Plans emerge for old Winona

August 14, 2009
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Winona hospitalA few weeks back, IBJ reported on early proposals for the vacant former Winona Memorial Hospital. The five-story property is saddled with about $2 million in unpaid taxes and soon will become public property. So far, two groups have stepped up with ideas: The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis wants the city to tear down the building on North Meridian Street and clean up the site so it can build a community park and outdoor learning center. And a private firm that specializes in environmentally impaired properties wants to remove all the asbestos and renovate it into senior apartments, keeping what had been a for-profit hospital on the tax rolls. Both groups expect to make their pitch for the property at 3232 N. Meridian St. after the city takes ownership. The full story is here. IBJ's editorial board weighs in on the issue here.
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  • Indy RockAugust 14, 2009 4:46 PM
    Honestly, both proposals seem practical and feasible. I'm have mixed feelings for both. I guess I'll just let the best guy win and be happy with it! :)
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  • MikeWAugust 14, 2009 9:07 PM
    This may be odd, but I wonder if the re-development plan into a private enterprise would really need all that space? Maybe The childrens Museum could scale back their park idea with some less land, and vice versa for the private. That way, taxpayers still get benefit of most of the property being back on the tax roll, we keep the citizens in the community who support and advocate for the Children's Museum happy (as we should, its a tremendous facility. I ran in to out of towners from Boston on their way to Boulder and heard about the CM and stopped by for the day).

    Surely a compromise for all parties could occurr. The taxpayers ultimately win because they get more tax money in the city, use of part of the property by visiting museum, and it cleans up a large distressed area not just along meridian, but also along somewhat unsightly Illinois Street.
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  • IvoAugust 14, 2009 11:36 PM
    green space or tax base? hmmmmmm... what a tough choice!!
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  • BobAugust 15, 2009 8:06 AM
    How long do we believe it will stay green space...once the city pays all of the cost of tearing it down the CM will find the capital for an expansion....
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  • American DirtAugust 15, 2009 11:14 AM
    I agree with Bob. If the CM still has a $220m endowment, their claim that they don't have the money to remediate the buildings is suspect. I always thought it would be part of a CM expansion plan, but a nature park on a constrained block surrounded by an economically challenged inner-city neighborhood does not seem to harmonize that well.
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  • MarisolAugust 16, 2009 3:21 AM
    I love CM as much as the next person, but DAMN, if Indy does not take advantage of this opportunity, I will honestly consider moving out of Marion County,
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  • fat dudeAugust 16, 2009 11:46 PM
    I think both proposals could be blended together.The seniors don't need the parking and the children would be good for them to enjoy. The city gets the tax dollars and the CM gets another attraction.
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  • Billy BaruleAugust 17, 2009 10:05 AM
    I am anxious to see how much revenue will be returned to the tax rolls. Not trying to be cynical but I think I have seen this one before (OLD ST V's building).
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  • MikeWAugust 17, 2009 10:42 AM
    Well, I'm sure it won't be as much as you think to the tax rolls. $2M in unpaid taxes on the property. Those will probably be waived by the city for CM or the developer just to get something moving on it. Then, more than likely if it is a private devleoper, there will be some form of Tax Abatement for this property. So all in all its not going to be that big of an addition to the tax rolls. However, it will add more in forms of payroll tax, etc.

    Why can't there be a compromize for the good of both companies. Does the Private developer really need every square inche of the parcel. Why can't the CM still get a smaller portion of the land to have a scaled down version of their educational outdoor space, and then the Developer pays less for the land, and is utilizing just the space he needs.

    Then it is a Win-WIN.
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  • JoshAugust 17, 2009 11:19 AM
    It could be an exhibit - the children can come watch the seniors and the seniors could have some fun mentoring opportunities.
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  • IvoAugust 17, 2009 1:31 PM
    Corey,

    How come the NewsTalk Blog has two real estate issues posted??
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  • WoodyAugust 18, 2009 3:23 PM
    Maybe a local developer would like to take a crack at making a run. Is the City going to issue an RFP?
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  • CoryWAugust 20, 2009 1:31 PM
    Senior apartments. Sorry, but make the C.M. pay to clean it up if they want it. That organization is not hurting for money!
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  1. liek the rest of America

  2. These quaint,obsessed musings by the stalkers are certainly entertaining, but I'm trying to figure out what, if anything, all the yelping below has to do with Zak Brown.

  3. It's evident that Moffett was pushing the right buttons and corporate America is now trying to squash him. He just wanted to withdraw the free pilot services provided to the company by the pilots to try and put some pressure on a company that has not been interested in negotiating a contract in over 5 years. The company does not provide a contract because not having one has saved them a bundle of money. Shame on any Republic pilots not standing behind their union leader just because things are getting tough, can you not see such strategic moves by the company as putting the last union president in a corporate position and into THEIR pocket. Do you really believe the last union president is so appalled at the attempts by Moffett, do you not remember his oppositions to the company? We stood behind him. It has been proven over and over again for thousands of years without fail, a man cannot serve two masters. Anyone that believes people vote contrary to their paycheck and livelihood deserve to be taken advantage of, the recent statements by the former union president are laughable as he denounces the current union president from his new corporate position. Have you ever seen a drafted sports player score points for his previous team, it cannot be done, he is not on the pilots side anymore, he gets his money a different way now than you and I do, and he should not be allowed to remain on the seniority list. A drafted player brings strength, credibility, tactical knowledge, and a strategic advantage to his NEW team, he would not be drafted or paid were it otherwise. We are all forced to choose only one side to play for and support, not doing so has many references in life such as insider trading and shaving points, all illegal for good reason. This basic fact is why corporate moguls, scientist, and engineers all sign non-discloser agreements and non-compete clauses, as protection in case they are lured into switching sides as our former union president has done. No NFL coach ever drafted a player so that both teams could benefit and better understand each other, they are recruited to win the game against that former team, period. Likewise the company does not recruit the former union president by accident or mutual understanding, its strategy. Don't confuse playing the game with good sportsman-like conduct in support of common business and prosperity goals, with the requirement to only play for one side. Good men we all love and favor fall subject to this manipulation, often without their knowledge, and it is not a betrayal of their friendship to oppose them when they switch sides. If we did not love and trust them, they would not have been chosen and lured to the other side in the first place. The deception by the drafted player is not made at a conscious level, it's just human nature and it's all about money and power which corrupts our ability to be objective and loyal to two masters. This is why our court system created the defense attorney, and why our military created counter intelligence. Its strategy and its propaganda, and it works, and that's why the "powers to be" manipulate the chess pieces by sometimes changing their colors. Some players know they are being manipulated when their color is changed, but it brings them more money and power so they do not care. The rest have good intentions but do not even realize they are being manipulated. This tactic is also known by another name, Divide and Conquer. In battle sending an imperfect message with an imperfect team is obviously not ideal, but it's still being sent by YOUR team, your union leader, a leader that has common goals and common rewards with you, they are the best, because we have elected them to do a job for us. If you are not backing Moffett but believing the spin by those that have recently switched sides, you are taking food out of your own mouth. Showing unity and backing an imperfect situation still results in taking just as much ground, it's about unity and bargaining power. It's not necessary to wait around for that perfect attack because it will never come, the company will spin and attempt to destroy anyone that gets in their way. Ultimately it's not about any specific attack anyway, ASAP or whatever it makes no difference, it is and always has been only about power. If this company cared about safety it would not build pairings with 8 hour overnights, come on, are you that naive? Besides, do you really think Hoffa cares, no, he got a call from corporate America and was squeezed into denouncing Moffett. If he didn't they would spin the safety card against him and the Teamsters National with implication for truckers, future contracts, insurance rates etc...saying something like the Teamsters use safety as a bargaining chip, blah blah blah... Do you really think any pilot is going to do something unsafe for the contract, absolutely not, the only ones threatening safety here is the company with reduced rest, fatigue, and poverty. Do you not find it odd that Hoffa and the Teamsters are opposing a Teamster president publicly? Would the Teamsters National not normally support and work with one of their own? Why did they not sit down and help him strategize, correct any mistakes, and charge ahead? Would the Teamsters National not normally support and leverage a contract for all those pilots that have been paying Teamster dues, isn't that why we have all been paying Teamster dues in the first place? I sure haven't been paying dues so that the Teamsters National could come along and write this kind of an article undercutting our union leader and our unity. Whose side is the Teamsters National really on, it's obviously not the Republic pilots side.

  4. No matter what Moffatt does the company is going to spin it like he is the terrorist and brainwash people like you into believing it, wake up, back your players that are trying to change things for you and your livelihood. Where has Hoffa been for the last 6 years, except collecting our dues. Seriously, do you really think an FO going for upgrade, signed off by a checkairman ready for the upgrade, who then fails, is not even capable of returning as a First Officer.

  5. whoa!

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