JYP

Discussion over: Sears staying once Illinois governor signs tax deal Sears Holding Corp. will remain in suburban Chicago if Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signs a tax-break package that the state’s general assembly passed Tuesday, the Chicago Tribune reports. The Illinois legislature approved $15 million in tax credits for the next 10 years, along with extending a special taxing district that will save Sears (NASDAQ:SHLD) about $125 million during the next 15 years, the Tribune reports. It now goes to the desk of Quinn, who praised the bill’s passage Tuesday. A memo from Sears’ chief executive to employees said the company would stay in Illinois if the governor signs off on the tax breaks.

Both of these items are wonderful news. Toby Keith's would have run Cadillac Ranch into the ground if the investors hadn't already done it themselves!

That's not a front lawn, that's a front yard setback!!

Well we could have had something going with the 3C rail line.

I'm not familiar with a commute of that distance although I have done the commute to downtown from Middletown. It's still a good hour both ways with at least three consistent traffic jams. Also with gasoline prices slated to rise next year, it's probably better to find a residence closer to work or work closer to your home.

Spring of 2012.

Selling of airport property is considered revenue by the FAA. Read here: http://www.faa.gov/airports/resources/publications/orders/compliance_5190_6/media/5190_6b_chap15.pdf

The fact that there still is no supermarket downtown (OTR Krogers aside) still has not deterred people from moving in downtown. Eventually when retailers see a population base in an urban core they move in. Retail goes to where the people are. Second, since when did buses and streetcars not have heat!? I ride the bus extensively in the winter and have never had a problem and the bus has always been heated. Sometimes I can walk to the bus stop and catch a bus faster than it takes for me to walk to where I parked and warm my car up. I even walk from my house to Findlay Market in the cold with grocery bags...both ways! As for the streetcar, it will run about every 15 minutes so riders won't have a long wait. Plus if you live at a place like the Bartlett building you could probably hang out in a doorway while waiting for the streetcar. If you want to argue speed and convenience, sure a car will get you there faster and take you anywhere you want to. Transit challenges this perception because it forces you to plan your travel around a entirely different schedule and routing. I've found it gives me time to get work done while in transit. I meet new people and I get to see the city instead of staring straight ahead at the road all the time. Maybe that's something "this demographic" may want to enjoy?

The last article on this talked about the developers need to secure financing. I wouldn't hold my breath. Downtown has the 21c opening up and the Terrace Plaza hotel is still empty.

I hear the economic impact of a HRC is about 3,000 to 1. By the way nothing comes as close, not even putting sound walls along highways!

Jeez, it's like night and day over there!

What about lining the streetcars up along Main Street instead?

^Muchos Gracias!

Does anyone know who owns this building now?

I don't know about you but my "crystal ball" has Sears looking very closely at Ohio's OTHER 3-C's; Coshocton, Chillicothe and Cambridge!

Time for the latest and greatest Banks Monthly Report! Looks like Race St. and Freedom Way West open up tomorrow. http://www.thebankspublicpartnership.com/sites/default/files/IDMA%20October%20Monthly%20Report_FINAL.pdf

I'm removing these posts about welfare but you have the chance to reformulate your arguments without being inflammatory. Please also refrain from making personal attacks on other forumers. You can discuss and debate the merits of someones argument but name calling is not tolerated. Thanks!

I moved all that downtown talk to the State of Downtown thread here: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,1333.600.html It's all really good stuff so I look forward to the discussion continuing over there!

Where is Nathanial Livingston when you need him!?

Just another waste of taxpayer money and trees brought to you by Finney & friends!

^^No, I heard COAST will be at Champs downtown tonight.

Toby Keith's job fair this week Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill at The Banks riverfront development is holding a job fair this Friday and Saturday with plans to hire 140 employees. The incoming restaurant and live music venue on Second Street is eyeing a December opening, though no official date was announced Tuesday. The job openings are mostly for servers, bartenders, cooks and other service support staff. The job fair will be held on Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the two-story retail space located at the corner of Freedom Way and Walnut Streets at The Banks.

Cadillac Ranch evicted, sued Less than three months after the Internal Revenue Service closed downtown’s Cadillac Ranch for a daylong investigation, the restaurant and bar faces eviction and a lawsuit from its landlord Fifth Third Bank. The bank claims in an October filing in Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas that Cadillac Ranch operators owe it $112,210 in past-due rent, storage fees and late charges accrued since September 2010. And when the restaurant was served with an eviction notice September 27th, it failed to leave the premises. The restaurant remains open at the southwest corner of Sixth and Walnut streets. A hearing will be held November 15th before Magistrate Michael Bachman to determine next steps in the case. Calls to the bank and restaurant and their lawyers haven’t yet been returned.

Sherman, I've been involved with several studies on transportation projects in Northern Kentucky and from my experience as someone who serves on some of these committees is that adherence to those regulations is pretty much going through the motions. In most cases, the consultants already have a pretty good idea of what the impacts are and can figure out ways to address it. Also my argument is based on the long term plan featured prominently in the development of the international highway system spanning over several decades. Could the study have been done to take into consideration the possibility of upgrading the road to highway standards? It's definitely possible. I've seen consultants do studies "on the side" for agencies for similar things. When you add politics to the picture (i.e. involvement of state reps & congressman), things can get fast tracked to the point where a FONSI is just as good as a rubber stamp. I guess it all just comes down to the integrity of the consultants and the political will. Honestly, I think the next highway bill will include some major revisions making it harder to convert this type of project into a highway down the line. And that's really all I have to say on the matter.

Just because a EIS says "no highway" does it mean that there won't be one. Those studies are typically done to support whatever ODOT wants them to say. They could be saying that for political cover but actually be secretly planning an expanded I-74 as the next step. It probably comes down to how the next transportation bill is laid out. If the formula's the same, ODOT can use the reconstructed road as a match.