Manchester Inn and Weatherwax

Also at last nights council meeting, Mr. Adkins gave an update on the Manchester Inn Deal. He stated that Mr. Grau is still working on the feasibility study that is due to be completed later this month to determine the best use for the Manchester Inn.

a gold mine just across the bridge imo
wish that I would have bought property there years ago--the current buildings are demo material
not sure water/utilities are are there yet
small market there would serve so many, and keep them from crossing bridge, or heading to Trenton/Excello Kroger

the future Oasis, + the Elk Creek Tavern building/corner

jmo

There is no way in hell the township will allow that to happen. The people that live out here live out here for a reason, One of those reasons is its NOT MIDDLETOWN.   We have excellent schools, decent police and fire protection and levies to support them.

There are many out in the township that will "line the bridge" and never allow Middletown to annex us.

sj, I think par for the course, or another "Mulligan" for city hall, the third downtown as a matter of fact, as you know, what got downtown started was the train possibilities. Undoubtedly, Mr. Thatcher's vision was the culinary function, with hopes the whole campus might have a major presence.

Donham began the snowball with the shuffle of Cohen and the other entities downtown, and the cash that followed the train, and then on the heels of the Polar Express that never arrived, Strickland defeat, then the fall back was the C State culinary institute. Those two dreams fell by the wayside, but the momentum, initially expense, created a runaway train, initially chasing a train....that never came....and a culinary experience....that never came.

I believe you are correct on the reduction from 36 to 18 holes, but suspect that's contingent on turning a profit. The location is close enough to Madison High School that it would do well as a development I assume.    

That is so true Mide81: Whether he's right or wrong that's how it is and all the attorneys on council and former paralegals never bother to quetion what he says.Do the legal eagles turn their brains off at council meetings?

Sadly, I think Dr. Owens at Cincinnati State did miss a golden opportunity for not having the vision or fortitude to bring the culinary center to Middletown and the Manchester, that was Mr. Perry's vision. To be clear, all activities that became the downtown effort were associated with the culinary school, and it could have served as a catalyst for other opportunities and expansion at C State and downtown. Its a shame this never took off.

Like the Iraq war when no chemicals of mass destruction were found, the message at city hall became downtown revitalization, making Middletown into a historic center, or arts center. Having the epicenter of the culinary institute may have done this; without it, it all fell apart. Then the message at Donham, just like the Iraq war, was changed; in Iraq, it was about democracy and freeing people, in Middletown, it shifted from cuisine and the culinary center to downtown revitalization. It had gone so far they couldn't pull back, and what became is a shell of the true vision and plan.

It is sadness and disbelief, when evaluating the Cincinnati State deal, the city's property acquisitions, and such, what led to all this was the culinary center which never came. One cannot think the city had this outcome in mind for its buck payback.

This was interesting in a Journal post:

I'm curious to know what kind of development will take place at Weatherwax when the property was gifted to the city with the provision that it remain a "green space". Does the sale of the property negate any agreement the city made in the past? Is there potential for lawsuits against the city and the new owner if they violate those prior agreements? Would defense in court cost the city more funds it cannot afford to spend on extraneous matters? 

Come on, you guys. Let's give credit where credit is due!!!

The tens of millions of our tax dollars that they've spent downtown haven't been a total waste.

They DID bring one very successful business downtown.

Things are BOOMING at the UDF!!! (And it would be even more successful if it wasn't for all of the constant pilferage.)

Sale of 2 city landmarks to save thousands

Councilwoman Anita Scott Jones said the sale of the course in Madison Twp., which the city has owned since 1972, will “stop the bleeding” of the city’s finances. She understands many area residents didn’t want the city to sell Weatherwax — she called it “a sore topic” — but it was the “best decision for the city” that is considering laying off 22 public safety employees by next year.

YES MS. JONES, THERE ARE MANY "SORE TOPICS" IN THIS CITY.

I REALLY LIKE MULLIGAN'S STATEMENT HERE.....

Mayor Lawrence Mulligan Jr. called the decision “good” because it allows the city to “get out of the golf course business” and concentrate on its core services.

IT ALLOWS US TO "GET OUT OF THE GOLF COURSE BUSINESS" AND "CONCENTRATE ON IT'S CORE SERVICES". COMICAL BUD. CORE SERVICES... LET'S SEE...LIKE STREET MAINTENANCE, SEWERS, POLICE AND FIRE PROTECTION? THEY HAVEN'T BEEN A PRIORITY FOR DECADES, WHY MENTION IT NOW. RESTATED FOR LAWRENCE HERE....."IT ALLOWS US TO GET OUT OF THE GOLF COURSE BUSINESS BUT WE CONTINUE TO HOLD DOWNTOWN PROPERTY OWNERSHIP(AND OUR GIVEAWAY PROGRAM), AS WELL AS OUR OTHER CITY OWNED PLOTS OF LAND, AS A HIGH PRIORITY".

Grau said he expects the renovations to the 92-year-old hotel to be about $10 million, most of which will come from loans and tax credits, he told City Council via Skype Tuesday night. He plans to convert the hotel into catering and banquet facilities; a café and brewpub; office spaces; a large courtyard; and 60 market rate apartments, not Section 8 units.
On Wednesday, Grau told the Journal-News that he’s never worked with Section 8 and that wasn’t his intent with the Manchester. He said the units are going to be one- and two-bedroom apartments.

WELL THERE'S YOUR "ASSURANCE" THAT SECTION 8 WILL NOT COME TO THE MANCHESTER.........PERHAPS.

Denise Hamet, the city’s economic development director, said the 60 residential units will help put “feet on the street, a common ingredient in the rebirth of urban areas.” She said renaissance of urban living is happening all across the country, and she anticipates Middletown will be “a strong player in this arena.”

"FEET ON THE GROUND".....A "STRONG PLAYER IN THIS ARENA"......ISN'T THAT WHAT SHE AND OTHERS SAID ABOUT CINCY STATE, THE PAC AND THE OTHER TITANIC ENDEAVORS THEY HAVE BROUGHT TO DOWNTOWN? WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE OLD "FEET ON THE GROUND" DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC DENISE? GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF ACTIVITY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA NOW, WHAT WOULD BE THE ATTRACTION TO LEAVE THESE APARTMENTS THAT GRAU IS PROPOSING? WHERE WOULD THEY GO WHEN THEY LEFT THE APARTMENT EACH DAY? TO HAVE A "RENAISSANCE OF URBAN LIVING" YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE A DRAW FOR THE PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE DON'T YOU? WHAT'S THE DRAW DOWNTOWN?

Les Landen, the law director and acting city manager since Judy Gilleland is on medical leave,

GOOD LORD, THE HITS JUST KEEP COMING.... LANDEN IN CHARGE.

AND JUST WHY WEREN'T THE CITIZENS NOTIFIED OF GILLELAND'S HEALTH? AS SHE IS OUR LEADER AND WE ARE CONCERNED.

BOTTOM LINE....THE CITY TAXPAYER, IN KEEPING WITH THE COMMON THEME OF THE CITY, TOOK A BATH ON BOTH PROPERTIES BUYING HIGH AND NOT SELLING, BUT LITERALLY GIVING THE MANCHESTER AWAY WHILE AGREEING TO PAY FOR MOST OF THE COST FOR THE BUYER OF WEATHERWAX, HELPING HIM TO PREPARE FOR HIS REDEVELOPMENT.

CITY COUNCIL......IS THERE A LOGICAL, COMPETENT PERSON BEHIND THAT DESK?

Spiderjohn - u might have left out the forgiven loans on the former Thatcher properties ($175,000?)

Spider
Yes we have the forgiven loans and also do not forget to add on the loss of all the property taxes that the Thatcher downtown buildings were paying each year.
Now that they are all non profit they will pay ZERO...

And then we have the Weather Wax deal...I believe chmoore is correct on his evaluation of this deal.

Yes sir the city council did a fine job of giving away our tax dollars last night.

u might have left out the forgiven loans on the former Thatcher properties($175,000?) and the locals @ Weatherwax who will
very shortly be un-employed(probably with severance/extended bennies or "re-assigned" within city admin.

The Weatherwax family must be inpressed and proud--how does "Weatherwax Estates--homes from $150,000 and up" sound? How much will this group profit from how many hundred beautiful acres?

over the hill
Yep...I thought City Hall wanted out of the Section 8 Business...
Just another act of desperation business deal…mercy