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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Mar 9, 2014 22:24:21 GMT -6
I am arguing that removing a sign doesn't necessarily bring down the value of a property. Some sign structures do in fact add to the value of the building. Something like the McDonalds arches I would consider a liability for a new business, which would have to pay to remove it. Where a more generic shaped sign could be easily retrofitted with new plastic panels at a much lower cost to a new business would be considered an asset. In the case of the bank sign, in my opinion, I think it was a liability to the building owner and removing it, did not bring down the value of the property The bank sign had great visibility from many directions and could have easily been retrofitted with new panels. With the cost of sign structures and the fact the our City wouldn't even allow that kind of sign, it could have been a great asset to the building. However you are right that it was made a liability by our City's ordinances and the threat of fines for keeping it. I think removing it did lower the value of the building and decreases the chance that it will be used for a business again. When do you think it will come down?
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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Mar 10, 2014 15:30:45 GMT -6
I think it was a liability to the building owner Isn't the whole building a liability to the owner? I wouldn't want to be on the sidewalks if one of those towers fell. I wonder if the elevators have been maintained and inspected. It is being promoted that the building is in bad shape structurally in the City's downtown plan. With no use for the many much smaller, easier to manage properties, the lack of business and investment here, and the City pushing a vacant building ordinance with the threat of $750/day fines, that building is a huge liability. Any bets as to how long it sits decaying, becoming an even bigger liability, before it is brought down?
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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Mar 10, 2014 20:12:58 GMT -6
MM, I would love to see a use for that building as much as anyone, but let's be realistic, there aren't many investing in anything in downtown Streator, much less such a huge building. Self storage facilities are a listed use in our zoning ordinance and are permitted in industrial zones and could be allowed in a C-3 zone with a Special Use Permit, but are not allowed in the CBD. With so little business happening here, our City restricting use, and a lack of inviting attitude, isn't it really more realistic that it will just end up coming down unless we start doing things differently soon? Maybe if we get a parking lot there, the bar customers won't park in front of the fire hydrant so often though. There is a public hearing on the final Comprehensive and Downtown Plan tomorrow night at the P&Z meeting, then they plan to vote on recommending it to the Council. Has anyone other than club members seen these final plans yet? I've been watching for them. All that I see available on the City's & VanDewalle's website are the drafts from November. How do you have a public hearing on something that has been kept secret from the public? I spoke up about the changes I would like to see from the draft. Have any been incorporated? What has been changed from the drafts? How does anyone form the public know what to talk about? This public hearing is nothing but a sham, in my opinion. Business as usual at City Hall, nothing is being done any different. These plans are not by the people or for the people since the people are not even being given the chance to make meaningful comments prior to their vote. These are the City's plans, pushing their agenda, heading us in their same direction.
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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Mar 11, 2014 6:42:34 GMT -6
Zoning is supposed to control negative impacts on a community. I couldn't really find negative impacts for Aquaponics, I don't see a negative impact of having a self storage facility in the Murray building. Houston Texas has no zoning; if it were a problem, wouldn't you think the 2.2 million people would leave? Our City does not need to be so restrictive, particularly considering our terrible economic condition. When they are going to keep a business out, they should at least be able to provide justification in our laws. Instead, they are having a public hearing tonight on another set of restrictions that they are keeping a secret from the public. We really do need change here.
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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Mar 11, 2014 16:19:15 GMT -6
How much do people pay to get into Disney World and spend their time touring an Aquaponics facility? Our City doesn't want one bringing people to our community, too bad. Leave it to the hypocrites at Disney to have a chemical company sponsor the attraction.
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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Mar 11, 2014 16:41:26 GMT -6
They did give me a copy of the Final Downtown and Strategic Plans at the COW this afternoon. There wasn't time for me to read them all before the public hearing tonight. Anyone that follows the link on the City's website that says "plan update", only gets the outdated version. Did many people have a chance to see it? Not exactly a transparent government by the people and for the people now is it?
I would hope that people do show up at the hearing tonight to show that they care about what direction Streator takes.
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Post by dog on Mar 11, 2014 16:54:57 GMT -6
I would hope that people do show up at the hearing tonight to show that they care about what direction Streator takes. And if there is a lack of turnout, what would you make of that? That people just don't care, or they have trust in the people they elected , or something entirely different? What would be your thoughts regarding the lack of turnout if that is indeed what happens?
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Post by cmon on Mar 11, 2014 17:04:19 GMT -6
There is a huge difference between Disney World and downtown anywhere Midwestern America. Just as there is a huge difference between no zoning in Houston, Tx and anywhere else in America. True, no zoning in Houston but it's not as simple as just saying that. There are covenants and also land owners usually won't sell property if it doesn't conform to the neighborhood. They have problems in Houston with multi million dollar homes having been built and then strip malls OR strip joints being built near these homes. You just can't compare apples and oranges.
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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Mar 11, 2014 17:33:56 GMT -6
I would hope that people do show up at the hearing tonight to show that they care about what direction Streator takes. And if there is a lack of turnout, what would you make of that? That people just don't care, or they have trust in the people they elected , or something entirely different? What would be your thoughts regarding the lack of turnout if that is indeed what happens? I am predicting a low turn out. I didn't see any mention of it in the paper recently, I don't think a high percentage read the legal notices. I think there were probably more people like me that were waiting to see it and didn't think they'd have a hearing on it without making it available where it says "plan update" on their site. As for many others, apathetic and disenfranchised are some terms that come to mind. Many people just have come to expect that it doesn't matter what the public says, because they just don't listen and do whatever they want. I think most people do care, but think we just need to get them informed and out to the polls to hire leaders that believe in government for and by the people.
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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Mar 11, 2014 17:42:51 GMT -6
There is a huge difference between Disney World and downtown anywhere Midwestern America. Just as there is a huge difference between no zoning in Houston, Tx and anywhere else in America. True, no zoning in Houston but it's not as simple as just saying that. There are covenants and also land owners usually won't sell property if it doesn't conform to the neighborhood. They have problems in Houston with multi million dollar homes having been built and then strip malls OR strip joints being built near these homes. You just can't compare apples and oranges. Of course we wouldn't get near the tourism as Disney World. My point is that good tourism dollars are spent on Aquaponics. The nice thing about tourists is they bring money that was earned other places and spend at more places throughout our city while here. We are missing out. I know there are other restrictions in Houston and that it is not without problems. My point was that our City doesn't need to be so restrictive, particularly considering our economic condition and so many decaying buildings.
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Post by mommytoo4 on Mar 11, 2014 18:10:04 GMT -6
There is a huge difference between Disney World and downtown anywhere Midwestern America. Just as there is a huge difference between no zoning in Houston, Tx and anywhere else in America. True, no zoning in Houston but it's not as simple as just saying that. There are covenants and also land owners usually won't sell property if it doesn't conform to the neighborhood. They have problems in Houston with multi million dollar homes having been built and then strip malls OR strip joints being built near these homes. You just can't compare apples and oranges. Of course we wouldn't get near the tourism as Disney World. My point is that good tourism dollars are spent on Aquaponics. The nice thing about tourists is they bring money that was earned other places and spend at more places throughout our city while here. We are missing out. I know there are other restrictions in Houston and that it is not without problems. My point was that our City doesn't need to be so restrictive, particularly considering our economic condition and so many decaying buildings. I am quite sure when people plan their Disney World/Epcot vacation, they do not do so because Disney has an Aquaponics facility, people tour it because they are already there. You saying if (in your opinion) they allowed an Aquaponics facility to be opened here will bring people here reminds me of the movie "Field of dreams". Here is the ugly truth of the situation. We have no decent Hotels, we have no decent resturaunts, we have no where to shop, so why in the world would anyone come here JUST to take a gander at a aquaponics facility. Quit blowing smoke up our Arse and admit you were butt hurt that the city (may or may not) have said no, so now you are trying to convince us that this would have saved us from becoming the next ghost town.
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Post by cmon on Mar 11, 2014 18:14:40 GMT -6
I have to agree with you mommy. I wouldn't give a second thought about Aquaponics when taking Grandkids there nor would. 99.9% of the people going there. It's not a destination attraction.
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Post by cmon on Mar 11, 2014 18:21:16 GMT -6
And personally Kyle, I like that the City has restrictions as to what can be in our downtown. I wouldn't want a storage facility across the street from you. It would without a doubt lower property values and give a negative view of the community. The old bank building will come down in a year or two and then we will see what the property owners want to do with that corner. Maybe you can come up with the cash and purchase it and do with it what you want. But I doubt that will happen.
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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Mar 11, 2014 18:50:37 GMT -6
Yeah, I guess you are right, Disney probably doesn't consider their real estate valuable and would just go ahead and put in an attraction that people don't want to see. They are a pretty stupid company and obviously don't have any business sense.
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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Mar 11, 2014 19:00:03 GMT -6
And personally Kyle, I like that the City has restrictions as to what can be in our downtown. I wouldn't want a storage facility across the street from you. It would without a doubt lower property values and give a negative view of the community. The old bank building will come down in a year or two and then we will see what the property owners want to do with that corner. Maybe you can come up with the cash and purchase it and do with it what you want. But I doubt that will happen. Bahahaha, you seriously don't think that I would invest in anything else here do you? I already know how the City treats property and business owners here. I'm not surprised that you would think that an income producing property would bring down property values over vacancies. You probably agree with oldtimer that they 220EMain all properties to really bring values up.
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