Media Release: Sylvania Recreation District refuses to consider $1.6 Million Investment
This in via email from Q3 Development Partners, LLC:
Local Businessmen Challenge Sylvania Recreation District’s Refusal to Accept $1.6 Million Investment
Group led by Jim Jackson wants to create jobs, relieve tax burden on Sylvania Residents
(Toledo, OH) After months of stalling and inaction on the part of the Sylvania Area Joint Recreation District, a local investment group led by former Ohio State and NBA star Jim Jackson will present their plan to create jobs and lessen the tax burden on Sylvania City and Township residents by developing into a business a parking lot on the corner of Centennial Rd. and Erie Street, which will be replaced with adjacent available land. The group and its supporters will hold a informational briefing on their proposal at 10:30 am on Monday, August 20th at the site of their proposed development (at Centennial Rd. and Erie St.).
“We have a viable plan and funding to back it up, which would create jobs and help the citizens of Sylvania avoid having to pass yet another levy to fund recreation,” stated Q3 Development Partners CEO Jim Jackson. “Unfortunately, the Sylvania Recreation Board won’t even return our phone calls and instead will likely ask Sylvanians to pay more taxes through a levy. We felt it was our responsibility to take our case to the public,” concluded Jackson.
Q3 has proposed to pay the Sylvania Recreation District $1.6 million dollars in order to purchase the 3 acre parcel of land and develop it for a national retailer that would employ dozens people in well paying positions. The $1.6 million would go directly to the citizens of Sylvania for improvements at the deteriorating Centennial Terrace venue and would likely help reduce the need for Sylvania citizens to face yet another increase in property taxes via a recreation levy.
“We just want to make sure the public is aware that this offer is available and could really help the community,” stated Rodney Neely, President of Q3 Development. “It never makes sense to tax the residents to accomplish what private business people are willing to do. For whatever reason we are not being allowed to do so,” added Neely.
Jim Jackson? Back in the media? His failures in Toledo enough to push HIM to the suburbs too?
Hey Jim? Here’s some insight? You have no cred, hombre! Wanna know why people don’t return your calls? Because you’re still living in that fantasy that you’re somebody, when all around you people mock your failures. Sylvania people DO watch Toledo news, FYI.
What you and Dave Ball did to that steam plant is pathetic.
August 20th, 2007 at 5:23 amI thought private investment is a good thing? Why do we have to keep on paying our tax dollars when there’s opportunity to use private dollars? Sylvania has a pretty high tax burden and you would think that by using private dollars would minimize that burden.
August 20th, 2007 at 7:56 amWe can’t exactly say Southwyck has turned out to be anything worth bragging about yet Larry Dillin still does other projects in the City. If there is a reason Sylvania is not interested in the sale, maybe this will at least get that much out there.
August 20th, 2007 at 10:51 amJim Jackson did not fail the steam plant, that was the city AGAIN…
City of Toledo promised to abate the Asbestos and other things, and it was not done….
Private investor’s trying reduce tax burden for tax payers.
What a novel idea…..Taking government out of the picture for once, but yet we still have people running there mouth’s.
Again I say why is the city like it is??
August 20th, 2007 at 11:20 amCouple of things.
I’d like to know how much the City has paid Larry Dillin for the “Esplanade”, “Southwyck” (two revisions) and “Marina District” plans?
About Jimmy Jackson, I bet it’s the first time an
African-American businessman has approached the City of Sylvania with a business proposal.
Maybe they are afraid he will book some R&B groups into Centennial Terrace. Oh my, imagine that, cultural diversity in Sylvania.
August 20th, 2007 at 12:28 pmI cannot believe that this particular topic is turning into a “Toledo” and a “Racism” issue. But again, it’s up to anyone’s opinion, gotta respect that despite of what the actual topic is about.
August 20th, 2007 at 1:35 pmHey Mike20?
David Ball has “claimed” the “delay” in the continuing work on the plant is because of some “alleged” application delays, not the city. If Jim Jackson had any “celebrity pull”, those “applications” would have already been addressed and progress would continue on the structure.
Carty’s just tired of looking at the garbage. Don’t blame him.
August 20th, 2007 at 7:26 pmI don’t think Jimmy Jackson has any pull as to what the last delay entailed, which is related to the change in the balcony design. I understand the “Carty’s tired of looking at garbage” aspect, yet the same could be said for Southwyck which has been in bad shape for longer than the Steam Plant was even a plan.
My point being, not every developer in our area has a great track record with all of their projects yet that does not stop them from doing new ones and getting support not just from the community but the government.
If we are going to discuss the Steam Plant, some links that might be of interest:
Toledo Free Press from June 2005.
August 2006
November 2006
Toledo Blade April 2007.
Those are just some of the many articles out there, I’ve raised the question of the unrealistic time frame that was created in the first place given how long it takes to get through the approval process with the Historical Society the first time, let alone then change the plans. That said, I do believe if we are going to encourage people to invest and the money is there for the purchase, that unless it’s a scenario where if Jackson is involved in one he can’t put the funds into another, that should be the only valid reason to saying no.
It will be interesting to see what if any comment Sylvania has on this issue, I know Fox Toledo has contacted them and I’m sure some of the other media has as well.
August 20th, 2007 at 7:59 pmWhy did Fox News run a story about 7-11 selling chicken nuggets right after the coverage of Q3’s development proposal.
August 20th, 2007 at 11:10 pmI’m pretty sure it had nothing to do with the Q3 development, when I watched at four p.m. there was no mention of chicken nuggets.
August 20th, 2007 at 11:20 pmAlthough I haven’t eaten fast food in five years, chicken nuggets are damn good. While I refuse to eat fast food, I miss the nuggets, really I do. For some reason my blood pressure hasn’t dropped. Maybe I should stop thinking about fast food.
August 21st, 2007 at 2:24 amLisa?
David Ball has been involved with developing downtown for a while now. There really is no excuse for “deviating from the plan” for those balconies. David knows better.
The problem I feel is the same failures are allowed to continue to fail with the same people and no one gets the clue. How are all of Jimmy’s ventures going these days?
I honestly have yet to see a developer actually do the job set before them without 50 excuses by either the “permitting” procedure or the “tax-breaks” worth? waiting for.
Altho it is easy to blame the city for some “asbestos removal” for the steam plant, let’s place the blame for this failure where it’s deserved, right Jack? Mr Nagy deserved that shot at the plant.
August 21st, 2007 at 5:01 amOr maybe we should have let Larry Dillin get a crack at it, I don’t think he has enough of our tax dollars yet….
In reference to “Jack”, now were going to make this a race thing…
Have you ever met Mr. Jackson, and talked with him about any projects that he has done, and how much he loves this city, and about his charitable contributions he makes. Have you ever talked to him about his 3 on 3 basketball tournament for kids that he foots the bill for, or asked him how the city”administration” has treated him…
I bet not, easier just to bash him, and make chicken remarks about him.
August 21st, 2007 at 8:08 amAnyone who doesn’t think this is a “race” issue is burying their head in the sand, especially the suburbs.
I heard a spokesman for Sylvania Recreation say they were exploring all options, if that was the case why didn’t they tell Jimmy Jackson that instead of not responding to him.
The reality is the demographics of this nation are changing, let’s face it for those of you who want to keep things on the lighter side, it’s not going to happen.
Speaking of which, where has Lily White been?
August 21st, 2007 at 10:57 amSome background on the issue…Lucas County commissioners sold/gave this land to the SAJRD for $1 with the understanding that the property could then be sold without a public bid. The idea of Q3 purchasing the corner to build a drug store goes back to 2006 – except that the county couldn’t just sell the land to Q3 because of public bidding requirments.
Earlier in the year, the commissioners gave/sold the land for $1 knowing that the plan was for the SAJRD to re-sell the property for over $1 million (original price was $1.5 million) to Q3. SAJRD would then get to keep the profits on the land, although there is no ‘requirement’ that they reduce their taxes nor their requests for funding from the Commissioners.
In order for this deal to go through, city/township/school board must address numerous issues of water, annexation, parking, etc.
I love the way that this is being ’spun’ …
p.s. I blogged about this back in april:
August 21st, 2007 at 11:39 amMaggie, which makes sense for SAJRD to consider Mr. Jackson’s proposal. Enough of the considerations to put on a levy, heaven forbid! It’s time to “think outside the box” instead of putting the burden on the residents of this county.
Thanks for the information though.
August 21st, 2007 at 1:59 pmyes, Rockets Man… except I don’t expect there’s any way to prohibit a levy if the sale goes through…especially if any profits from a sale are dedicated to capital costs – not operating costs.
As Shakespeare said, “Aye, there’s the rub”…
August 21st, 2007 at 2:08 pmA public entity such as a joint recreational district cannot sell public property with conducting an auction of taking bids. More important however is the legality of a joint rec district selling property for commercial development. It would not appear that Ohio law permits a joint rec district to make such a sale.
August 22nd, 2007 at 9:58 pm