More city real estate adventures
Printed From: MiddletownUSA.com
Category: Middletown City Government
Forum Name: Community Revitalization
Forum Description: Middletown Community Revitalization News
URL: http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3532
Printed Date: Nov 22 2024 at 6:51pm
Topic: More city real estate adventures
Posted By: Nelson...Himself
Subject: More city real estate adventures
Date Posted: Dec 13 2010 at 1:08pm
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With $2,144,000+ in taxpayers' funds involved, every Middletonian deserves some answers! Does anyone know the status of the 11 vacant, foreclosed homes that the city bought?
What was the total acquisition cost for each of these dwellings?
What were the respective dates of acquisition for these dwellings?
Which realtors and banks were involved with acquisition of these dwellings? Does anyone know if any of these dwellings have been worked on yet by city contractors?
How many are completed?
How many are now being worked on?
How many have yet to be worked on?
What was the total rehabilitation cost for each of these dwellings? Does anyone know if any of these dwellings have been sold yet by the city's realtors?
How much did they sell for and what realtors and mortgage lenders participated?
How much money did the city lose in subsidizing each residential property transaction? Does anyone know how much the city incurs in monthly property maintenance costs?
Doesn't HUD have guidelines on the maximum amount of time to complete these projects?
It was over two years ago that the city submitted its' NSP-1 grant application to HUD!
Is city staff qualified to be an active player in the Middletown real estate market?
Since no real citizen oversight committee left, who keeps an eye on millions in HUD funds? |
Replies:
Posted By: LMAO
Date Posted: Dec 13 2010 at 1:13pm
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No one except the ones with their hands in the cookie jar. |
Posted By: Hermes
Date Posted: Dec 13 2010 at 5:59pm
Does the city have a "realtor" ??
Maybe Judy has a real estate license.  ------------- No more democrats no more republicans,vote Constitution Party !! |
Posted By: Talking Heads
Date Posted: Dec 13 2010 at 8:46pm
| Thought there was an RFP in the paper for the city to hire a realtor for these homes - don't know what happened with that. I heard one city rehab project included making an addition to a home on Jewell - seems an odd area to invest in expensive additions. |
Posted By: Nelson...Himself
Date Posted: Dec 13 2010 at 10:11pm
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According to city records obtained by Miss Vivian, the property in question is 3523 Jewell.
It seems that the city is spending far more on a building addition than the purchase price of this house.
As she also noted, the total cost of this one endeavor far exceeds market value of other nearby homes!
There are additional examples where the city is lavishly over-spending on vacant, foreclosed homes.
I wonder what is the City Council's thinking about this extravagant disposal of taxpayers money?
After all, they're the ones granting final approval for these wasteful Community Revitalization boondoggles.
Oh, to eavesdrop on certain City Council executive sessions where these matters are deliberated!
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Posted By: Mtown
Date Posted: Dec 14 2010 at 7:14am
| Nelson Himself obviously has an axe to grind with the City (his former employer). The questions he raises could be answered if he wanted. The information needed is public record. Ask for it. |
Posted By: LMAO
Date Posted: Dec 14 2010 at 9:05am
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Mtown wrote:Posted By: Mike_Presta
Date Posted: Dec 14 2010 at 9:11am
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But Nelson, such “matters” as the rehabilitation, remodeling, room additions and the like of city-owned property cannot be discussed in executive sessions--at least not legally. Now, I realize that some of the fine legal minds at City Hall often feel certain documents are worded “vaguely”, and they may very well feel that way about Ohio’s Public Meetings Law (ORC 121.22) since the VERY FIRST SENTENCE states:
Of course there is what is commonly referred to as the “real estate exception” --ORC 121.22(G)(2)--which allows executive session discussions:
Even without being “liberally construed”, I can’t find extravagant remodeling listed as a “subject matter specifically excepted”!!! On the other hand, what do I know??? I can't even understand how the city can recognize a "certificate of appropriateness" issued by a commission that council abolished over a month earlier!!!!------------- “Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012 |
Posted By: Nelson...Himself
Date Posted: Dec 14 2010 at 9:30am
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My comments on the City's lavish waste of NSP funds are offered as a concerned taxpayer only!
Mtown, many of us taxpayers are eagerly awaiting your answers to some easy-to-answer questions.
At a public hearing in 11/2008, senior City staff touted these anticipated NSP program accomplishments:
1) 20 vacant, foreclosed homes were to be acquired, rehabbed and resold;
2) 54 vacant, dilapidated homes were to be demolished;
3) 40+ income-eligible foreclosed home buyers were to receive down payment/closing assistance;
4) 10% of the $2,144,000 HUD grant was to be utilized for administrative purposes.
As one examines what has been accomplished by the city over the past two years they'll sadly discover:
1) only 11 vacant, foreclosed homes were acquired with some rehabbed and none resold;
2) only 35 vacant, dilapidated homes were actually demolished;
3) no income-eligible foreclosed purchasers were to receive down payment/closing assistance;
4) with 10% ($214,400) utilized for administration, what are added program delivery costs; and,
5) what about $300,000 that was later diverted demolish vacant, dilapidated commercial buildings.; The record of city staff implementation speaks for itself:
1) progress in implementing NSP-funded activities is questionable;
2) expenses for 11 vacant, foreclosed homes being acquired/rehabbed/resold is excessive; and,
3) administration (plus program delivery) costs will total more than 10% of the $2,144,000 NSP grant.
Middletown has an abundance of vacant, foreclosed residential properties.
Many of these are situated in otherwise stable neighborhoods and are for sale under $90,000.
Why does the city seem so comfortable with losing up to $75,000/transaction because HUD won't object?
This latest HUD-funded real estate adventure of the city depicts how hard-earned tax dollars are wasted!
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Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Dec 14 2010 at 10:42am
Mtown obviously has an axe to grind with the people on this forum (the place where he can get the correct information). The questions he raises as to why we complain could be answered if he wanted. The information needed is public record, with suggestions for improving the city. Ask for it. |
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Dec 14 2010 at 2:24pm
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Ahhh yes…just ask for the records, seems like such a simple little task doesn’t it. It isn’t that simple because several funds have been used for the completion of these projects. |
Posted By: Nelson...Himself
Date Posted: Dec 14 2010 at 3:06pm
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Rumor has it that recent Executive Session gatherings of City Council have been quite contentious.
A certain personnel matter involving senior city staff is alleged to be under serious consideration.
We'll have to wait until January to learn if this is wishful thinking or reality.
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Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Dec 14 2010 at 7:52pm
| Nelson, if the matter involves senior city staff members and at least one of the members is the city manager, and the plans are in the works to send her packing, that would be good news. However, that shouldn't be the end of the deadwood cleanout. Kohler, Landen, Robinette, and others need to follow. |