Vivian, he latest email I have recieved m Auntie Ann was a newsletter. She has her cell number on it 513-649-4506. Hope this helps!

Where does Ann Mort live? When I called her the other day it was long distance?

Wow! Alot of anger here. Didn't you guys read Eddie's article, paying attention to the last paragraph when Annie Mortimer said the negative publicity (and talk) doesn't help the city in it's efforts to improve its overall image? Now get with it! Think trees and flowers and painting something (for cryin' out loud, get those gutters painted and hey, we didn't pave those alleys for you people to have paint peeling off those garages) Let's see "positive" talk like the Pride In Action group is doing. Start using phrases like "we're looking into it", "we have a plan" and "we have a bright future" as opposed to the "negative talk of "we have too much Section 8", "where's the jobs", "we don't communicate with the public because they don't matter" and "what do you mean we're trying to misuse CDBG money?" You cooperate and communicate with us, the city leaders, and we'll cooperate and communicate with you, just as we demonstrated in the Conversation with Council meeting at the Manchester!

HUD and other "funny money" Federal bailouts have allowed senior City staff to make some behind-the-scenes personnel/bugetary moves to forestall layoffs and to bolster their penchant for the wrecking ball and housing code heavy-handedness!

I agree with Irisner,cuts HAVE to be made. As Irisner said it's not cuts anyone would like but it's a have to situation. Yes we need revenues,we need income from new business & jobs but until that happens you have to have the cuts. Council members themselves could give up their pay to sit on council. It's not like they need the money anyway,it's just blow money to them. Cuts in the police is feasible if done right. All areas can handle cuts,it's the american way.

They kick everyone out to demolish it and now they are spending money to hire consultants because they can't figure out why there aren't any occupants... 

And you can't even see the sign from the interstate so it's not like anyone out of town would ever come.

As irisner mentioned, time to face the real world, roll up the sleeves and do the dirty work.

You speak the truth Impala SS.  We need more people like you if Middletown has any chance of improving!  God bless and keep you!

Pacman wrote:   It is about this City generating enough revenue TO SURVIVE, not even to grow just to SURVIVE.

That is where You and I disagree. I don't see Middletown ever getting the Revenues needed to maintain the things as they are today. I think we have to reduce cost to fit our Revenues, not adjust revenues up(great if it happened, but I think not!).

This old simple minded Municipal Tsar would reek havoc on the City Finances if I were in charge.

30% of Staff....GONE!  Police and Fire would take hits too. All Rec...gone!

Bottom line? Minimal City government. Only the basics. Things some of you would hate such as only Main Roads Plowed in the winter. If you want  your Cul de Sac plowed, you and your neighbors get out the shovels.

Revenue will NEVER be adequate in a Dyibg City!

How many schools in this town are closed? i know Roosevelt is. So hey lets build another one. That makes sense.  

Well said Pacman 

TOWNE MALL -- STAY TUNED FOR NEW REDEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS AND ALLIANCES OF FORMER ADVERSARIES??

 

Is the Towne Mall ‘endangered’?

Local leaders insist that empty stores offer development opportunities.

MIDDLETOWN — Middletown has made yet another infamous national list.

This time the city was dinged for being home to one of America’s Most Endangered Malls.

The Towne Mall, just off Ohio 122, was given that distinction in an article by Rick Newman, a blogger with U.S. News and World Report.

His report outlined the reasons why some malls are failing across the nation.

Newman said the “sharp recession is clearly accelerating the demise of vulnerable retailers and some of the shopping centers they inhabit.”

He also noted that plunging sales as well as many retailers carrying heavy debt to fund aggressive growth and the current credit crunch that has made cash harder to obtain.

Katie Reinsmidt, of Chattanooga-based CBL & Associates, the owners of the Towne Mall, said this latest story mirrors previous national media reports about Middletown mall.

“We think there’s a bright future for the center and we’re going to keep working toward that,” she said. “We’re also keeping out of the media hype. CBL is not subscribing to the ‘endangered malls’ thought.”

Newman said the first sign of trouble is when an anchor tenant departs a mall, and it is estimated that 10 percent of the nation’s malls could close in the next few years.

Newman used data from Green Street Advisors, the same California firm that the Wall Street Journal Online edition recently used to analyze malls.

According to Green Street’s data, Towne Mall has a 49 percent occupancy rate and sales per square foot of $207.

The firm notes that malls that are struggling have sales per square foot of $250.

City Manager Judy Gilleland said, “The mall has been identified as an area ripe for redevelopment.”

Gilleland said the city is also working with consultants and various stakeholders on a redevelopment plan that is almost completed.

“We’re working with property owners in marketing the site,” she said.

Mike Robinette, the city’s economic development director, said last week that three scenarios are being evaluated by the consultant and the various stakeholders. He expects to have a plan before Middletown City Council by its July 21 meeting.

Ann Mort, co-chair of the Middletown Pride in Action initiative, walks at the Towne Mall and knows at least half of the stores are empty.

“I think it’s time for the Towne Mall to have a different life,” Mort said, adding that one possibility could be to turn it into an elementary school.

Mort said the negative publicity doesn’t help the city’s in its efforts to improve its overall image. “I think you can always make a batch of lemonade,” she said. “I refuse to give up on things. I’m always looking for the silver lining.”