Glad are "Spineless Ones" gives building away or for dirt cheap.Just cant see a whole lot of people that enjoys arts that much.Except for the snobs that live on South Main.

SupportMiddletown wrote: The building would cost a couple hundred thousand to demolish and would not hold very many parkings space, so the city is really giving away something that doesn't have much value anyway.

I don't get it.

It is a political giveaway.
The problem is the Art Central group has no money.
The Moormans wanted to buy the building but Gilliland would not sell it.

So now, with this and the old senior center building, the city's building purchases with taxpayer money is in the phase of giving the properties away. Wonder if the Thatcher building purchases (the banks) not used by Cinn. State will also be given away in the future?

"The city purchased the former Masonic Temple, the former CG&E; Bank One and First National buildings for $300,000 in 2010. In February 2011, the city purchased the former Manchester Inn & Conference Center for $175,000."

"The city sold the former CG&E; building and donated the former senior center for $200,000 earlier this year for Cincinnati State Middletown developer Higher Education Partners"

THE GREAT BUILDING GIVEAWAY!!!!! GET YOURS WHILE THEY'RE AVAILABLE FOLKS! GREAT IDEA.....BUY 'EM, HOPE YOU CAN GET YOUR MONEY BACK AND WHEN YOU CAN'T.....GIVE 'EM AWAY!!! AND THE HITS JUST KEEP ON COMING IN THIS TOWN FOR THE TAXPAYER AS THEY ARE STIFFED AGAIN. INCREDIBLE.

“We believe that our downtown should be focused on the arts, education and entertainment,” said City Manager Judy Gilleland. “The Art Central Foundation fits well within our vision for downtown.”

GILLELAND AND OTHERS JUST DON'T GET IT DO THEY? THIS THEME DOESN'T APPEAL TO THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN......AND SHE AND THE REST OF THE 5% OF THIS TOWN DON'T CARE. AMAZING ATTITUDE TOWARD THE CITIZENS.

"Wittman said she feels the eight-year-old organization has “had a large part in downtown’s revitalization efforts.”

“Our mission is making arts accessible to everybody downtown,” she said

LOOKS LIKE WITTMAN DOESN'T HAVE A CLUE WHAT THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN ARE INTERESTED IN EITHER. THESE ARTZY PEOPLE ARE KINDA WRAPPED UP IN THEIR OWN LITTLE WORLD AREN'T THEY? HINT......WE DON'T WANT ONLY THE ARTS, WE WANT A DIVERSITY OF SHOPPING THAT APPEALS TO THE MASSES.

So many complaints on this forum about Section 8 and anyone who owns rental properties.......................

"So many complaints on this forum about Section 8......"

With good reason, digger-2, with good reason. The negatives concerning Section 8 have been documented in other posts on this forum. They overwhelm the positives.

"The Art Central Foundation has leased the former Masonic Temple Building since it set up a downtown location several years ago."

Really? Then I have a problem with the city’s accounting department.
Under what name is Art Central leasing this property?

RESEARCH…..
Downtown Fund 2011 Revenue shows the following:
Gemini Music Studio
NAACP
Weinrich Law Office
Intergrated Electrical Solutions
Fred Ross
Landendorf Law Office
Hoglund Atty
Gary Swupe
Primary Heath Butler Co.
Don Imhof Law
Don Whittington
Miami Univ
Cox Ohio
Bill Bowen Law
Casper & Casper
Crown Castle
Mark McClure
Sonshine Products
Dan The Plant Man
Patriots Communications

Hmmm...Where did all these business go when the City took over these properties?
How much revenue has the city lost?
Hmmm…lots of questions seem to need answers.

The City sold the CG&E Building for $201,000 to Cincy State-HEP.
This is the same property that Mr. Thatcher was leasing to Casper & Casper and Cox Publishing for $15,069.55 per month.
….and yet the building was only sold for $201,000 plus Cincy State-HEP  were given the old Senior Center. 

I'm sure glad we have a these a real estate guru working for our city.
 

You all know that those buildings, whichever were intended for Cincy State, or some other venture will just sit there until someone is brave enough to take one of them on and renovate it and do something productive with it.
Where will ACF get the needed funds to renovate this building?

So what is all the clamouring for? You scream and scream on this site about the taxpayer well if the tax payer was so upset about what was going on in Middletown then this site, the voting polls, etc., would have a lot more interest.
I can not speak for the actions of others.

As for the Masonic building and Vivian's cry for proof of leasing funds. Before Perry died he offered to give the Masonic Building to several diffrent organizations in town. All turned him down accept the ACF they saw something in it and still do apparently. So for the cost of the utilities they were "given" the building. When Perry died and the city took over the buildings they honored Perry's agreement with the ACF becasue the organization had already scheduled several events. When the city decided to "mothball" their collected properties ACF got the boot.

If that was Mr Thatcher intent then he should have signed the deed and turned the property over to ACF. 
Then Art Central did not have a lease they simply had an understanding to use the building for the payment of utilities. Wasn't the last ACF event held at PAC Ballroom because the Masonic Temple was too small?

They are a passionate group of people who believe in what they do. Much like some woman and her crusade for a cemetary. Not sure why Spiderjohn is all hopped up on this issue, pretty dure he has generously donated to this oganization several times.
Crazycatcher, I’m not against the Arts or ACF but this building was purchased with public funds. Therefore it should be sold or offered to someone that will open a business and produce property taxes and jobs in the downtown area. When questioned that is what Ms Judy and City Council said they would do with the buildings that were not used by CS.
Last year we were told the City was going broke and now they are giving away property.
Why are we asking other bussinesses to purchase building while other commercial property is given away? Why don't these buildings have a FOR SALE sign on them?

As for the Historical Society they are in no way taking over or have they requested the Bank One Building. At one time this might have been rumoured but they have moved on to other prospects.

The City received a letter from the MHS shortly after they aquired the property, requesting the Bank One building. I believe it was read during a city council meeting, therefore It is public record. Where will MHS get the funds to renovate this building?

 

As for those busineses that used to be in the First National Bank Building...look around Viv most of those busineses are still in Middletown, paying taves.some are at the Pendelton, you know where Casper and Casper are. a few are in the First Financial Building down the street. and who gives a crap about COX Ohio it's not like we have the Middletown Journal any more.

 

 

hey crazy

Vivian Moon wrote: "The Art Central Foundation has leased the former Masonic Temple Building since it set up a downtown location several years ago." Really? Then I have a problem with the city’s accounting department. Under what name is Art Central leasing this property? RESEARCH….. Downtown Fund 2011 Revenue shows the following: Gemini Music Studio NAACP Weinrich Law Office Intergrated Electrical Solutions Fred Ross Landendorf Law Office Hoglund Atty Gary Swupe Primary Heath Butler Co. Don Imhof Law Don Whittington Miami Univ Cox Ohio Bill Bowen Law Casper & Casper Crown Castle Mark McClure Sonshine Products Dan The Plant Man Patriots Communications Hmmm...Where did all these business go when the City took over these properties? How much revenue has the city lost? Hmmm…lots of questions seem to need answers.