Manchester Inn and Weatherwax

I'm curious to know what kind of development will take place at Weatherwax when the property was gifted to the city with the provision that it remain a "green space". Does the sale of the property negate any agreement the city made in the past? Is there potential for lawsuits against the city and the new owner if they violate those prior agreements? Would defense in court cost the city more funds it cannot afford to spend on extraneous matters? 

Sadly, I think Dr. Owens at Cincinnati State did miss a golden opportunity for not having the vision or fortitude to bring the culinary center to Middletown and the Manchester, that was Mr. Perry's vision. To be clear, all activities that became the downtown effort were associated with the culinary school, and it could have served as a catalyst for other opportunities and expansion at C State and downtown. Its a shame this never took off.

Like the Iraq war when no chemicals of mass destruction were found, the message at city hall became downtown revitalization, making Middletown into a historic center, or arts center. Having the epicenter of the culinary institute may have done this; without it, it all fell apart. Then the message at Donham, just like the Iraq war, was changed; in Iraq, it was about democracy and freeing people, in Middletown, it shifted from cuisine and the culinary center to downtown revitalization. It had gone so far they couldn't pull back, and what became is a shell of the true vision and plan.

It is sadness and disbelief, when evaluating the Cincinnati State deal, the city's property acquisitions, and such, what led to all this was the culinary center which never came. One cannot think the city had this outcome in mind for its buck payback.

This was interesting in a Journal post:

That is so true Mide81: Whether he's right or wrong that's how it is and all the attorneys on council and former paralegals never bother to quetion what he says.Do the legal eagles turn their brains off at council meetings?

sj, I think par for the course, or another "Mulligan" for city hall, the third downtown as a matter of fact, as you know, what got downtown started was the train possibilities. Undoubtedly, Mr. Thatcher's vision was the culinary function, with hopes the whole campus might have a major presence.

Donham began the snowball with the shuffle of Cohen and the other entities downtown, and the cash that followed the train, and then on the heels of the Polar Express that never arrived, Strickland defeat, then the fall back was the C State culinary institute. Those two dreams fell by the wayside, but the momentum, initially expense, created a runaway train, initially chasing a train....that never came....and a culinary experience....that never came.

I believe you are correct on the reduction from 36 to 18 holes, but suspect that's contingent on turning a profit. The location is close enough to Madison High School that it would do well as a development I assume.    

There is no way in hell the township will allow that to happen. The people that live out here live out here for a reason, One of those reasons is its NOT MIDDLETOWN.   We have excellent schools, decent police and fire protection and levies to support them.

There are many out in the township that will "line the bridge" and never allow Middletown to annex us.

a gold mine just across the bridge imo
wish that I would have bought property there years ago--the current buildings are demo material
not sure water/utilities are are there yet
small market there would serve so many, and keep them from crossing bridge, or heading to Trenton/Excello Kroger

the future Oasis, + the Elk Creek Tavern building/corner

jmo

Also at last nights council meeting, Mr. Adkins gave an update on the Manchester Inn Deal. He stated that Mr. Grau is still working on the feasibility study that is due to be completed later this month to determine the best use for the Manchester Inn.