Comments on: Because We Could Always Use More Vacant Office Space http://www.whatsgoingdowntown.com/2009/08/21/because-we-could-always-use-more-vacant-office-space/ Sat, 04 Sep 2010 20:39:49 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: john b. kalb http://www.whatsgoingdowntown.com/2009/08/21/because-we-could-always-use-more-vacant-office-space/comment-page-1/#comment-11028 john b. kalb Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:00:29 +0000 http://www.whatsgoingdowntown.com/?p=3309#comment-11028 Scott - That's a good idea. Can someone let us know if any suit against Barry has to be brought by the city administration? Or could the common council initiate such a legal action? How about a citizen of Fort Wayne? Or a not-for-profit, single-purpose , Indiana corporation? Scott – That’s a good idea. Can someone let us know if any suit against Barry has to be brought by the city administration? Or could the common council initiate such a legal action? How about a citizen of Fort Wayne? Or a not-for-profit, single-purpose , Indiana corporation?

]]> By: Scott Bryson http://www.whatsgoingdowntown.com/2009/08/21/because-we-could-always-use-more-vacant-office-space/comment-page-1/#comment-11005 Scott Bryson Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:56:30 +0000 http://www.whatsgoingdowntown.com/?p=3309#comment-11005 Unfortunately is shows that the leadership of the city is dazzled by money and doesn't think things through. Why not let another company develop the land for condos since Barry will never build anything there. I say sue Barry for the cost of the stadium to get the people's money back. Unfortunately is shows that the leadership of the city is dazzled by money and doesn’t think things through. Why not let another company develop the land for condos since Barry will never build anything there. I say sue Barry for the cost of the stadium to get the people’s money back.

]]> By: Mark http://www.whatsgoingdowntown.com/2009/08/21/because-we-could-always-use-more-vacant-office-space/comment-page-1/#comment-10951 Mark Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:28:10 +0000 http://www.whatsgoingdowntown.com/?p=3309#comment-10951 Ridiculous that a lower price point is not okay "because of the nice baseball field, parking garage, and hotel" Yeah - that's all going to be really nice, but it baffles me that they ever thought 250k condos would be okay when you can get something similar in Atlanta for less money in a more thriving area. Isn't Hardball from Atlanta? 100-200k as a price point seems like it should have been doable, and my guess is they would have gone pretty fast. Why buy a 250k condo when you can get a nice house for far less in the Lakeside, Foster Park, or West-Central area? Ridiculous that a lower price point is not okay “because of the nice baseball field, parking garage, and hotel” Yeah – that’s all going to be really nice, but it baffles me that they ever thought 250k condos would be okay when you can get something similar in Atlanta for less money in a more thriving area. Isn’t Hardball from Atlanta?

100-200k as a price point seems like it should have been doable, and my guess is they would have gone pretty fast. Why buy a 250k condo when you can get a nice house for far less in the Lakeside, Foster Park, or West-Central area?

]]> By: Andy http://www.whatsgoingdowntown.com/2009/08/21/because-we-could-always-use-more-vacant-office-space/comment-page-1/#comment-10941 Andy Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:17:55 +0000 http://www.whatsgoingdowntown.com/?p=3309#comment-10941 I second Dave's thoughts. Downtown already has quite a bit of VACANT office space. If downtown FW is to make a go of it, then we need a healthy mix of retail, office, and people actually LIVING in the middle of downtown. I do believe there is a need for loft-style, urban themed apts in downtown FW. Forking over a quarter of a mil for a condo downtown has proven to be not realistic. Midtowne appears to me to be doing well with a good portion of the condos' owners currently renting them out. I would think a Harrison multi-use building with retail on the bottom and urban lofts on the next three flrs, would have a good chance of succeeding. It would also fit into a niche market, something current downtown apartment complexes don't have. If Barry can't/won't do it, then let's entertain the thought of someone else stepping up to the plate. I second Dave’s thoughts.

Downtown already has quite a bit of VACANT office space. If downtown FW is to make a go of it, then we need a healthy mix of retail, office, and people actually LIVING in the middle of downtown.

I do believe there is a need for loft-style, urban themed apts in downtown FW. Forking over a quarter of a mil for a condo downtown has proven to be not realistic. Midtowne appears to me to be doing well with a good portion of the condos’ owners currently renting them out. I would think a Harrison multi-use building with retail on the bottom and urban lofts on the next three flrs, would have a good chance of succeeding. It would also fit into a niche market, something current downtown apartment complexes don’t have.

If Barry can’t/won’t do it, then let’s entertain the thought of someone else stepping up to the plate.

]]> By: john b. kalb http://www.whatsgoingdowntown.com/2009/08/21/because-we-could-always-use-more-vacant-office-space/comment-page-1/#comment-10925 john b. kalb Mon, 24 Aug 2009 01:01:33 +0000 http://www.whatsgoingdowntown.com/?p=3309#comment-10925 Our Redevelopment Department is becoming worried that the $5 million in Indiana State Tax credits will never be used by anyone, since they deeded them over to Barry Real Estate/Hardball Capital for this boondoggle. So, anything to enable using these - EVEN FOR SOMETHING UNNEEDED. Just like most everything any government entity is involved in that requires financial support, gets it from floating a bond issue, paying it back with tax revenues and then claim that the government is not in debt! This is miserable B.S.- and we keep sending them back to screw us some more! Our Redevelopment Department is becoming worried that the $5 million in Indiana State Tax credits will never be used by anyone, since they deeded them over to Barry Real Estate/Hardball Capital for this boondoggle. So, anything to enable using these – EVEN FOR SOMETHING UNNEEDED. Just like most everything any government entity is involved in that requires financial support, gets it from floating a bond issue, paying it back with tax revenues and then claim that the government is not in debt! This is miserable B.S.- and we keep sending them back to screw us some more!

]]> By: Joe S. http://www.whatsgoingdowntown.com/2009/08/21/because-we-could-always-use-more-vacant-office-space/comment-page-1/#comment-10881 Joe S. Sat, 22 Aug 2009 16:04:31 +0000 http://www.whatsgoingdowntown.com/?p=3309#comment-10881 Probably because apartments wouldn't generate near as much $$ as the $300,000 condos. But neither would vacant office space!! Probably because apartments wouldn’t generate near as much $$ as the $300,000 condos. But neither would vacant office space!!

]]> By: Dave http://www.whatsgoingdowntown.com/2009/08/21/because-we-could-always-use-more-vacant-office-space/comment-page-1/#comment-10876 Dave Sat, 22 Aug 2009 12:54:52 +0000 http://www.whatsgoingdowntown.com/?p=3309#comment-10876 This is really pathetic and an absurd job of the contract writers on behalf of the city. The contract should have contained provisions levying additional revenues from the stadium to the city for each day the condos were not built regardless of whether they had sold enough which followed a hockey stick progression to more levies granted until the 3rd party completed their obligations. Given the new office park now on I-69 and Jefferson and this - I'm sure we can completely destroy our already dismal office occupancy rates in this town. I hear some companies are breaking their existing leases and demanding $5 per square foot for office space since many are willing to go that low just to cover their costs. The city better get the economic development people working hard on getting new businesses and jobs to fill all those vacancies. I don't understand why the design cannot become apartments. This is really pathetic and an absurd job of the contract writers on behalf of the city. The contract should have contained provisions levying additional revenues from the stadium to the city for each day the condos were not built regardless of whether they had sold enough which followed a hockey stick progression to more levies granted until the 3rd party completed their obligations. Given the new office park now on I-69 and Jefferson and this – I’m sure we can completely destroy our already dismal office occupancy rates in this town. I hear some companies are breaking their existing leases and demanding $5 per square foot for office space since many are willing to go that low just to cover their costs.

The city better get the economic development people working hard on getting new businesses and jobs to fill all those vacancies.

I don’t understand why the design cannot become apartments.

]]> By: Joe S. http://www.whatsgoingdowntown.com/2009/08/21/because-we-could-always-use-more-vacant-office-space/comment-page-1/#comment-10855 Joe S. Fri, 21 Aug 2009 18:25:57 +0000 http://www.whatsgoingdowntown.com/?p=3309#comment-10855 Turning this into office space would be a debacle. What percentage of the National City building is vacant? What percent of the One Summit Square Building is vacant. Just turn these condos into lofts, or apartments!! This should not be difficult! Turning this into office space would be a debacle. What percentage of the National City building is vacant? What percent of the One Summit Square Building is vacant. Just turn these condos into lofts, or apartments!! This should not be difficult!

]]> By: Richard http://www.whatsgoingdowntown.com/2009/08/21/because-we-could-always-use-more-vacant-office-space/comment-page-1/#comment-10852 Richard Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:49:33 +0000 http://www.whatsgoingdowntown.com/?p=3309#comment-10852 Any ideas why this can't have both or include apartments? Any ideas why this can’t have both or include apartments?

]]> By: RMike http://www.whatsgoingdowntown.com/2009/08/21/because-we-could-always-use-more-vacant-office-space/comment-page-1/#comment-10844 RMike Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:03:38 +0000 http://www.whatsgoingdowntown.com/?p=3309#comment-10844 "TinCaps Campground" Urban camping is now! “TinCaps Campground” Urban camping is now!

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