Don Halls Guesthouse
1313 W Washington Center Rd
Fort Wayne, IN 46825-4142

Found 1 report:

Submitted by “Thomas Wrublewski” on 06/12/2010

June 9, 2010 stayed in room 208 of Don Hall’s Guesthouse at 1313 West Washington Center Road Fort Wayne IN 46825. I slept in the bed closest to the bathroom and woke up with 2 bright red bed bug bites on right side of my chest. I wrote up the incident for the hotel and left it with front desk clerk on June 10, 2010.

Report is here.

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As we reported here, the dozen wingnut Kely-ites that filed the complaint, were misguided in their smear campaign against the judge.

Judge Scheibenberger’s spokesperson told AWB the judge said, “Now we can focus on the real issues of the election, and winning in November.”

Good for Kenny.

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It was a bittersweet moment today for Graham Richard, our former mayor.

Graham stood at the very back of the crowd of 200 or so people, mostly heavy hitters, politicians and affiliates of one downtown organization or another, to watch current Mayor Tom Henry, Redevelopment Director Greg Leatherman and a few others give and take credit for the new hotel adjacent to the ballpark.

It was all Graham’s vision and his name was mentioned once in passing.

So, a couple of representatives of the hotel spoke about the process and about their surprise at seeing so many people turn out to support the opening. Inside there were another 100 or so folk enjoying the new sports bar, milling in the lobby or waiting for a room or wondering what the crowd was all about.

It is a nice hotel. The sports bar is filled with big screen TVs, there are plenty of booths and bar stools and tables. Big smiles abound. It is new, it is clean, it is open and fresh. You might want to come down just to see the place.

A few years back it was just an idea. Most of that area was blighted, really blighted: there were a few houses among the weeds, there were a few parking lots, Belmont Liquors, a nice suburban-look restaurant and more weeds. The houses, for the most part, had seen their best days many years ago.

Mayor Richard had a vision and pushed his staff, including Mr. Leatherman, to make it happen. Obviously, there were bumps along the way, and questionable transactions, but the vision of a ballpark, a hotel, a large parking garage and a condo complex is now 3/4 of the way to realization.

Greg Leatherman was given the greatest credit and, perhaps, the strongest round of applause, deservedly so. The hoteliers credited him with making sure that the project crossed every hurdle. He took a modest bow. The hoteliers complimented the local banks that got on board, because of button-holing by the mayor, and they spoke of the mass that had been created with the huge project nestled among the Grand Wayne, the Embassy, the Lincoln campus, the Library, the Firefighters Museum, the Botanical Conservator and the Federal Building. One fellow emphasized the density, the mass, that had been created as a reason the hotel could go forward. Much applause.

So, now it is up to Mr. Leatherman to make the last piece of the puzzle come to pass, the condo building. He assured me that Barry is making progress, but they still do not have a lead bank around which other lenders can rally. It is different, he said, finding financing for that sort of a building, compared to a hotel, because lenders expect a full portfolio of leases in hand, signed and notarized. It is different also, he lamented, because the easy money that washed all over the place when the project was envisioned is now a fond memory. Bankers are hoarding their money.

Greg added that he was also left out of the loop when Barry flew in the high-level Savannah delegation in mid-August to see the ballpark. Nobody, except Tim Pape, the mayor and another unnamed council member, were privy to the stealth tour. We are digging for that other name. And, Greg said to me before the dedication today that there was not a media campaign to discredit John Shoaff, the principle critic of the project. Things just worked out that way, he said, and I believe him. In the 30-years I have known Greg I know when he is holding back. You will remember Mr. Leatherman was on two radio talk programs and two editorials appeared, both attacking Mr. Shoaff. Seemed like a campaign, but Greg insisted it was not.

So, Barry Realty is the on the spot. The other three legs of the project are complete leaving just a big hole in the ground to mark their languishing promise to the community. It is good that John Shoaff pushes Barry hard and demands the liquidated damages be paid. If nothing more, it is a reminder that we are all paying close attention. The $400k that would result would help the city budget, no doubt.

Leatherman, for his part, fully believes that Barry will make good on their promise and his points to a few leases that are nearly ready to go. He also reminded me that Barry has already put some $6 million into the ball complex and deserves some credit for the entirety of the project.

Meanwhile, at the back of the crowd, in blue jeans and a light shirt, no tie, no suit, loafers, not oxfords, taking it all in with a tired smile was the guy who had the vision and pushed so hard to make it happen. Today, he said to me, would have been his mother’s 92nd birthday. She would have been very proud.

Related posts:

1. Stealth Visitors from the South By Jim Sack September first is the grand opening day...
2. Another embarrassment for the city administration By Jim Sack The controversial toll bridge to the Embassy...
3. What about Barry? All has been quiet on the Barry Real Estate, Harrison...

Muslims Give Obama Highest Job Approval; Mormons, Lowest
Jews and those with no religious affiliation also give Obama above-average ratings

Somehow, this is not surprising.

Complete story here.

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September first is the grand opening day of the new hotel adjacent to Parkview Field in downtown Fort Wayne. It should be seen as a feather in the cap of Mayor Tom Henry, and should also call into question the administration’s support for Barry Realty.

When Mayor Graham Richard envisioned the massive central city development there were four components: the ball park, the hotel, the condo/retail building and a parking garage. Three are now operating. Only the Barry Realty promise to build the condo building -four stories, scores of condos, ground-floor entertainment and offices- remains unfulfilled.

Barry says the economy went south and they have had a devil of a time finding tenants and condo buyers. Without those leases in hand they are unable to find financing, they say.

The hotel was similarly stymied by financing problems, but the mayor, to his credit, walked from local bank to local bank hustling the necessary financing to finish the deal. He rounded it up and construction went forward.

So the question has to be asked why the city has not been as aggressive in finding financing for the Barry Building? Tapped out? Less enthusiasm? Bigger fish to fry? It seems that if the mayor could shake the bushes for the hotel he could do the same thing for the condo building where he and his wife avidly signed up to buy the first condo.

But, instead, city redevelopment director Greg Leatherman has been making the radio rounds apologizing for Barry’s unsuccessful fund raising effort and arguing that they should not have to pay $5,000 a day compensation to the city for failing to uphold their part of the deal. That provision, not a penalty, but compensation to the city for lost tax revenues, was negotiated into the contract which was happily signed by Barry/Hardball. Mr. Leatherman argues that such a punitive step would booger the relationship with Barry/Hardball and sully our reputation around the country among those who would like to have a similar sweet deal with local government, as does Barry/Hardball.

Recently, an article appeared in the Savannah Morning News, a leading Georgia paper, recounting a trip by some of their city leaders here to Fort Wayne to see our park. The city officials and chamber of commerce head were flown up by Barry/Hardball and given the grand tour in the hope that Savannah would then replicate Parkview Field in Savannah with Barry and Hardball that city’s partners. Oddly, the mid-August visit by these dignitaries was not mentioned by Mayor Henry to anyone in town, except Tim Pape and a few others. Most city council members found out about the visit ex-post facto. “Why am I always the last to know,” lamented one councilwoman. A second visit scheduled for this coming weekend was postponed by Savannah officials for a variety of reasons, mostly to do with the holiday. Mid-September is now penciled in.

Given that the Mayor has sent Mr. Leatherman to WOWO and WBOI to tout the benefits of the field and to refute Councilman John Shoaff’s demand that the $5k per day be assessed. Chris Guerin, a member of the Redevelopment Commission, also was enlisted to write an op-ed piece in the Journal in support of the mayor’s position. And, the Journal-Gazette issued an editorial last weekend further in support of the mayor’s position and critical of Mr. Shoaff. It is an orchestrated campaign to undermine the councilman’s demand to adhere to the contract or to rewrite it, a message that was fundamentally seconded by Councilman Mitch Harper.

So, why did the administration keep the Savannah dignitary visit hush-hush? Not even, it seems, did the mayor’s PR director know the Southerners were in town until they were gone. One would think that such a high level visit to ooooh and aaaaah over our little gem would be more ammunition for the mayor and Mr. Leatherman/Guerin.

So, one has to wonder why the stealth visit was not announced?

Related posts:

1. A bittersweet moment at the new hotel By Jim Sack It was a bittersweet moment today for...
2. What about Barry? What’s happening with Barry Real Estate and the failed condo/retail...
3. Once again no transparency from Henry’s office – it’s a big secret Hardball Capital and Barry Real Estate responded to Fort Wayne’s...

The Gary Snyder Show on FM 100 Talks

Where politics and sports collide in Northeast Indiana!

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Huntington, IN. - Steve Ochs, Independent candidate for Huntington County Sheriff, today released the following statement regarding the decision by Republican candidate for Huntington County Sheriff, Terry Stoffel, to turn down an invitation from the Huntington TEA Party to participate in a public debate at the Huntington North High School Auditorium on October 23, 2010.

“It is unfortunate my opponent has decided not to come before the voters of Huntington County in a public forum and answer questions about serious issues facing Huntington County and the Huntington County Sheriff’s Department,” Ochs said. “I personally feel that the citizens of Huntington County deserve the opportunity to interview the man that they will choose to put in a position of authority in their community.  I am willing to openly discuss any matters of concern that citizens may have about this vital public service position.  I cannot understand why any candidate would avoid an opportunity to assist the community in its decision making for the upcoming election.  I ask that my opponent reconsider his decision to avoid public debate,” added Ochs.

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Under consideration in Savannah is whether a brand spanking new arena would become a new home for the Savannah Sand Gnats. If it flies, it will require a public-private partnership amounting to tens of millions of taxpayer dollars. Sound familiar? Wait for the end.

On Aug. 13, the Sand Gnats’ parent company, Hardball Capital, paid to fly Acting City Manager Rochelle Small-Toney, Alderwoman Mary Ellen Sprague and more than a dozen area business leaders to Fort Wayne, Ind., to tour Parkview Field, the year-old arena built for the minor-league TinCaps, which Hardball also owns.

A second trip is planned in September for another Savannah group, which would include other city officials.

“Our thought was that it probably made sense to let the folks in Savannah see what we’ve done in Fort Wayne,” said Jason Freier, co-owner of the Sand Gnats. “The venue is not just for baseball. We’ve done more than 250 events, including concerts, six weddings and business and community functions. It’s not what you’d think of as a baseball stadium.”

Funny, there was no mention of the big-ass gaping hole in left field. It gets better.

Even with renovations, Grayson Stadium, the Sand Gnats’ current home, has its limitations, Freier said. The city, which owns the stadium, has put $5 million worth of improvements into the ballpark through the same 2006 sales-tax fund.

Still, Freier said, “We need to look at how much we continue to spend on an aging venue.”

And then there’s the question of the Savannah River Landing property.

It was supposed to launch a high-end retail, hotel and condominium complex that would generate more than $57.5 million in tax dollars. With development in limbo, tax dollars aren’t coming in as expected, and the city, meanwhile, is obligated to pay back $20 million in bonds to finance infrastructure improvements. This year, the debt obligation is $546,450. But by 2012, the cost will hover at more than $1.3 million until 2032.

In addition to boosting average game attendance, Fort Wayne’s new stadium helped launch surrounding development, including a new hotel scheduled to open Sept. 1 and a residential/retail component, Freier said.

Pardon the &^%$, what the hell did he say?

I have some snake oil for sale if you believe this crap.

Freier is apparently adept at lying through his nose.

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Shooters in Waynedale! This was the place that we went to a few weeks ago and the guy at the door told us to come in, invite your friends, unless they are “COLOREDS” “We need to keep them coloreds out” Yes, that is exactly what the guy said.

I don’t know who the guy working the door was, or, if his racist remarks were condoned by the owners.

They won’t be seeing me in there.

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When I say The Gary Snyder Show on FM 100 Talks, Monday from 6-7 p.m. is packed, that statement is probably an understatement.  Joining me Monday areDavid Limbaugh, yes the brother of Rush and author of the New York Times best-seller “Crimes against Liberty: An Indictment of President Barack Obama”;Terry Jeffrey, editor-in-chief of CNSnews.com and author of “Control Freaks:  7 Ways Liberals Want to Ruin Your Life”; and finally, Glen Asbury, conservative activist and blogger extraordinaire, will call in and give us a report on the Glen Beck rally in D.C. over the weekend.  All this and since it’s Monday, FREE golf from Frazanda Golf Course.

Where politics and sports collide in Northeast Indiana!

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Occasionally, an interesting name appears on the tax sale records. For the uninitiated, the county conducts tax sales of properties that are behind on property tax payments, so far behind, in fact, that the county will make you a deal. You can buy the bad debt of the property owner and, if the owner does not redeem the property, it is yours for whatever you bid.

In the 1980s a local politician was sunk when his name appeared on the tax rolls as delinquent. His name appeared again on this roll.

So, I look at each tax sale list to determine if there are properties that I might want, or if my name, god forbid, is there. I perused the list, which is public and is found in the auditor’s office, this morning.

I found the name of John F. Popp. Not sure whether that is the famous JFP, but he is $4,029 behind on a property. The partnership of Hanning and Bean, another famous local real estate name, is behind on a number of properties, one for more than $203,000. The City of Fort Wayne is also listed as delinquent. The Diocese of Fort Wayne is behind, a Church of God and a Trinity Baptist Church are delinquent. (Perhaps we need to pass the plate another time.) It looks like American Legion Post #82 needs to raise its dues.

Frost Inc. is behind on a property on Calhoun Street. The US Postal Service owes a few shekels, as does the United Steelworkers and Hassan Barrel. Something called Rity Properties is behind on pages of properties, and Rainbow Community Organization owes the county thousands on a variety of near east side properties.

A bit of Bear Stearns detritus shows up with two properties under trust. Even from the grave they own. BS, aptly named, was one of the Wall Street high-flyer investment houses that crashed, burned and set fire to much of our economy in 2008.

Hannover Lending has a few delinquent properties on its books.

But, my favorite was Go Invest Wisely with a string of delinquent taxes. Hmmmm.

Editor’s note: Is this one in the same? http://www.goinvestwisely.com/

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Their reason for not hearing the complaint was the person that filed it would not reveal their name.

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The FBI  arrested Slavey as a result of finding child pornography on the computers, and is being charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.

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