I knew it was too good to be true.
Mayor Carty Finkbeiner and John Robinson Block, publisher of The Blade, are still trying to interfere in a private property decision.
The Toledo Free Press has the details of their attempt to 'rally then tenants' against the United Way.
A history of the pressure these individuals have tried to exert is available, chronologically here, here, here, here, here, and here.
Yes, I know that's a lot of background to catch up, but that's the way things work in Toledo and with our local paper. The publisher of The Blade spoke and politicians dutifully fell in line to try and preserve a dilapidated, costly building. And despite the fact that the United Way has broken ground on their new building, the fight is not over.
Apparently, Carty, Block or both convinced a local company to develop a renovation plan for the building. However, their plan addressed only two levels of the multi-floor building, was as costly as building new, and was rejected - as were the previous plans to renovate.
I'll say it again - if Carty and Block want the building to stay up, they can purchase it and do with it whatever they please. However, this being Toledo, they are used to bullying, expecting people to ask 'how high' when they say 'jump,' and getting their way when they attempt to dictate to others.
Perhaps the United Way, with the backing of The Stranahan Foundation, will be able to continue to resist this pressure.
For the good of all Toledo, I hope so.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
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4 comments:
Sounds like a case for Eminent Domain man! A local superhero, who will swoop down and snatch worthless buildings from its rightful/legal owners to protect the building from the evil owners to prevent razing and replacement. Could make a new drama for NBC.
Or even better, picture Carty as Charlie Brown and JRB as Linus and they wander around town looking for the homeliest building in the city and they then wrap it in Linus' blanket and decorate it to make it a wonderful Christmasy building in town! Simply heartwarming! I feel a tear coming!
Maggie,
Amazing how the mayor and JRB seem to be marching in lockstep like that.
Why, it's as if it was one mind driving two mouths...
Hmm, maybe Tim is onto something...
(A not so veiled reference to one of Tim's comments to one of my recent blog posts.)
Maggie,
What's wrong with this plan. By using only the bottom two floors, it may take years before the leaky roof allows the water to reach the second floor. As for the HVAC units that don't work well, perhaps they will work better if the ductwork for the other floors is blocked off, or maybe the plan is to put space heaters and window AC units in.
This would be laughable if it weren't so tragic. Two forlorn and soon to be powerless individuals grasping at power which is no longer theirs.
HT,
Are you trying to imply that these individuals are half-witted (perhaps as the result of some heretical experiment gone wrong?)
As for the veiled remarks, I gave up the veil years ago.
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