What will they come up with next ?

Nice of the Journal to switch the focus of the article onto the negative side of things, such that a careless reader might almost overlook the fact that Cincy State is looking at investing $20 Million.  A real shame for the city that would be. (!) 

Whoops- wrong button.

Voice of Reason says "I do hope this comes about, however, and that this investment answers the somewhat valid criticism of the project that it's all Middletown city money funding everything, and that it's a give-away to Cincy State. If they do invest this magnitude of money that would make it about 95% Cincy State and 5% Middletown--a great deal to the city and a credit to its leaders who (hopefully) help make it happen."........ I hope it works and they are successful too Voice, but since Cincy State is under a lease obligation only, I wonder how long they will stay if the enrollment numbers aren't what they want them to be, or if the city decides in the future, to lay some unexpected costs on them for revenue and they get fed up with the city hierarchy like some businesses have done, and they pack up and leave?????? They are not starting with a full slate of curriculum and offering the full plate in the beginning just to get a feel as to response I guess. The 20 mil hasn't been approved just yet. What happens if the leaders at Cincy State change their minds and the rehab funding for these buildings falls through? What will the city do with these buildings they now own? They've already started out mothballing two of them before we get started with the project. We could end up with a scenario downtown where instead of Thatcher's estate owning these buildings, the city will be in Thatcher's situation trying to find a viable use for them, as he did. Both Mulligan and Scott-Jones did say it was a handshake deal based on trust with no reassurances. Alot of risk/taxpayer money involved for the city, based on a hand shake and a lease agreement, don't you think?

Vet
I think we need to take a quick look at what has happened over the past year…..
We approved a bond for 1.2 million for the demo of Swallens and Parking Garage.
We are also the bond holder for the first phase of the new Greentree project at Atrium.

Several weeks ago we were told that this project would require 15 million dollars in bonds now the price tag has increased to 20 million dollars.

Then we have the PAC deal that has not been completed at half a million.
All of this while we are reducing our city reserves to 15% (Without the vote or approval by City Council).    
No matter how you look at what has happen over the past year we are talking about a serious debt load in the future for every citizen of Middletown.
Where are all the new jobs that will help repay this debt?

It seems that O'Dell and his group would not have charged into this branch campus thing without consulting or having the buy-in of his board.  Now the board is raising eyebrows at this deal??  Seems like he put the cart before the horse.

I agree with the guest.
C St.would be a real accomplishment improvement to a long dead area.
Makes a lot of sense to use the former Swallens area also.
I see this as becoming a much more attractive/used area than MU-M down the road--agreed.
Fits much better with the demographics.
Still the minor inconvenience with accessibility, though rt.4, rt 73 and across the W Midd bridge would be much more in play.
If this works out, PAC would be better served and much less of a priority(though still a very un-necessary taxpayer expense). Are we getting car hoods instead of jobs, businesses and artists now?

The whole long-range borrowing is a major concern--how will Council/Admin make this work without a serious increase in tax-paying citizens and businesses? those now in charge will be long gone when it is time to pay the piper, while the long-term locals will remain.

Hope the C St thing comes through--but as mentioned, "why here in that location?"
may work well for us though.
Let's hope for the best.

Wait a minute Hernes, Miami Oxford has about 35,000 or more students, but about 6,000 residents, so Miami is a failure because not all students stay in Oxford? Many students try to stay in the area they were educated....can't beat the prices in the Middletown market. If this did not come, downtown Middletown would come down. Assumption  a few professors and administration staff will be employed? Payroll taxes. Quality of life for residents who may want to take a class or two. Skin thrown in with $20 Mm vs $500Kk. I can live with this deal. PAC not as comfortable, but there is plenty of dough on Curryer, Thorn Hill, da Vinci, elsewhere, to drop enough cash to at least keep Marvin from Starvin.

I think 35k is way high.  Try half that.

I think this C St. deal will end up being less transformational than some believe.  As spider and others mention, this is a commuter school.  Other than perhaps a couple coffee shops and a sandwich shop or two, I don't see huge impact.  Where are the significant jobs and the significant improvement of the tax base? 

I don't like the tone of the article or the comments. I had assumed when Dr. O'Dell (or O'Neil or Owens or however many names he was called by AJ) spoke in front of council...twice...that he had the backing of his college.  I'm starting to wonder.  Or maybe this is just posturing to get this cash-strapped city to pony up more $$ to get this done. "Thank you sir may I have another!"

Bill, yes, I see your point. You may be on to something. Larry says the following, as the position is as