Art Central Foundation

TonyB:

"You see stupidity; I see a well executed plan to control the downtown business district".

Only if the plan works TonyB. To date, I don't see an indication (albeit in the early stages) of the "downtown plan" being successful. Alot of empty buildings of all sizes..... still not alot of activity down there on a consistent basis, right? Is CS showing any measurable activity as yet? How many students are packing the sidewalks to and from classes? How about those coffee houses and sandwich shops? Enough of a downtown crowd to entice new business yet? Pockets of activity, then goes silent until the next event. Kinda hit and miss right now, isn't it?

How much time should we give it to call or ? What happens if this grand plan doesn't work with all the money and effort put forth? Another botched scheme by our city leaders? To date, they have failed at everything they have touched, haven't they?

Today's Journal....

City may donate Masonic Temple

MIDDLETOWN — Giving away one of the four Main Street buildings the city spent $300,000 for in 2010 to a Middletown arts organization is in the best interest of revitalizing downtown, city officials said Thursday

Some residents have questioned why the city would give away a property bought with taxpayer dollars. But many on City Council believe donating the building is in the best interest of revitalizing downtown

NOW HERE'S A GOOD ONE FROM MULLIGAN.....

“There’s not a ton of value really left in that building,” Mayor Larry Mulligan said. “Any little money we would get from the organization would be better spent in putting it back into the building for the betterment of downtown.”

OK, IF "THERE'S NOT A TON OF VALUE REALLY LEFT IN THAT BUILDING" AS MULLIGAN STATES, WHY DID THEY USE TAXPAYER MONEY TO PURCHASE IT IN THE FIRST PLACE, AND WHY DID THEY PAY THE PRICE THEY DID FOR IT?

NOW HERE'S A STATEMENT THAT MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE AT ALL FROM GILLELAND.....

Gilleland said she believes the city will recoup the taxpayer dollars used to buy the buildings.

HOW IN THE HELL IS THE CITY GOING TO RECOUP THE MONEY PAID FOR THESE BUILDINGS IF THEY GIVE THEM AWAY FOR FREE? HOW CAN YOU RECOUP DOLLARS BY SPENDING MONEY AND THEN GIVING SOMETHING AWAY FOR FREE? SOMEONE WANT TO EXPLAIN THAT LOGIC TO ME?

Councilman A.J. Smith supported Gilleland’s belief the city will get taxpayer’s money back

HOW WILL THAT HAPPEN SMITH? PLEASE EXPLAIN.

“I think the donation to the Art Central Foundation is a great move on our part,” Smith said. “They do a lot for downtown Middletown, and the community at large.”

NO, THE "COMMUNITY AT LARGE" ISN'T INTERESTED IN WHAT THE ART CENTRAL FOUNDATION DOES. 5% OF THE COMMUNITY WOULD BE INTERESTED SMITH....IF THAT.

Council woman Anita Scott Jones believes over time the Art Central Foundation’s initiatives will provide the city with many ancillary benefits.

AND WHAT WOULD THOSE "ANCILLARY BENEFITS" BE MS, JONES?

NOTICE HOW GILLELAND, SMITH AND JONES MAKE THESE GENERALIZED STATEMENTS TRYING TO JUSTIFY THIS NONSENSE, BUT NEVER OFFER SPECIFICS TO CLARIFY THEIR GENERALIZATIONS?

“They have invested a lot into that building, and it ties in with what’s going on with downtown Middletown,” Jones said

AND......SO WHAT? MEANINGLESS.

Vice Mayor Dan Picard said by giving the building, it keeps a downtown building filled.
“There isn’t a buyer for it, and I don’t know how long we could continue to carry it,” said Picard

SO THE POLICY IS TO BUY A BUILDING AT THE ASKING PRICE, SIT ON IT HOPING AND PRAYING THAT SOMEONE COMES ALONG AND OFFERS TO BUY IT, THEN FINDING OUT THAT IT'S A WHITE ELEPHANT AND AN ALBATROSS AROUND THE CITY'S NECK, SO THEY END UP GIVING IT AWAY. GREAT PLAN. WELL THOUGHT OUT.



THIS WHOLE SITUATION IS A CLUSTER AND ANOTHER BVNGLED MESS CREATED BY STUPIDITY AT THE CITY MANAGEMENT LEVEL. HINT....GET OUT OF THE REAL ESTATE BUSINESS AND LET THE PRIVATE SECTOR, USING PRIVATE SECTOR MONEY, TAKE THE RISKS. STOP USING TAXPAYER MONEY FOR YOUR RISKY PROGRAMS.

Well, if the Muslims did purchase the building for a Mosque, the Moormans could do the stained glass work like they did in West Chester!!! and make MORE $$$

Middletown29 - Jay and Linda were instrumental in bringing The Pendleton concept to Middletown so why would they want to compete with it.

I believe their hands are pretty full with all the other projects they have going on.

If the Moormans can't get it for almost free and turn around and make big money, they don't want it. Maybe they want to strip the old building of its hard wood and stained glass and then tear it down.

The Moormans say many things.

I wonder what Mrs Wittman pays herself to be president of ACF?

tomahawk35 wrote: If they didn't have any value,why did the city waste the taxpayer's money ? Oh that 's right they have been doing that all the time.

That's easy!!!  City Hall was afraid that someone might buy one of them and use it for a real business (City Hall would not approve of that, of course) that had a chance to succeed, and that then it would take Marty and his friends a couple of years to drive them into bankruptcy.

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.

hey crazy

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.

 

 

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.