The Middletown I75 Cloverleaf Project

 

According to my source (one of the involved property owner's agent) the "plan" has a hidden agenda:  to eleminate businesses near the interchange.  I was outraged, not only due to Middletown's "business HOSTILITY", but also because a "diamond interchange" would be much cheaper and would serve our needs quite well. 

 

(A "diamond interchange" is what would result from making the ramps on the EAST side of I-75 similar to those on the WEST side.  That is, northbound I-75 traffic exiting at Middletown would exit about where the exit begins right now, but insted of making the "suicide merge" and loop, would use a ramp that essentially connect straight down to the traffic signal where the entry and exit ramps exist right now.  Traffic entering northbound I-75 would turn north at that same signal, and go up right where the bottom of the exit loop is now, but this loop would be eliminated and the entry ramp tangentially (or nearly so) connected to the existing entry acceleration lane.)

 

Anyway, Middletown city hall (read that as Marty Kohler) wanted a design that would force closure of both Duke and BP gas stations, eliminate access for the Ramada and close off access from 122 to Commerce Drive!!!  The last that I heard, they were going to force the Ramada to obtain access (both entry and exit) from Union Road.  Union Road, via Market Street, would also be the only entry/exit from Commerce Drive.  This would help the "appearance of our gateway"!!!    Unfortunately, it has also driven the closure of at least three businesses in our "Business Friendly" town.  It also leaves us with NO gas stations within sight of the interchange (When you are low on gas on an interstate in a strange area, how often do YOU stop when you cannot SEE a gas station from the exit???)  The nearest gas when exiting from the northbound lanes will be OVER a quarter mile, THEN turn right, THEN another quarter mile!  Then, if you need a restroom break and a Big Mac, you must drive another MILE back to the other side of 75, then another half mile back to the northbound entrance ramp!!!  I guess we're not too "traveller friendly" either.

 

Anyway, the plan is to make everyone plant trees so that there will be NO SIGNS of any enterprise until after one is well away from the interstate, and then only if one looks closely.

 

Actually, the best plan (and the most cost efficient for TAXPAYERS) would be an interchange similar to the one at northbound I-75 at State route 73 just a few miles north of here at Franklin/Springboro.  The thing is nearly complete as it now exists.

 

Of course, that would've allowed two gas stations and the Putt-Putt to stay in business, and we can't have that, can we???

 

 When our fearless leaders adopted this as their "preferred" plan, I vomited all over my keyboard.  Of course, like "Lake Mistake" they did not bother to check with any of the regulatory agencies that have the final "say-so" about such things, so this plan has about as much chance of reaching fruition as Rush Limbaugh has of being elected president of the Barack Obama Fan Club!

 

Let me search my memory banks, and try to recall some of the most "typical Middletown City Hall-like" reasons why this just "ain't gonna happen."  Now remember, I'm old and confused, and this happened a few years back--and I got so aggravated I had to go on a three-day bender--so I may not get this just exactly correct, but I'll try my best:

 

First, if one pulls up the Google (or any other) ariel photos of the area around 122/Commerce Drive/market Street/Union Road in a separate window next to the cartoon you linked, you will see that a good deal of "artistic license" was used regarding the ACTUAL layout of the existing streets, and therefor their rights-of-way.  Of course this could just be a ploy to rid us of four or five "tacky" but thriving motels that are beneath the standards of the local aristocrats.  Not to worry, though, as I'm certain that they have both Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons waiting  to rush in and fill the void.  Perhaps rerouting these streets would also eliminate the Waffle House and McDonalds, leaving room for a snooty Tea-N-Crumpets-R-Us.

 

Next, while I would love to see another "water feature" (just think of the millions of tourists that have flocked to our fair city for the sole purpose of standing in awe of our downtown "water feature"...perhaps we could commission the same artist for this job) the area designated for the "water feature" already contains a "water feature"!!  It's just that the State of Ohio refers to it as a "STORM WATER RETENTION AREA" for runoff from I-75.  Did anyone check with the state or the FEDs???  After all, it DOES seem to be in the right-of-way of an interstate highway!  Of course, since this plan calls for future I-75 interchanges at BOTH Greentree Road and Manchester Road, perhaps the State will look the other way while mighty Middletown mucks up drainage at this one.

 

What REALLY caught my eye was what appears to be the extension of Central Avenue across the Interstate under this plan.  Didn't our business-friendly leaders' keen eyes for detail notice that this layout extends Central Avenue eastward right through the parking lots of two currently thriving businesses??  I doubt that either Carol's Speakeasy or the H-J tax service could make it on "walk-up" traffic!!! 

 

What happens to the alignment of this eastward extension of Central Avenue next (right after it puts two businesses OUT of of business and AFTER it GOES THROUGH Laura William's daughter's front yard) is puzzling.  The same nature-loving planners who INSIST upon a veritable impenitrable wall of "signifigant species of trees" hiding every manmade structure to be built from the eyes of travelers and natives alike, decide to curve this extension of Central mysteriously to the left right through one of the most heavily wooded and pristine (yet commercially worthless, as it stands) woodland and wildlife areas left inside of our City limits!!!  And don't ya know that they seem to have chosen as the centerline of the extension THE NORTH BRANCH OF DICKS CREEK all the way to the east side of I-75!!!  Can anyone say "WETLANDS"???  Can anyone say "find me the most expensive construction route to I-75???  Can anyone say "soils study"???  Can anyone say "Indiana Brown bat"???  Why would anyone choose THAT route???

 

If memory serves, this plan was adopted back when Ms. Williams was on city council...AND Mr. Williams was on either Planning commission or Zoning board, wasn't it??  Of course, I'm sure that was just a coincidence.

 

I could go on, but I'm feeling nuaseous.   

 

 

If you want to read the whole plan go here:

 

 

Study these two documents and one can see exactly WHY Middletown is in the shape it is in!!!  Middletown's version of "business friendly" is to tell each and every potential business exactly what, how, where, and when they can do what MIDDLETOWN wants them to do, instead of helping them to easily do what THEY want to do.

 

Existing successful businesses of size already HAVE business plans and standards, based on the successes they have attained elsewhere--often at great cost in sweat and capital.  However, when they come to Middletown, city hall insists "we don't care how you do it everywhere else.  Here, you do it OUR way, or move on up or down the highway!!"

 

Also, we make everything as EXPENSIVE as possible for the new businesses, by mandating balconies (to enjoy the natural beauty), expensive landscaping (to HIDE the business from potential patrons), expensive but unecessary architectural details  (only OUR aristocrats know what good taste is).  Frankly, I can't see why any business person in their right mind would WANT to locate here under such conditions!!!  Middletown city hall does everything in their power to increase costs and insure FAILURE for any new business!!!

 

thanks to Mike and pacman for the research.

none of this ever made sense from the beginning, and no one has been happy with it.

Why was BP closed so long before any planned construction activity?

A huge cloverleaf now, without any service stations?

Elimination of a moderately successful business strip way b4 necessary.

All to support the whim of the Atrium?

McNeil and Koehler scheming together should scare everyone.

 

Wow--another water park?

Maybe add that to all of those planned bus tours to Beau Verre and downtown to enjoy the retro amemities.

 

With the current Town Mall eyesore going nowhere and beyond, the East End is beginning to resemble a bigger mess than the rest of the city.

 

Maybe Planning needs to make an overall presentation of their vision sometime soon!

 

Oh yeah--just where is Economic Development and our new staff person?