Art Central Foundation
Printed From: MiddletownUSA.com
Category: Middletown City Government
Forum Name: Economic Development
Forum Description: Local government efforts to develop the local Middletown area economy.
URL: http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4827
Printed Date: May 19 2024 at 12:49pm
Topic: Art Central Foundation
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Subject: Art Central Foundation
Date Posted: Oct 26 2012 at 8:13pm
City may donate building to Art Central Foundation
By http://www.middletownjournal.com/staff/michael-d-pitman/ - Staff Writer MIDDLETOWN — City council is expected to hold the first of two readings Nov. 6 that will donate the former Masonic Temple Building, also known as the Temple Arts Building, to the Art Central Foundation. The Art Central Foundation has leased the former Masonic Temple Building since it set up a downtown location several years ago. “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.” Art Central Foundation president Sue Wittman said immediate plans are to fix a gutter issue in the rear of the building and to rent the first floor to a retail or restaurant business. An endowment is going to be formed to help with building maintenance and operations, and this year’s foundation art auction and wine tasting — which is set for 6 to 9 p.m. today at Forest Hills Country Club, 791 Fourth St. — will help with that, she said. The $30 admission price will allow patrons to bid on art and taste more than a dozen French wines. The event will be catered by Brio’s at The Greene in Beavercreek and Mockingbird Cafe and @ the Square in downtown Middletown. There will be about 14 types of French wine to taste About $5,000 is raised annually, Wittman said . “We’re hoping that with some of the donations we’ve got, we’ll exceed that this year,” she said. Gilleland said it’s “very important” the city preserves the downtown’s historic structures, such as the Masonic Arts Building, and “if we can return a historic structure to productive use, that’s a win-win for everyone. 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. 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. |
Replies:
Posted By: LMAO
Date Posted: Oct 26 2012 at 9:58pm
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Gilleland said it’s “very important” the city preserves the downtown’s historic structures, such as the Masonic Arts Building, and “if we can return a historic structure to productive use, that’s a win-win for everyone. Earth to Judy,Wake the hell Up!!!!!Win-win for the crybabys on South Main.When will we read that you Sh*T out money to fund there pretty lights? 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. |
Posted By: SupportMiddletown
Date Posted: Oct 26 2012 at 11:34pm
| 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. |
Posted By: Mike_Presta
Date Posted: Oct 27 2012 at 12:10am
Now that downtown is supposedly "booming", and businesses are clamoring to locate there, shouldn't the city at least TRY to sell this (and other) city-owned structures to try to recoup some of the taxpayer funds that have been expended there??? ------------- “Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012 |
SupportMiddletown wrote:Posted By: spiderjohn
Date Posted: Oct 27 2012 at 7:55am
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So--we are once again focusing on "arts" with another expensive property purchase being given away to a private entity. The part I ? is the ACF director's statement that the first floor will be turned into a restaurant or retail entity. Doesn't sound much like "arts" does it? More taxpayer subsidized private business in that favored area, creating an issue about publicv-0subsidized private business competing with non-subsidized private businesses. Sour grapes?
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Posted By: Middletown29
Date Posted: Oct 27 2012 at 8:22am
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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. |
Posted By: TonyB
Date Posted: Oct 27 2012 at 8:58am
| If the building didn't have much value, why did the city buy it? Oh yeah, I remember now, it was to CONTROL what happens in the downtown area. I don't have a problem with the Arts Central Foundation controlling the building; they were leasing it. I have a real problem with the city giving away real estate that they never should have bought in the first place. |
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Oct 27 2012 at 9:17am
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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. |
Posted By: over the hill
Date Posted: Oct 27 2012 at 10:25am
| we want JOBS!!!!! |
Posted By: digger-2
Date Posted: Oct 27 2012 at 12:49pm
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So many complaints on this forum about Section 8 and anyone who owns rental properties....................... What about the Art Central Foundation giveaway plus other taxpayer-funded fiascos such as PAC, C-State, S. Main St. and the former downtown, extravagant NSP real estate ventures, etc., etc.? If landlords wasted money like the City Manager and the Community Development Prosecutor they be shortly out of business! |
Posted By: Pacman
Date Posted: Oct 27 2012 at 6:28pm
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Digger, All previous post above spoke of the give-aways of these buildings purchased with taxpayer funds. Let me ask you this digger are you a landlord and do you live in Middletown? LH4 seems to refuse to answer these questions. Maybe he's afraid we might find out who he is. Pacman  |
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Oct 28 2012 at 7:42am
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"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. |
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Oct 28 2012 at 10:43am
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Hmmm…The ink wasn’t even dry on the deeds where the City had purchased all these properties from the estate that the Middletown Historical Society requested the Bank One building and Art Central requested the |
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Oct 28 2012 at 11:51am
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"The Art Central Foundation has leased the former Masonic Temple Building since it set up a downtown location several years ago." |
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Oct 28 2012 at 12:01pm
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It is a political giveaway. |
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Oct 28 2012 at 12:27pm
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Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Oct 28 2012 at 12:46pm
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What was the total amount of property taxes that Mr. Thatcher paid on the Manchester Inn, Sonshine Products, CG&E building, Bank One, First National Bank and the |
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Oct 28 2012 at 1:24pm
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The City sold the This is the same property that Mr. Thatcher was leasing to ….and yet the building was only sold for $201,000 plus Cincy State-HEP were given the old I'm sure glad we have a these a real estate guru working for our city.
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Posted By: crazycatcher
Date Posted: Oct 28 2012 at 1:37pm
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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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. later folks..
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Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Oct 28 2012 at 3:34pm
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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. If that was Mr Thatcher intent then he should have signed the deed and turned the property over to ACF. 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. 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
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Posted By: crazycatcher
Date Posted: Oct 28 2012 at 8:23pm
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Viv Money for not-for-profits comes from all types of places and I'm guessing the money needed to renovate and operate this building the ACF will continue to look towards all of those sources. I think Mr. Thatcher's desire was just to give, whatever group, a low cost alternative so they could focus on what their mission was versues just giving them a building, that yes, quite frankly they could not afford to upkeep. He spent thousands on the building just to get it ready for the Rising Phoenix when they were in there. I do not believe you are against the arts and a huge portion of me agrees that just giving the building to the ACF is not appropriate considering many things. But I also think empty buildings are pointless. So either let people use them or tear them down. A rental and or lease agreement in this partiular situation would be more appropriate. As for the MHS I just know what I've heard and while they may at one time wanted the Bank One Building I do not think they do any longer. And while I'm not a tax attorney I do believe there is benefit of giving large sums to a NFP even if you are a city...but don't quote me on that. |
Posted By: spiderjohn
Date Posted: Oct 28 2012 at 8:25pm
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hey crazy I like the ACF I support them getting the building I just found it interesting that our city manager stated that "arts" is the theme ansd the reason for the move Then Sue pops off stating that retail and a restaurant downstairs are the top priority So--what ACF activities have been going on down there lately? I get invited to cool parties that usually cost me a lot of $$, but other that that?? I trust the ACF leadership until they become married to city admin Then, u\sually, things begin to get strange jmo hey--better them than a freebie to someone else But could we keep it's use as advertised and intended? Would make a great party/music spot!
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Posted By: Mike_Presta
Date Posted: Oct 28 2012 at 10:30pm
City Hall thinks that they have to control everything, and the problem is that they just don't do a very good job of it. They don't use common sense. They ignore market analyses. They think that they can "force" the outcome that they desire regardless of how illogical it may be. The result is that they fail...but instead of learning from their mistakes, they keep repeating them over and over by trying the same things over and over. So they fail over and over...but they don't seem to care since they don't really pay a price. It is not their money, it is "free" money courrtesy of the taxpayers. They keep getting their paychecks just like clockwork (also courtesy of the taxpayers). Anyone who tries to invest private money in downtown by starting a business that CAN succeed it is met with resistance from City Hall since such businesses likely don't meet City Hall's vision. City Hall then throws one roadblock after another at them until the business fails. City Hall is downtown's problem, not its solution. Downtown will never have a chance at success until wholesale changes are made at 1 Donham Plaza!!!
------------- “Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012 |
Posted By: SupportMiddletown
Date Posted: Oct 28 2012 at 10:47pm
Many of the tenants you listed were not in the Masonic Temple, but the other buildings bought as part of the package (most First National). You are right on to question where these businesses went. If you walked through the old First National Building during its final days, you would have seen notices from all the relocated tenants, most seemed to have relocated out of the city. Casper and Casper went to East Pointe, some went to Breiel, Cox went to Liberty Township... As far as why ACF is not on the list, I believe they had an agreement to use the building rent free (or $1) if they took care of all utilities and maintenance costs.
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Posted By: tomahawk35
Date Posted: Oct 28 2012 at 11:01pm
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Posted By: Mike_Presta
Date Posted: Oct 28 2012 at 11:40pm
That could cause a delay in them trying their failed, risky scheme over...again!!! ------------- “Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012 |
Posted By: Mike_Presta
Date Posted: Oct 28 2012 at 11:46pm
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Don't you remember these rallying cries: This time we will succeed...this time we've got Beau Verre!!! This time we will succeed...this time we've got PAC!!! This time we will suceed...this time we've got Cincinnati State!!! ------------- “Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012 |
Posted By: Miss Kitty
Date Posted: Oct 30 2012 at 10:21am
| I wonder what Mrs Wittman pays herself to be president of ACF? |
Posted By: Middletown29
Date Posted: Nov 02 2012 at 6:21am
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Why would the City give a way a building when someone has offered to pay for it.
Talk to the Moorman's. Something smells very bad on this one. |
Posted By: SupportMiddletown
Date Posted: Nov 02 2012 at 5:18pm
| The Moormans say many things. |
Posted By: Middletown29
Date Posted: Nov 02 2012 at 7:28pm
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Maybe they do.....but the fact remains there was an offer to buy the building Gilliland is now wanting to give away.
It is crazy. When is city council going to wake up. |
Posted By: Miss Kitty
Date Posted: Nov 03 2012 at 3:16pm
| 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. |
Posted By: Middletown29
Date Posted: Nov 03 2012 at 3:56pm
| As I nderstand they wanted to open an event center. But Gilliland does not want anything that she thinks competes with The Pendleton, |
Posted By: swohio75
Date Posted: Nov 03 2012 at 6:26pm
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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. |
Posted By: Bocephus
Date Posted: Nov 03 2012 at 8:09pm
Maybe if the muslims bought it and opened a mosque that would make you happy,I hope and pray that Romney wins on Nov.6th so you liberals can go cry your eyes out.
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Posted By: Miss Kitty
Date Posted: Nov 04 2012 at 6:09pm
| 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 $$$ |
Posted By: Stanky
Date Posted: Nov 04 2012 at 9:27pm
What? 
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Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Nov 08 2012 at 8:37pm
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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. ------------- I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over. |
Posted By: TonyB
Date Posted: Nov 08 2012 at 10:14pm
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Vet, Your looking for something that just isn't there. There is no economic logic to do what the city has done in buying those buildings because it was never about the money. It was about CONTROL of the economic activity in the downtown area. The statement by Councilman Picard should tell you everything you need to know when you compare it with the list of tenants in the mothballed buildings that were not a part of the Cincinnati State project. 1 North Main was filled with tenants yet now it's mothballed and all the tenants have relocated. Why wasn't it important for that building to be filled and remain filled with tenants? Did city council discriminate against the tenants of 1 North Main in order to control what businesses are in downtown? You see stupidity; I see a well executed plan to control the downtown business district. |
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Nov 09 2012 at 10:25am
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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?------------- I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over. |
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Nov 29 2012 at 1:22pm
MASONIC TEMPLE 11-27-2012
Where will Art Central get the $500,000 needed to resstore this building? Good luck! |