The Front Door To The City

DIDN'T WE JUST TALK ABOUT THE I-75 ENTRY INTO THE CITY THE OTHER DAY? ARE THEY LISTENING?

Journal...

East End interstate interchange to be improved

MIDDLETOWN —
Growth in the East End can be enhanced with a good-looking “front door” at Interstate 75 and Ohio 122, Middletown officials said

OH, NOW THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE "FRONT DOOR". GLAD THEY COULD LEAVE THE DOWNTOWN AREA FOR A LOOK-SEE OUT EAST.

Enhancement grant through OKI for an estimated $875,000 gateway enhancement project that will see new roadway lighting, landscaping, landscape lighting, irrigation, and hardscapes “to reinforce the branding of Middletown and enhance the infrastructure on the busiest corridor in the city,” said Public Works and Utilities Director Scott Tadych.

“The reconfiguration of the Interstate 75/Ohio 122 interchange has provided an opportunity for a welcoming ‘front door’ to Middletown,” he said

WELCOMING FRONT DOOR

The interstate has about 90,000 cars traveling on it every day and Economic Development Director Denise Hamet said the growth of I-75 from Interstate 275 to Interstate 675 “is the next wave of growth that’s happening.”

NOW WAIT A MINUTE HAMET. YOU COULDN'T TELL THAT THE I-75 AREA IS THE "NEXT WAVE OF GROWTH THAT'S HAPPENING" BY THE LACK OF ATTENTION IT HAS GOTTEN SINCE THE NEW RAMPS WERE CONSTRUCTED. ALL OF THE ATTENTION PERTAINING TO GROWTH HAS BEEN ON THE WEST END OF TOWN IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE NOW HAVE TWO FRONTS THAT ARE "NEW WAVE'S OF GROWTH" IN THE OPINION OF CITY LEADERS? HAVEN'T DEMONSTRATED IT BY YOUR ACTIONS. KINDA FORGOT ABOUT THE EAST END FOR AWHILE, DIDN'T YOU?

Around $150 million has been invested in improving the area through improved roads, landscaping and signage. And with more than 500 acres of land available for development east of the interstate, Hamet said an attractive interchange “could make a difference.”

$150 MIL INVESTED ALREADY? THE ROADWORK IS THERE BUT WHERE IS THE LANDSCAPING AND SIGNAGE FROM THIS 150 MIL?

THIS IS GREAT!

“We want to encourage people to pull off the exit, spend money in Middletown, work here and live here,” she said.



THE CITY'S ACTIONS, IMAGE, REPUTATION AND DEVELOPMENT HAVE CERTAINLY INDICATED THAT THIS WAS THE PLAN.

While how much could be leveraged with the gateway and recent infrastructure improvements cannot be quantified, companies will be looking to develop in areas that have that curb appeal, Hamet said, such as around Atrium Medical Center and North Pointe Mixed Use Park

CURB APPEAL? THOUGHT THEY HAD FORGOTTEN THE OLD "MEDICAL CAMPUS" IDEA FROM A FEW YEARS AGO.

If you drive by on 75 there's not really a good view of the land off the exit, so what are these "enhancements" good for anyway? There only way to see some landscaping will be once you're already on the exit or entrance ramp. And, what...no water feature? No laser light display?

At the last Council meeting (8/6/2013) Council awarded a contract in the amount of $108,550 for the design of these "Gateway enhancements".

Middletown is not as bad to get to fast food places, it is still a lot easier to get to compared to some exits I have been on where you need to drive 2+ miles to get to the nearest place to food or gas. I do agree, we do need shift some of the gas stations from the center of Middletown to the East side of I-75 and Ohio 122. I also think Middletown should tear down those Billboards along I-75, nothing screams tacky than billboards that are not even in use.

BY THE WAY, LISTENING TO WLW WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THIS MORNING.....

CINCY'S NEW CASINO- 2.5 MILLION PATRONS SINCE IT OPENED GENERATING A MILLION IN REVENUES A MONTH. NOW WHO'S AGAINST A CASINO IN MIDDLETOWN? I'D SAY THIS WOULD "INVIGORATE" THE TOWN A BIT WITH CUSTOMERS, NEW CONSTRUCTION AND MONEY FLOWING. THINK OF IT. 3% OF THE PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT THEIR ARTZY DOWNTOWN WOULD GET THEIR WISH IN QUICK DEVELOPMENT MONEY, THE SOUTH MAIN ST. ELITE COULD GET ALL THE OLD TYME LAMPS THEY NEEDED FOR THEIR "SPECIAL" STREET, THE 100 DIRECTORS, MANAGERS, ASSIST. MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS IN THE CITY BUILDING COULD ALL GET NEW OFFICES, THE 25 WORKERS COULD GET NEWER/USED CUBICLES (FORGET NEW ONES), GILLELAND AND COMPANY COULD KNOCK DOWN MORE BUILDINGS AND THE OTHER 97% OF THE PEOPLE WOULD GET SOME ROADS REPAIRED AND SOME SEWERS REPLACED. MIGHT EVEN BE ABLE TO HIRE MORE OFFICERS TO HANDLE THE INCREASED CRIME IN THE CITY AS WE CONTINUE TO PUT OUT THE WELCOME MAT FOR THAT ELEMENT. WOULDN'T NEED TO RELY ON SECTION 8/GOVERNMENT HANDOUT PROGRAMS ANYMORE FOR REVENUE. ALOT OF GOOD RESIDUALS FROM A SUCCESSFUL CASINO.

ktf1179:

"Then would need a new police branch on the east end of Middletown to deal with heroine addicts that will loose everything in the casino and would steel from people so they can get their fix"

WHICH IS WHAT WE SEE IN THE DAILY POLICE BRIEFS ANYWAY. WHAT WOULD CHANGE? SORRY, BUT HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING ANY COMPASSION FOR A HEROIN ADDICT LOSING EVERYTHING. PROBABLY HAD NOTHING TO BEGIN WITH, RIGHT? IT'S A LIFESTYLE CHOICE. EVERYONE IS FREE TO CHOOSE....EVERYONE PAYS THE PIPER IF THEY CHOOSE POORLY. (SEE INDIANA JONES MOVIE ON THE GOBLET SCENE) MY COMMENTS WERE DIRECTED TOWARD THE FINANCIAL HEALTH OF THE CITY AND SUGGESTED ANOTHER CHOICE FOR REVENUE OTHER THAN THE CURRENT STAGNATED WAY. THE CITY WOULD BE ABLE TO AFFORD THAT NEW POLICE BRANCH ON THE EAST END WITH THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE FROM THE CASINO, RIGHT? WOULD CERTAINLY BE A GOOD WAY TO BRING FOLKS TO MIDDLETOWN TO SPEND THEIR MONEY, ESPECIALLY WITH THE HIGH VISIBILITY OF THE I-75 INTERCHANGE. BUT I BELIEVE IT WOULD ALSO DRAW PEOPLE DOWNTOWN. ALOT OF PARTICIPATION WHERE CHANCES TO WIN MONEY ARE CONCERNED EVEN WITH THE OUT-OF-THE-WAY DRIVE TO DOWNTOWN.

Vet, as has been explained before, it is illegal to open a casino in Middletown.  There was a state referendum a few years ago that all Ohioans voted on which allowed the construction of only 4 casinos to be oerated by two companies.  Cincy, Col, Cleveland, and Toledo got the casinos.  That's it.  There will be no more.

ktf1179 wrote: Sorry I was being sarcastic in my previous post, it sometimes doesn't always come across. I think it would only draw local people to downtown, unless they build an quick and easy way to downtown from I-75 besides the maze that is Ohio 122. Otherwise it would be at the east end. But the Casino idea yes wold bring in tons of money, it would also be another negative for Middletowns image on top of Section 8, Pawn Shops, Check for Cash, and we buy Gold places. All it would do is reinforuce the negative stereotype that Middletown already has in the Dayton Cincinnati area. We are becoming the the laughing stock of the area, along with Hamilton, Norwood, and Clermont County. Espically with the latest break in making the news.

DON'T KNOW. IS LAWRENCEBURG INDIANA CONSIDERED NEGATIVE JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE A CASINO? THINK CINCINNATI THOUGHT ABOUT THEIR IMAGE BEING TARNISHED WHEN THEY BROUGHT THEIR CASINO INTO TOWN? THE IDEA IS TO MAKE MONEY FOR THE CITY'S OPERATIONS AND WELLBEING. WE ARE ALREADY RELYING HEAVILY ON FED POVERTY PROGRAM FUNDS AND THE BAGGAGE THAT FOLLOWS FROM THAT. WOULD TALK ABOUT A CASINO LOCATED HERE REALLY ADD INSULT TO INJURY BASED ON WHAT THE CITY LEADERS HAVE DONE TO THE TOWN? LOOKS LIKE ALL OF THIS TALK IS A MUTE POINT BASED ON BILL'S INFORMATION. TOO BAD. WITH SOME CREATIVITY, SOME OPEN MINDS AND SOME MARKETING SKILLS, MIDDLETOWN SURE COULD HAVE USED A MONETARY SHOT IN THE ARM WITH THIS IDEA. INSTEAD, WE APPEAR TO BE FOREVER STAGNATED, IN MONEY OPPORTUNITES, IN GROWTH AND WITH A LACK OF IDEAS FROM CITY LEADERS. I WOULD THINK NO ONE WOULD BE LAUGHING WHEN THEY SAW THE IMPROVEMENTS MADE FROM THE MONEY GENERATED FROM THIS IDEA.