Larry Dillin gets some love from the Blade but is not asked why July 30th deadline passed
What was most interesting to me in the piece written in the Blade on the accomplishments of Larry Dillin in their article entitled, Levis Commons, Marina District make developer a man in demand was the one question that wasn’t asked.
It’s the question raised by Fox Toledo’s Shaun Hegarty news story on Friday that was blogged about here Friday night. Why has the July 30th deadline for closing passed without any confirmation from the City or from Dillin that the 30 day extension was asked for or given?
I think it’s a very relevant question that would have not taken away from the rest of the article, especially since the Marina District project was one of those written about. I’d think it would be one that not only residents but the other media and those on City Council would also want to know.
I guess the Blade can’t figure out if they love this guy or hate him. You’d get whiplash reading the stories about this guy.
If I were Dillin and I was receiving outside offers I’d drag my feet and find out if I could do business in a more business friendly environment prior to cutting that check.
I’ve lived in Illinois, Michigan, central Ohio and Maryland and this is, by a remarkable distance, far and away the most unfriendly business environment I have ever seen. More hostile to business development than you could even explain to someone who isn’t from the area. You have to see something like to actually believe it.
What BUSINESS developer in his right mind would subject himself to that kind of a work environment if there are other options?
August 9th, 2009 at 4:58 pmI don’t understand the reason for these 30 day extensions. Am I missing something, or are there droves of developers waiting for the chance to buy up the Marina District property.
Last I checked it was a environmentally contaminated parcel of land with a giant, ugly building on it and surrounded by an unsavory neighborhood. If Dillin wants it, just give him the damn thing.
August 9th, 2009 at 7:33 pmslowsol the City won’t give anything. They won’t cooperate with the existing business owners which are now an endangered species. They are absolutely hostile to anyone who tries to develop new business. I put in a call to the business development line over two years ago and I’m still waiting for a reply. Of course I’m not one of the cool kids and that was right after the Toledo business development guy (yes that’s right, worked for the City and sat on the school board – does anybody else hear banjo’s?) voted against getting a new Superintendent for our school district and I had taken him to task for it.
They make it so difficult to develop business in Toledo that it’s just plain ridiculous.
They drive the jobs, and thereby the employed homeowners away, and then they can’t balance their budget because the jobs and taxes those jobs brought are GONE.
As a last joke they think that they’re just going to be able to raise taxes and fees on renters. Because that’s almost all that’s left in Toledo.
Renters don’t pay property taxes. And they only pay income taxes if they’re employed. Any idiot can do the math here but our city leaders can’t.
Last one out – shut off the lights.
August 10th, 2009 at 12:10 amGiven the current economic situation and credit crunch, it’s unlikely that there will be any commercial or residential development on this property for years-except for parks and bikepaths.
If you stand on the property and look around, it’s hard to imagine that there will be much demand for housing. The Marina District is not easy to drive to from the west side of the river where the vast majority of Lucas County lives. The public might drive down there, but I sure wouldn’t count on it. Location, location, location!!!
August 10th, 2009 at 12:42 pmthere are portions of the marina district that have been cleaned to residential standards, others that have not – i would guess a new round of independent tests ought to be run to confirm and quell people’s concerns. if it is clean it is waterfront property with easy access to downtown and the lake – other cities work hard for opportunities like this and we should appreciate it – i am no fan of carty and agree he is as unfriendly to business as he can be unless they glorify hizoner – but this could be a boon for toledo. give carty credit for not totally screwing it up.
the neighborhood suffers from lack of opportunites and investment – the subsequent decay of parts of the neighborhood brings some bad characters there. however, the vast majority of people there are good decent people who chose not to leave or through bad health or bad luck are not able to. stop disparaging general groups or neighborhoods – most people want to work at good paying jobs – be thankful you have yours still.
it is very easy to get to the east side and getting easier all of the time – it is difficult to get from northwest toledo to south toledo and carty is going to insure it stays that way by putting the intermodal location where it ensures westwood NEVER connects with detroit and is only intermodal for train to train traffic – that is correct: NOT REALLY INTERMODAL.
August 10th, 2009 at 10:55 pm