Housing Revisited

Some clarity on one of your points-  Sawyer Mill subdivision is actually in Franklin City Schools.  While those residents do have the option for Middletown Schools though open enrollment (and some parents might prefer due to sports, convenience, newer facilities), I believe the default option is Franklin.

HOUSING ISN’T A PROBLEM, IT’S A SYMPTOM

As advertised on the City Manager’s blog, July 31, 2017, Mr Adkins’ first “Housing Meeting for the Public” took place 8/3/2017. It was reported in the Saturday, August 5, 2017 Journal News article, “Middletown explains housing issues city faces” by Ed Richter, with a subheading titled “Residents supportive of efforts to address ongoing challenges”. Again, staff writer, Ed Richter’s reporting presents an enhanced and slanted view of Mr Adkins special interests, exactly as Mr Adkins likes it.

The current “housing problem”, in Mr Adkins opinion, is most undesirable. He keeps his dark and gloomy description of Middletown’s supposed “housing problem” prominently displayed and furiously discussed because it serves the purpose of hiding the real problems. Of course, no mention is ever made of how or why this supposed “housing problem” evolved, because, Mr Adkins’ overall policies as city manager have been a major cause of our problems which have AFFECTED housing. The Journal News articles’ subheading goes on to say that “residents are supportive of efforts to address ongoing challenges” which plays up a positive for Adkins same old rhetoric about housing but fails to mention the well taken opposing view in the article.

The sole purpose of this and subsequent meetings seems apparent: Cover up the real problem (with the help of the Journal News) by convincing the public that our housing situation is THE MAJOR PROBLEM that Middletown faces. Nothing could be further from the truth. Housing is not a problem at all, but is the result of Middletown’s real problem… a long list of mismanagement with devastating results. We are the only area community that has not made a significant recovery from the recession.

The Monday 8/7/17 Journal News announced the Planning Commission will make a ‘50-year decision’ which will address the ((non existent) need for larger family homes in Sawyer Mill which is in Franklin School District of Warren Co. (so about 80% of the property tax goes to Franklin Schools). And the new Ryan Homes being considered are of questionable quality for the federally required specifications that were agreed to on the original construction. Lowering the standards for new construction may cause current residents to lose property value and/or consider moving away! That’s certainly counter productive, as usual. Does the Planning Commission think that Ryan Homes will build on speculation? If they expect Middletown to finance this endeavor will city hall put us deeper in debt? Moodys will be downgrading us again if this involves new bonds. We can’t even afford to pay our current bills.

Anyway, we will not be attractive in the real estate market for old or new home buyers until we remedy the real problems.

Here’s an abbreviated version of the long list of problems and reasons why no one wants to live here:

A short-sighted city hall caused the loss of our major contributors to the tax base; such as AK Steel Corporate Offices and Black-Clawson. They didn’t appreciate what they had until it was gone. When the recession hit, many of our industries moved away or succumbed to Middletown’s ‘tax and spend like there’s no tomorrow’ policies. No effort was made to prevent these losses. Instead of encouraging new business to move in, every possible road block imaginable was thrown in the way; things like stringent rules for facades, restricted parking location and restricted signage all resulted in prospective new business going some place where they were actually welcomed.

Jobs disappeared and people moved away to a better job market, which adversely affected income tax revenue and devastated property tax revenue for schools, which necessitated an additional school tax levy. Our schools’ academic rating dropped to one of the lowest in the state because the city decided to spend the extra revenue to build new school houses instead of raise the quality of education.

Even though we pay the higher taxes, city coffers were nearly emptied by frivolous spending and giveaways of property to a favored few in the downtown area. That favored few had no money or expertise to fulfill their promise of rehabbing and/or establishing new businesses. So, many of the downtown properties (some of which are bought back giveaways by the city) have been left to rot and become blight right under city hall’s nose. Stinks, doesn’t it??

Section 8 housing was sought after as the answer to the city’s nearly bankrupt condition, which invited in our current low income, indigent, and drug addict population, which resulted in more people exiting Middletown to escape the thievery and violence that ensued.

This brief list doesn’t tell all of the city’s problems! But addressing and solving at least some of our REAL problems will improve Middletown’s reputation which will improve our ability to attract a better demographic; and the new populace can THEN determine what housing they need.

HOUSING ISN’T A PROBLEM, IT’S A SYMPTOM!!

I would like to say that after reading this thread, in my opinion, whistlersmom could not be more incorrect. I would list everything, but if you read whistlersmom's  post(s)- just take the exact opposite- and that is my opinion. 

dezzyfits wrote: I would like to say that after reading this thread, in my opinion, whistlersmom could not be more incorrect. I would list everything, but if you read whistlersmom's  post(s)- just take the exact opposite- and that is my opinion.

Interesting comment dezzyfits. Please provide proof that the comments made by whistlersmom are incorrect. Based on your response, we will be able to form a conclusion and you will be able to establish yourself as a viable source for truth. Please specify the incorrect info from whistlerssmom.

Thanks in advance for your response.

dezzy:

The information you have provided is a generalized overview of pockets of the nation's housing market. There are neighborhoods in all states that have greatly appreciated in value and there are cities, like Middletown that have taken an equity bath with no one escaping the lowering of their property value. The nation's housing market in no way resembles the Middletown housing market in most instances. Very little appreciation if any for any property owner in this city.

It is a fact that Middletown's housing owners have taken a bath as to home value for many years now. You can see this on the Butler County Auditor website with any Middletown property. I have lost 20 thou in value the last few years. As a matter of fact, when I refinanced my home four years ago, I qualified for a HARP loan because my home was underwater as to any equity built up since 2005.

Bottom line is that Middletown is not a destination for most to buy a home no matter the price range. We could have the best home choice stock of any community around here and people will still not drive here to look around to see what this city has to offer.

Why?

I refer you to whistlersmom's posts listing the drawbacks as to interest in living here. It isn't the housing offered as much as it is the poor environment/city operation offered in which to live to potential residents in this town. The city leaders have just flat out made the town non-attractive in almost every aspect and have made poor decision after poor decision the last four decades.

If you don't see that this town needs a total remake involving leaders that have a clue about real needs, then you are in denial. That includes the false thinking that upgraded housing, as the city manager is proposing, is going to make a large dent in the unappealing environment this town is offering at this time. Gotta develop a program that will fix the unappealing factors listed before we start thinking that new housing is the answer to everything. Upgrading housing is a band aid on a city that requires serious surgery at this time.

Clean up the current problems, make it appealing, lose the poor image and they will come and consider living here. Until that is done, forget bringing in new people. No outsider wants to live here unless they are drug dealers-users/career criminals or people looking for a freebie handout due to the welfare, HUD, low income stigma placed on the city by it's leaders. We no longer attract quality people here. It is quite evident.

 The Planning Commission could(should) shelve their recent housing research into Amelia/Ryan Homes for future reference, and instead come up with some realistic plans for making Middletown competitive with surrounding communities that are outpacing us. Middletown needs fresh ideas from Planning that don’t involve the same old housing (non)issues.

Planning could(should) recommend losing the numerous obnoxious, unnecessary planning and zoning ordinances that discourage new business and industry, in favor of stream lining the process of setting up new businesses in Middletown. That could actually help solve our jobless condition and lack of tax base … then many other problems would just cease to be.

The Planning Commission, hopefully, will wake up to the fact that they have a voice and are not obligated to follow or repeat the city manager’s rhetoric and needless micro-management with the subsequent mistakes and problems that continue to hold us back. And all the oppressive redundant bureaucracies, groups, committees and commissions, etc., created at Mr Adkins’ suggestion, could (should) be abolished. If the The Planning Commission has nothing to offer as alternative to Mr Adkins’ plan(s) then of what use are they? Oh, forgot, you could be “decommissioned” and asked to resign for disagreeing with Mr Adkins if you are not one of his bobble-heads.

Our current condition and problems will persist until Middletown shakes it’s bad reputation and becomes a desirable place to live and work. Housing isn’t the problem, it’s a symptom. We need business, industry, jobs and sensible government that will promote achieving those goals. Stop clinging to useless past policies which are not working! Take us in a new direction that we can be proud to declare as good and positive.

Mr Adkins has said that tearing down 400+ homes would rid us of blight and raise the value of the remaining real estate in Middletown. It did neither! In some cases, truly blighted areas were ignored while some nicer homes for possible rehab were razed in order to reach a quota. He said in the recent ‘housing meetings for the public’, that his discussion wouldn’t involve tearing down more housing. But that doesn’t mean it’s off his to do list and with probable intent to make the same a fore mentioned mistakes! Mr Adkins’ meetings did not succeed in explaining away mistakes and he indicated that there would be no change of course. It will be his way or no way. Now he wants to build more housing which will likely cost the city big bucks to achieve. So, Mr Adkins, neither one of these actions has significantly improved Middletown’s condition… tearing down or building new. All of the new home construction plans have been or will be in Warren Co. Franklin school district with little or no benefit to Middletown’s tax base!!!

The current set of plans and policies is in direct opposition to the growth and improvement of Middletown. We are just marking time! When will our city government take some positive steps? It will require some backbone and willingness to consider alternative choices and then make appropriate changes. To those who read this blog but have remained silent … if you think we need positive change you need to support positive change … express your opinion … vote … and take part in the proces

Planning Commission Members

Name	Address	Zip Code	Term Expires
01 Friedman, Mike	4920 Timberline Drive	45042	2017
02 Gross, Gary	4909 Shannon Way	45044	2018**
03 Langhorne, John	16 Sycamore Terrace	45042	2019
04 McCauley-Myers, David	308 S. Main Street	45044	2018*
05 Mejias, Joanne	409 Regent Drive	45044	2017
06 Nenni, Paul	1064 N. University Blvd.	45042	2020
07 Moore, Todd	1808 Schirm Dr	45042	School Board Representative
Combs, Ashley	One Donham Plaza	45042
Mulligan, Larry	One Donham Plaza	45042

PS My reply to Mr Adkins’ City Manager Blog on CityofMiddletown website, regarding “housing meetings for the public” was edited out and never posted there (but was posted on this forum). Critical or opposing remarks will not be tolerated on his City Manager Blog.

PPS In response to dez’s “if you build it they will come” … If you subsidize it and /or give it away or sell it for $1, they will come.