT. HOWEVER, IF IT DOESN'T PICK UP IN ACTIVITY IN THAT TIME FRAME, AND START MORE OF A CONTINAL OPERATION INSTEAD OF THE "FIRST FRIDAY" THING, AND OTHER BUSINESSES DON'T MATERIALIZE IN A SUPPORT ROLE, I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY WE HAVE GOT TO CALL IT A FAILURE.

Neil, I agree totally on the wrecking ball west of Stefano's. BV might be left in place, and the new UDF, everything else needs to be brought down. Maybe have a $5.00 fee, and allow mad as hell residents take a sledge hammer and work off their frustration, like they do with old cars.

Its very apparent to all I have spoken (including a few senior city leaders on my promise to not reveal their identity), why the focus on downtown. These are 1) BV- and their pushing city hall they want more local presence and support although their business and brand is well established, they could work in a barn in Eaton, and still make a net return), and 2) Main Street freaking out how their property values are falling.

That's the driver for the cashflow going into downtown, and the nice free fed $$$ flowing like a river. No jury still out determining guilt or innocent, the jury has spoken. Another bummer for the remaining 47,850 whom disagree,  

Whoops....sorry sj, you are an asset, so you avoid the wrecking ball.

I have a suggestion to get your share of 0% interest, and other forgiveness the city is offering.

1) Every Friday, have a small classical band play Chopin or Vivaldi between 7- 9 PM, free wine and cheese.

2) Add among your collection of any Hallmark or other brands of cards you carry or stock, those which are made by hand, real artisans. Or, have a custom logo made by one of the artists down at PAC, put it on top of building.

3) Use and pay for any billboard near parking lot which is available, a Cincinnati State Middletown sign.

That will provide you with 0% interest and about $300,000 in new capitalization, all from city and HUD.     

Another gem on projected activity by Michael Pitman and the Journal....

Eatery seen as key to city’s revival
New downtown bistro project being aided by 15 area investors.

By Michael D. Pitman
12:07 AM Sunday, May 6, 2012
MIDDLETOWN — As downtown is seemingly on its way to a new arts and education identity, two investors in a restaurant opening later this year say eateries are key ingredients in the recipe for a successful downtown.
Jay and Linda Moorman, co-owners of BeauVerre Riordan Stained Glass Studios, are leading a group of 15 investors that will finance Stained 1054 Bistro inside their building at 1054 Central Ave.
“(Revitalization) is a recipe and these guys are kind of the main ingredients, and it’s all coming together,” said Linda Moorman referring to Red Onion and Stained executive chef Gary Henz and Stained head chef Jordan Frei. “The restaurants are what’s going to make everything sustain here, and bring more people here that normally wouldn’t come.”
Ohio Restaurant Association spokesman Jarrod Clabaugh agreed.
“We sort of pride ourselves that restaurants are the cornerstone of communities,” he said. “You take dates there, you have business meetings there. They’re places you go to make long-term memories.”
Clabaugh said association members across Ohio say people are eating out more, and “any downtown area that’s booming or growing, not only are there many restaurants, but a diverse offering.”
Jay Moorman said he and his wife bought the building behind BeauVerre with no certainty of what could be there. The future site of the restaurant is currently the stained glass gallery’s work area. That will be moved to other parts of the building, the Moormans said.
The idea for the restaurant came after talking with the private investors, Jay Moorman said, and it was determined one was needed. Mark Bursley, the owner of the Red Onion in Monroe, was the first person the investors wanted to contact.
“Converging trends quickly moved Stained in Middletown from the concept stage to reality,” Bursley said. More people are downtown because of the Pendleton Art Center and Middletown Arts Center, and more will come with the opening of Cincinnati State Middletown and growth of MidPointe Public Library, he said.
Mariel Bursley, daughter of Mark Bursley, said the goal was to expand to an additional location. The Red Onion seats about 50, and she said it’s always full.
“We turn away a lot of business, so (my dad) has been looking for a new opportunity for a while now,” said Mariel Bursley. “It was pretty much perfect.”
Stained 1054 Bistro, which is projected to open in August or September, will seat about 100. Its theme will play off BeauVerre’s design and feature a lot of re-purposed wood — much of BeauVerre’s woodwork is from old school buildings — and stained glass.
She said the restaurant’s design, which is still being planned, will be “an experience.”
“We want it to feel intimate,” Mariel Bursley said.
The casual fine dining restaurant will cater to those seeking to celebrate a special occasion or going on a date to those looking for a burger for lunch.
The opening of the restaurant will closely coincide with the late August opening of the Cincinnati State Middletown campus. About 200 students are expected to be enrolled when classes start on 
Aug. 29, and the campus is expected to grow to 3,000 students in five years, said Cincinnati State President Dr. O’dell Owens.
Restaurants and other ancillary businesses will be natural developments when the student population expands, Owens said.
“When you start bringing in students, they’re going to need some food,” Owens said. “I hope there are some businesses that will develop.”

WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE FROM OUR CITY WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THIS RESTAURANT AND FREQUENT IT WITH ANY REGULARITY? IF QUIZNOS COULDN'T MAKE IT, WONDER HOW INTEREST WILL BE IN A RESTAURANT CATERING TO NON-MAINSTREAM TYPE FOOD? HOW'S THE SANDWICH SHOP DOING IN THE PAC?

AT LAST COUNT, OWEN HAD ONE PERSON FROM THE PROJECTED 200 SIGN UP. LONG WAY TO GO TO HIT THE AUGUST NUMBER. EVEN LONGER TO HIT THE 3000 IN FIVE YEAR PROJECTION. UNLESS THEY FLOCK TO THE SIGN UP BOOTH IN THE NEXT THREE MONTHS, MIGHT NOT BE THE IMPACT EXPECTED. DUNNO, DOESN'T SEEM LIKE OVERWHELMING INTEREST SO FAR. WE'LL SEE.

JUST FOR INTEREST, HAVE THE MOORMAN'S PAID BACK THE LOAN THE CITY GAVE THEM AND THAT WE HAVE ALL FORGOTTEN ABOUT?

Vet,

I have surveyed about 45 people and have yet to find a single person who likes the name...Stained..  Unfortunately the owner loves the name and it is his decision.  I know that many people have asked him to reconsider, but no one, including me, have any success in getting it changed.  That's why I referred to it as 1054 Bistro and didn't use that other name

Certainly there will be competition between Stefanos and the Bistro, however I know a lot of people, myself included, who tend to go out of town for a meal because how often can one eat in the same restaurant?  I think that the Bistro will bring people back to town and will not necessarily reduce Stefano's business.

Hopefully I will make a point to attend 1054 more than I have "@ the square".  I tried it out when it was 56 Degrees but haven't been able to keep track of when it reopened or closed and on what days/times it is open.  The place is easy to forget since there's not much signage and it has a somewhat dark exterior.  Hopefully, for what I assume they charge, they do a better job of service than we got a 56 Degrees.  And is it too much to ask that servers are knowledgable, timely, and attractive?  In Middletown, I guess it is too much to ask.

I like the Red Onion in Monroe

Several Yrs ago the city proclaimed that 54% of the residents of Middletown lived below the poverty level.  I would imagine that has probably gotten worse since the recession.  Did the investors and owner's of Stained 1054 Bistro do their research and find that Middletown can support another restuarant of this type?