ROSE FURNITURE

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       The stabilization of Rose Furniture for 200,000 dollars and the repair of the building on the left that has been damaged by the water from the Rose Furniture building at an unknown cost were discussed at last night’s council meeting. 
    As part of this deal the investor will require that City Hall pay for the stabilization of the building before this property is transferred over to them.
Hmmm…In order to stabilize and fix this roof I believe they will also need to remove the hazardous materials. I do not think that all this can be accomplished for 2000,000 dollars.
    At no time during this discussion did I hear a price of what the investor was going to pay for this property so I will assume this is another give away building.
     Denise Hamet stated that the cost of this project will be paid for from the downtown fund or CDBG funds.

Posted: 5:00 p.m. Friday, May 24, 2013
Supporters ask downtown building be spared from demolition
By Michael D. Pitman
Staff Writer 
MIDDLETOWN — 
A group of downtown supporters do not want the city to demolish the former Rose Furniture building. 
Neither does the city’s own Historic Commission, though the city’s community revitalization department has filed an appeal and it will be re-heard at the May 30 commission meeting. The commission’s nine-member board voted to deny the application at the May 16 meeting.
Well this same Historic Commission had nothing to say when Ms Judy was going to demo the Vault at the Middletown Cemetery however now that it involves a property on Main Street this building must be saved...
A small contingent of property owners and supporters of the downtown attended City Council’s Tuesday meeting asking the city-owned building at 36 S. Main St. not be razed.
“A complete demolition would create a dead space, a black hole, a front tooth missing in the smile of that block,” said Lewitt, who represents the ownership of the adjacent U.S. Hotel at 34 S. Main St. “It will be another lot for the city to mow, maintain and to sit on for who knows how long. Instead, why not save the facade?”
But ,but, but City Hall can always use another parking lot. City Hall does not care what the entire block looks like, just take a look at the other blocks of THEIR DOWNTOWN. 
Doug Adkins, Middletown’s Community Revitalization director, filed the appeal. He could not be reached for comment, but according to an three-page appeal, with 14 pages of support from two experts, indicates repairing the building, or even giving it away, is not justifiable.
Well Mr Adkins it sure was not a problem for City Hall to give away all the other buildings. Has Art Central started restoring their building yet since it was not up to code at the time of transfer? 

“If the building was donated by the city to a new owner, I respectfully submit that there is no possible use nor could the building be adapted for any other potential use that could justify a reasonable rate of return … ,” Adkins wrote.
Rate of Return?   City Hall hasn't even broke even on the other buildings that they purchased in THEIR DOWNTOWN. 

The building, appraised for $40,360 (which does not include the $34,570 value of the land), would cost $47,600 to repair the building according to an August 2011 estimate, but did not include roof or structural repairs. Adkins wrote that the city received an estimate that would cost the city $400,000 to make the necessary repairs and remove any hazardous materials from the building built in the early 1900s.
And lookie here, now even the downtown lots have value. Just a few months ago we were told that these buildings had very little value.
According to the letter sent to the city’s building department from city’s planning director, Marty Kohler, who also serves as the historic preservation administrator, the commission denied the application for demolition for five reasons, some of which were similar to Lewitt’s points: 

the facade has “significant architectural value” and adds to the value of the row of buildings along the block; 
the demolition is based on the poor condition of the property “which is the result of the willful neglect of the property by the city of Middletown; 
significant evidence on attempts to preserve the property was not presented by the city; 
the worst damage is in the rear and demolition of that part should be explored while retaining the Main St. facade; 
the building “could be a valuable asset” for the downtown as it continues revitalization.

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Vivian Moon Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Council Joined: May 16 2008 Location: Middletown, Ohi Status: Offline Points: 4187	Post Options Post Reply Quote Vivian Moon Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: ROSE FURNITURE Posted: Jul 17 2013 at 2:19am
	The stabilization of Rose Furniture for 200,000 dollars and the repair of the building on the left that has been damaged by the water from the Rose Furniture building at an unknown cost were discussed at last night’s council meeting. As part of this deal the investor will require that City Hall pay for the stabilization of the building before this property is transferred over to them. Hmmm…In order to stabilize and fix this roof I believe they will also need to remove the hazardous materials. I do not think that all this can be accomplished for 2000,000 dollars. At no time during this discussion did I hear a price of what the investor was going to pay for this property so I will assume this is another give away building. Denise Hamet stated that the cost of this project will be paid for from the downtown fund or CDBG funds. Posted: 5:00 p.m. Friday, May 24, 2013 Supporters ask downtown building be spared from demolition By Michael D. Pitman Staff Writer MIDDLETOWN — A group of downtown supporters do not want the city to demolish the former Rose Furniture building. Neither does the city’s own Historic Commission, though the city’s community revitalization department has filed an appeal and it will be re-heard at the May 30 commission meeting. The commission’s nine-member board voted to deny the application at the May 16 meeting. Well this same Historic Commission had nothing to say when Ms Judy was going to demo the Vault at the Middletown Cemetery however now that it involves a property on Main Street this building must be saved... A small contingent of property owners and supporters of the downtown attended City Council’s Tuesday meeting asking the city-owned building at 36 S. Main St. not be razed. “A complete demolition would create a dead space, a black hole, a front tooth missing in the smile of that block,” said Lewitt, who represents the ownership of the adjacent U.S. Hotel at 34 S. Main St. “It will be another lot for the city to mow, maintain and to sit on for who knows how long. Instead, why not save the facade?” But ,but, but City Hall can always use another parking lot. City Hall does not care what the entire block looks like, just take a look at the other blocks of THEIR DOWNTOWN. Doug Adkins, Middletown’s Community Revitalization director, filed the appeal. He could not be reached for comment, but according to an three-page appeal, with 14 pages of support from two experts, indicates repairing the building, or even giving it away, is not justifiable. Well Mr Adkins it sure was not a problem for City Hall to give away all the other buildings. Has Art Central started restoring their building yet since it was not up to code at the time of transfer? “If the building was donated by the city to a new owner, I respectfully submit that there is no possible use nor could the building be adapted for any other potential use that could justify a reasonable rate of return … ,” Adkins wrote. Rate of Return? City Hall hasn't even broke even on the other buildings that they purchased in THEIR DOWNTOWN. The building, appraised for $40,360 (which does not include the $34,570 value of the land), would cost $47,600 to repair the building according to an August 2011 estimate, but did not include roof or structural repairs. Adkins wrote that the city received an estimate that would cost the city $400,000 to make the necessary repairs and remove any hazardous materials from the building built in the early 1900s. And lookie here, now even the downtown lots have value. Just a few months ago we were told that these buildings had very little value. According to the letter sent to the city’s building department from city’s planning director, Marty Kohler, who also serves as the historic preservation administrator, the commission denied the application for demolition for five reasons, some of which were similar to Lewitt’s points: the facade has “significant architectural value” and adds to the value of the row of buildings along the block; the demolition is based on the poor condition of the property “which is the result of the willful neglect of the property by the city of Middletown; significant evidence on attempts to preserve the property was not presented by the city; the worst damage is in the rear and demolition of that part should be explored while retaining the Main St. facade; the building “could be a valuable asset” for the downtown as it continues revitalization.

spiderjohn Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Prominent MUSA Citizen Joined: Jul 01 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2749	Post Options Post Reply Quote spiderjohn Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jul 17 2013 at 7:15am
	spin spin spin Ms.Hamet changed her story and reasoning for the expense with every ? from AJ and Anita lol. I don't get it---we are to pay $200,000 + to "stabilize the façade" so that we can then give the property to some un-known out of town investor group who will then put in up to $1,000,000 to restore the property for possibly retail(1st floor), commercial(2nd floor) and/or residential(3rd floor) or some combination of the above. Plus we must pay $68,000 minimum to repair the water damage to the adjacent structure(understandably the Rose project must come first). If this group is willing to invest that kind of $$, why can't they pay the costs of "stabilization" also? Do ya think that maybe it will cost more or not work financially? So--then there will be well over $1,000,000 invested in to the property---how will this group ever re-coup their investment, other than through fed $$(our $$)? Matching façade grants from the city(our money)? Leases and rents? Hardly. Well--the black hole bottomless pit down there is getting larger every day, despite the constant claims of how private enterprise is booming in the area. Subsidize the church demo, the Sorg Opera House, the Sorg mansion( u know it is coming!), the Rose project, the Pendleton again, Arts Central again, AIM again DMI again + etc etc etc. Will the private sector ever take over and be able to become self-sustainable(certain businesses NOT in city/DMI favor are being forced to do that now). Will the rest of the local business community continue to be ignored and forced to eventually compete with these continually subsidized never-ending "projects"? Moot point----since Mrs.Mort, Mr.Picard and both Mulligans will obviously vote YES on this(though it could possibly fail as an emergency unless 2 members actually show some backbone. Don;t forget the sewer mess that was discussed prior......... jmo

Perplexed Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Citizen Joined: Apr 22 2009 Status: Offline Points: 315	Post Options Post Reply Quote Perplexed Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jul 17 2013 at 8:10am
	CDBG funds to possibly be used by Doug Atkins for the stabilization of the Rose Furniture building?? This reminds us of how he wasted $160,000+ in CDBG stimulus funds to repave a few selected alleyways and upgrade the S. Main Street park. He certainly knows how to tackle the top priorities of the city doesn't he??

Vivian Moon Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Council Joined: May 16 2008 Location: Middletown, Ohi Status: Offline Points: 4187	Post Options Post Reply Quote Vivian Moon Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jul 17 2013 at 8:15am
	Don;t forget the sewer mess that was discussed prior......... Ms Judy will retire before this 200 million dollar mess hits the fan. But of course…none at City Hall can or will ever explain where all the millions of dollars collected for the sewers were spent over the years. Will the private sector ever take over and be able to become self-sustainable (certain businesses NOT in city DMI favor are being forced to do that now). Will the rest of the local business community continue to be ignored and forced to eventually compete with these continually subsidized never-ending "projects"? Several years ago the buildings downtown could only get a one time 5,000 dollar Façade Grant. Now Ms Judy just gives 50,000 dollars to DMI and THEY decide where our tax money will be spent in THEIR DOWNTOWN? I don’t remember voting for any of those people at DMI The Façade Program is out of control.

Perplexed Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Citizen Joined: Apr 22 2009 Status: Offline Points: 315	Post Options Post Reply Quote Perplexed Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jul 17 2013 at 9:02am
	Don't forget the so-called commercial revitalization project on Central Avenue. Hundreds of thousands of NSP funds were spent to purchase and/or demolish Barb's Pub and the adjoining former church. Oh, I forgot the take over of the asbestos-laden Strand Theatre too !! What is the status of this former downtown fiasco ?? What a way to waste HUD funds that were intended to address neighborhoods ravaged by the glut of residential foreclosures. Of course, Mr. Atkins dumped up to $200,000 on individual purchase and rehab projects in non-impacted neighborhoods too !!

Vivian Moon Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Council Joined: May 16 2008 Location: Middletown, Ohi Status: Offline Points: 4187	Post Options Post Reply Quote Vivian Moon Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jul 17 2013 at 10:20am
	Now now Perplexed ya know that City Hall has assured us that CDBG funds are only used to help out all those poor people that live here in Middletown

spiderjohn Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Prominent MUSA Citizen Joined: Jul 01 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2749	Post Options Post Reply Quote spiderjohn Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jul 17 2013 at 10:31am
	OK---the new entity seeking control of the Rose building will be paid $200,000 so that they can do the stabilization themselves, so they have profit already built into the project with little city control of the expenditures probably. They will obviously also do the subsequent upgrade work, again profiting probably. AND--if the stabilization doesn't work or ends up costing considerably more, the city(already on the hook for the first $200,000 and up to their eyeballs in the project) have little choice but to pay more to finish the job. OR--they can threaten to walk away, just like with the fallin\g down church two blocks further down S Main. Obviously Hope House eviction and "stabilization" will soon follow. Goes hand in hand with the Rose project. Make sense? Sound familiar? Hey--just level the whole block(both sides) and re-build with somethings new, more economical and attractive to the next few generations in the city! Costs far less, looks better and is inffinitely more functional than multi-million $$ re-furbishings imo. If we can live withiout the Paramount Theater, we can surely live without the Colonial Theater OK business or admin people-----M29, processor, perplexed, Mike P whomever--help this feeble-minded small but experienced business person understand how all of this will be cost effective. jmo

Vivian Moon Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Council Joined: May 16 2008 Location: Middletown, Ohi Status: Offline Points: 4187	Post Options Post Reply Quote Vivian Moon Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jul 17 2013 at 12:19pm
	OOOO....the Paramont Theater....now that was a beautiful place to watch a movie so many yars ago.

Vivian Moon Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Council Joined: May 16 2008 Location: Middletown, Ohi Status: Offline Points: 4187	Post Options Post Reply Quote Vivian Moon Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jul 18 2013 at 7:29am
	Posted: 7:00 a.m. Thursday, July 18, 2013 DOWNTOWN MIDDLETOWN City gets offer for old Rose Furniture building By Michael D. Pitman Staff Writer MIDDLETOWN — A group calling itself Historic Rose Furniture LLC wants to salvage a 109-year-old downtown building targeted for demolition. The building at 36 S. Main St., also known as the former Rose Furniture building, has been targeted for demolition by the city. In May, the Middletown Historic Commission voted 5-2 to permit demolishing most of the building except for the facade, though the city’s Community Revitalization Department was seeking a total demolition. The city, which acquired the building in 2011, is still seeking proposals to demolish the building while saving the facade and without saving the facade, both options though will be upwards of $300,000 or more. Demolition would be abnormally expensive because the adjacent buildings, just like the other buildings in the block, are connected, and demolition would expose interior walls. But the Historic Rose Furniture LLC wants to put the breaks on that option. This past Friday, the group presented an offer to acquire the building and restore it. The group includes Mike Robinette, the city’s former economic development director, and Steve Coon, the developer that took the Mercantile building in downtown Hamilton from the jaws of demolition to thriving loft apartments. That offer includes a $200,000 grant from the city that would transfer to Historic Rose Furniture once the building is stabilized, which could happen in several months. One concern some on council had is if the group will ask for additional money, which Robinette said they “don’t expect to,” but will seek state and historic tax credits. The project could see upwards of $1 million being invested on restoration, which Robinette said is based on spending $100 on 10,000 square feet, excluding the basement and part of the back of the building that will likely be demolished to make way for on-site parking. Robinette said it could take 12 to 18 months to build out the project. Coon could not be reached for comment Wednesday. City council will be presented with the offer at the Aug. 6 meeting, and only after the city’s legal department conducts additional due diligence on the offer. But something needs to be done soon, said city Economic Development Director Denise Hamet, as a hole in the Rose Furniture roof is causing damage to the building to the north at 34 S. Main St. “But either way, it’s going to cost us some money,” she said. Hamet said the city needs to decide what option will “cost us the least amount of money and to leverage whatever we need to spend for this to create something bigger and better.” There is one fairly large similarity the Rose Furniture building has with Hamilton’s Mercantile building, said Mike Dingeldein, an architect in Hamilton. “That’s exactly how the Mercantile building looked five years ago,” he said. The Mercantile building, which is nearly 3½ times the square feet as the Rose building, was also a dilapidated eye sore in the city’s downtown. Dingeldein has been impressed with Coon’s ability to take the Mercantile building from the doorstep of demolition to a jewel of downtown Hamilton. “He’s very, very good at dealing with existing, dilapidated buildings,” Dingeldein said. “The city (of Hamilton) was thinking there was nothing that could be done with it.” Now there are 29 loft apartments and three businesses, including Dingeldein’s, in the Mercantile building. THE PROPOSAL Historic Rose Furniture LLC will immediately stabilize the building Once permits are pulled, work will take six to eight weeks City pay $200,000 for the initial repairs to stabilize the building The building will transfer after the stabilization is finished Renovation will be a mixed use of retail and residential Source: City of Middletown

VietVet Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Council Joined: May 15 2008 Status: Offline Points: 7008	Post Options Post Reply Quote VietVet Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jul 18 2013 at 7:53am
	How about: The city gives the Rose Historic Furniture LLC the building free of charge. The Rose Furn. LLC pays for stabilization, USING THEIR MONEY, since it is now their building. The Rose Furn. LLC has a pre-determined amount of time to show property improvement USING THEIR MONEY or the property reverts back to the city for demolition with Rose paying for part of the cost as they delayed the city in it's plans for the demolition. A little less use of public funds and a little more use of private funds for these little projects, especially since it is their idea to salvage these dilapidated buildings. How about the concept of less risk for the city and more responsibility placed on the shoulders of the private developers?
	I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over.

LMAO Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Citizen Joined: Oct 28 2009 Location: Middletucky Status: Offline Points: 468	Post Options Post Reply Quote LMAO Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jul 18 2013 at 4:34pm
	How about this,if they want to buy the building pay the $200,000 for the repairs to stabilize the building.We the taxpayers have already paid enough for are "SPINELESS ONES" mistakes. Again,stop spending money on Downtown its been dead for years now.

spiderjohn Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Prominent MUSA Citizen Joined: Jul 01 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2749	Post Options Post Reply Quote spiderjohn Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jul 21 2013 at 10:43am
	Rumor has it that a high-up city official had prior offered the stabilization job to a long-term well-respected local group already fully entrenched with downtown properties. City was told that the job could be done locally for probably less $$, and was willing to do the work. City backed off--and this new out-of-town entity suddenly appeared, getting a much sweeter offer to be emergencied next meeting despite an incredible lack of detail and info. What is the rush now? Takes 6 of 7 to emergency this--we can assume that the silent four voting bloc is already in place--hopefully 2 of the other 3 will slow down this process so that all info can be properly digested by everyone, including citizens. This mess has been there for decades, the adjoining property fix will still be expensive and have to be done. Is anyone from DMI involved withis this new Rosé building outfit by ownership or commission for brokering this quick sketchy deal with the city? Just wondering and jmo.....

Vivian Moon Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Council Joined: May 16 2008 Location: Middletown, Ohi Status: Offline Points: 4187	Post Options Post Reply Quote Vivian Moon Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jul 21 2013 at 3:22pm
	If Mr Robinett is going to be a major real estate investor in the downtown area then he needs to be removed as pres of Downtown Middletown Inc…..jmo

ROSE FURNITURE

Supporters ask downtown building be spared from demolition

City gets offer for old Rose Furniture building