Why can't we just be happy to have sold part of this mess. Sure, $200K is less than what an "expert" said it is worth. In reality, real estate is only worth what someone else is willing to pay for it. I don't know of anyone else showing much interest in the property. We could have sat on this property for years before anyone else came along, and who says they would have wanted to pay $400K either. The longer it sits there, the more buyers are going to try to "lowball" us.
Don't get me wrong. I'm no fan of Dorathy or most of the decisions our school board has made in recent years and I'm not here to defend them, but in the grand scheme of things I think we're better off disposing of this property and moving on to deal with other problems.
1776 - Personally it makes sense to me to split up the properties. Who is going to want all three of those buildings. It will be much more difficult to sell them as one piece. I agree with you that selling the 3-story building won't be easy but we have to be willing to act on opportunities as they present themselves.
The building was going to be condemned and torn down. Work has occurred on the building. In case you haven't noticed, the foundation is no longer crumbling and the glass windows aren't falling out and on to the sidewalk.
As for the investors profiting on all of this and then skipping out on the obligation to restore the building...how are they profiting right now? There is nothing occupying it, no rent coming in. As of right now the investors are out the money they themselves have put in and haven't made any profit.
I have no doubt it will eventually be restored, hopefully to your architectural approval. I think because of its age it will have to meet historic standards set by the state. I would imagine there is a lot more to it than we realize. Part of the problem has got to be finding a tenant to occupy the space. It's not like there is a shortage of retail space in town. They'd be foolish to put a lot more money into the property without having some prospects.
No one is saying we should kick BG aside. If people are so concerned about not wasting money (and I share their concern), then why would we not put this up for bid? Why not make sure BG is giving us fair bids? If they are, then we would keep using them.
If we've had such a great relationship with BG for 20+ years then why did we get such shoddy work from them on the business park study? A fresh perspective may open some eyes. We may wake up and realize we could be getting a lot more for our money. There's no harm in putting these projects up for bid.
Wow! totally classless and unnecessary bulldog. Nothing wrong with paying homage to one of the most influential people in the last 50 years. Especially considering he died far too young.
Very cool! Best of luck to each of your at the American Royal. I love articles like this one. The standard sports round-up of everything going on at Baldwin High School gets old sometimes. Not that they aren't accomplishing great things too but I appreciate getting to learn about the other 80-90% of kids who aren't football or basketball stars.
Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't part of the 1/4 cent sales tax increase for city infrastructure projects? We pay that tax so we can afford projects like this Torch. Plus the cost is split between the city and county so our share is $1.7 million. Obviously not chump change but throwing around a $3 million price tag for the city isn't totally factual or honest.
I think this seems like a worthwhile project. I can understand why Bob Pringle doesn't like it because it temporarily cuts off the only entrance to his store but to compare it to 6th street south of downtown is ridiculous. With all the traffic pulling into the Santa Fe Market, Hardware store, Mr. Pringle's store, the schools, a church and several subdivisions, it's hardly comparable to south 6th. A third lane could prevent accidents and it would definitely help ease congestion before and after school.
I was unaware in-town students were even riding the bus. We always walked but we only lived five blocks away. Seems like it should be possible to have four or five bus stops throughout town. No student would have to walk more than several blocks, it would be less expensive and more efficient.
I know it's water under the bridge but this is just another consequence of the foolish majority that voted for the bond issue. I sure hope none of the people complaining about this are the same people who voted to abandon a perfectly fine, centrally located building in favor of two separate buildings with poor auto access and no pedestrian access.
Lawrence may be a viable option for some in the Vinland area but for those living in the western part of our district, the Santa Fe Trail district would geographically make the most sense. In that district, 3rd and 4th graders go to an attendance center in Scranton. Read my post carefully and you would have understood that.
What district you leave for isn't really the point. The point is that either way, Lawrence, SFT or Ottawa will not keep the MSES or VES buildings open and those kids will not be able to go to a small, rural school with 10-15 kids per grade. Moving your children because USD 348 is closing their grade school would really just be a knee-jerk reaction to spite the Baldwin school district. Otherwise, your children would already be going to school in that other district.
Baldwin school board agrees to sell old elementary school
Why can't we just be happy to have sold part of this mess. Sure, $200K is less than what an "expert" said it is worth. In reality, real estate is only worth what someone else is willing to pay for it. I don't know of anyone else showing much interest in the property. We could have sat on this property for years before anyone else came along, and who says they would have wanted to pay $400K either. The longer it sits there, the more buyers are going to try to "lowball" us.
Don't get me wrong. I'm no fan of Dorathy or most of the decisions our school board has made in recent years and I'm not here to defend them, but in the grand scheme of things I think we're better off disposing of this property and moving on to deal with other problems.
1776 - Personally it makes sense to me to split up the properties. Who is going to want all three of those buildings. It will be much more difficult to sell them as one piece. I agree with you that selling the 3-story building won't be easy but we have to be willing to act on opportunities as they present themselves.
June 12, 2012 at 9:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Baldwin board agrees to put Marion Spring on market
The kids could really benefit from having two new auditoriums right next to each other. Let's go ahead and blow the rest of the money.
Unbelievable...
May 24, 2012 at 12:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lumberyard Arts Center volunteers planing for Smithsonian traveling exhibit
Sounds VERY cool! Can't wait!
April 14, 2012 at 11:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
6th & High Street Historic Building and Taxpayer Monies
The building was going to be condemned and torn down. Work has occurred on the building. In case you haven't noticed, the foundation is no longer crumbling and the glass windows aren't falling out and on to the sidewalk.
As for the investors profiting on all of this and then skipping out on the obligation to restore the building...how are they profiting right now? There is nothing occupying it, no rent coming in. As of right now the investors are out the money they themselves have put in and haven't made any profit.
I have no doubt it will eventually be restored, hopefully to your architectural approval. I think because of its age it will have to meet historic standards set by the state. I would imagine there is a lot more to it than we realize. Part of the problem has got to be finding a tenant to occupy the space. It's not like there is a shortage of retail space in town. They'd be foolish to put a lot more money into the property without having some prospects.
April 13, 2012 at 12:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Engineering design contract spurs debate on no-bid contracts
No one is saying we should kick BG aside. If people are so concerned about not wasting money (and I share their concern), then why would we not put this up for bid? Why not make sure BG is giving us fair bids? If they are, then we would keep using them.
If we've had such a great relationship with BG for 20+ years then why did we get such shoddy work from them on the business park study? A fresh perspective may open some eyes. We may wake up and realize we could be getting a lot more for our money. There's no harm in putting these projects up for bid.
April 13, 2012 at 12:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
A simple midwestern kid remembers Steve Jobs
Wow! totally classless and unnecessary bulldog. Nothing wrong with paying homage to one of the most influential people in the last 50 years. Especially considering he died far too young.
October 27, 2011 at 9:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Seasoned, young competitors ready for American Royal rodeo
Very cool! Best of luck to each of your at the American Royal. I love articles like this one. The standard sports round-up of everything going on at Baldwin High School gets old sometimes. Not that they aren't accomplishing great things too but I appreciate getting to learn about the other 80-90% of kids who aren't football or basketball stars.
October 27, 2011 at 9:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Residents question 1055 project's cost, scope
Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't part of the 1/4 cent sales tax increase for city infrastructure projects? We pay that tax so we can afford projects like this Torch. Plus the cost is split between the city and county so our share is $1.7 million. Obviously not chump change but throwing around a $3 million price tag for the city isn't totally factual or honest.
I think this seems like a worthwhile project. I can understand why Bob Pringle doesn't like it because it temporarily cuts off the only entrance to his store but to compare it to 6th street south of downtown is ridiculous. With all the traffic pulling into the Santa Fe Market, Hardware store, Mr. Pringle's store, the schools, a church and several subdivisions, it's hardly comparable to south 6th. A third lane could prevent accidents and it would definitely help ease congestion before and after school.
May 19, 2011 at 8:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
USD School Board considering cutting busing inside city limits
I was unaware in-town students were even riding the bus. We always walked but we only lived five blocks away. Seems like it should be possible to have four or five bus stops throughout town. No student would have to walk more than several blocks, it would be less expensive and more efficient.
I know it's water under the bridge but this is just another consequence of the foolish majority that voted for the bond issue. I sure hope none of the people complaining about this are the same people who voted to abandon a perfectly fine, centrally located building in favor of two separate buildings with poor auto access and no pedestrian access.
April 27, 2011 at 11:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
School board closes rural elementary schools by 5-2 vote
Lawrence may be a viable option for some in the Vinland area but for those living in the western part of our district, the Santa Fe Trail district would geographically make the most sense. In that district, 3rd and 4th graders go to an attendance center in Scranton. Read my post carefully and you would have understood that.
What district you leave for isn't really the point. The point is that either way, Lawrence, SFT or Ottawa will not keep the MSES or VES buildings open and those kids will not be able to go to a small, rural school with 10-15 kids per grade. Moving your children because USD 348 is closing their grade school would really just be a knee-jerk reaction to spite the Baldwin school district. Otherwise, your children would already be going to school in that other district.
December 19, 2010 at 11:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )