Swallens Update
Printed From: MiddletownUSA.com
Category: Middletown City Government
Forum Name: City Manager
Forum Description: Discuss the city manager administration including all city departments.
URL: http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=581
Printed Date: Nov 22 2024 at 12:31am
Topic: Swallens Update
Posted By: VietVet
Subject: Swallens Update
Date Posted: Oct 06 2008 at 10:45am
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Reading through Ms. Gilleland's notes on Perry Thatcher making a request to retain the Swallens building for future business. Haven't heard the outcome of that request from Mr. Thatcher. Did city council make a decision to wait as Thatcher requested or demolish it?
10/7/08- Has anyone heard whether Ms. Gilleland and the council has decided in Thatcher's favor or are they going to demolish it? Haven't read in the Journal or heard discussion in council on this since Gilleland's comments in her City Manager's notes. |
Replies:
Posted By: Middletown News
Date Posted: Oct 06 2008 at 11:03am
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I agree with Perry. Why spend millions tearing things down.
What's next, the Manchester?
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Posted By: drumford
Date Posted: Oct 06 2008 at 12:49pm
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Interestingly Middfest was not allowed to use the Swallens building this year unless they could come up with $6,000. Is this a sign that the city is no longer interested in Middfest? They also refused police patrols and lights. Although the event filled every hotel in the area and brought in a much needed boost to the local ecconomy it would appear that Ms. Gilleland does not see the value of the event. ------------- The mind is like a parachute, it only works when it is open. |
Posted By: spiderjohn
Date Posted: Oct 06 2008 at 1:39pm
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The Swallens building has been empty for 20+ years.
Mr.Thatcher has ample opportunity to either buy it or find a renter. He is obviously interested since it sits accross from his failing Manchester Inn and his surrounding properties(the former CG&E building and the two former banks at the corner of Main and Central).
Is tearing the building down prudent at this expense?
Probably not, since there is no better proposed use for the site(and the parking garage). The old Montgomery Wards building nearby also might be razed. Sorg, the burned out structure on the river, the un-used bicentennial commons, and the seriously water-damaged and pretty much un-salvageable AK-owned(?) structure across from the Bash location.
No police protection for Midfest, after supplying the same(on credit) for the air show?
Any word if the city has been re-imbursed(or will be) for the air show security yet?
Still--with the market tanking big-time due to the economic disaster heavily fueld by the bail-out(which was supposed to save us!), there will be little cash flow to spur new economic development or business expansion risks.
The up-coming Obama election and the tax grabs to soon follow will only depress the market and business thinking even more. We can bail out the losers forever, though if it destroys the remaining winners, all will be lost.
jmo
Revolution?
Will you be the problem or the solution?
Kick out the jams, brothers and sisters!
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Posted By: John Beagle
Date Posted: Oct 06 2008 at 4:53pm
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Does Perry own the Manchester? ------------- http://www.johnbeagle.com/" rel="nofollow - John Beagle Middletown USA News of, for and by the people of Middletown, Ohio. |
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Oct 07 2008 at 7:37am
| Yes, with partners. The Levy family, I believe and one other partner. |
Posted By: HereIam
Date Posted: Oct 13 2008 at 11:14am
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drumford - where do you get the figure that Middfest filled every hotel room in the city? I would bet my last dollar that if you asked the Best Western, the Ramada Inn or any hotel at I-75 they would tell you a different story. |
Posted By: Middletown News
Date Posted: Oct 13 2008 at 4:21pm
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HereIam:
I think Mr. Rumford is more correct than you think. We have increased our hotel room number, yet many hotels in the area were filled to near capacity from the looks at the parking lots.
Also restaurants greatly benefited too.
Congratulations to Middfest organizers, this was a excellent event!
Also I am very disapointed in the City for not supporting Middfest. This is not what we need. I understand that the airport people helped out with hangar space for free. Way to go!
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Posted By: Mike_Presta
Date Posted: Oct 14 2008 at 5:22am
Uh, Jonathon, aren't the airport facilities owned by the City??? And didn't the City Manager compliment the city staff by saying: "Our crews are doing a great job of balancing the special activities with the storm clean-up"???
I'm not trying to start an arguement, but it is difficult for me to understand how anyone can say that they are "disapointed in the City for not supporting Middfest"!!!
PS: If you answer this, please don't expect a reply very soon. I am not ignoring you, but I will only have sporadic internet access for the next couple of weeks.
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Jonathan Haller wrote:Posted By: Middletown News
Date Posted: Oct 14 2008 at 11:30am
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Mike:
Good point if it was the citiy's hangars. Not sure that is the case, but I don't know for sure.
Why would Mr. Runford complain about the lack of police assistance at the event? Again, I don't know for sure, but I did consider the source.
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Posted By: Mike_Presta
Date Posted: Nov 06 2008 at 5:10pm
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Jonathan:
Further to my original post, consider this quote from Ms. Gilleland's 10/10/2008 Weekly newsletter:
"As Council knows, this festival continues to be supported by the City. In addition to the $10,000 cash contribution, we also provide $10,000 cash in postage and copying costs. Our City crews also work 3 weeks prior to the festival and a week afterward."
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