misstia - You are correct that Akron is struggling and it has been for some years - this is why the university and city are trying something new - and it will probably take several years for any progress to be made. Or, it may not work. Who knows...

I do find it interesting that you chose to ignore the other comparisons I had made. Successful examples, I might add.

I also find it interesting how may people on here are willing to jump all over the city, but have let the owner of the building off the hook, for the most part. Shouldn't the anger be focused on him?

I also hope Acorn Alley does well. This is why my wife and I always make it a point to try and stop down to the Pita Pit or other stores to have a bite to eat or shop. As a matter of fact, we are attempting to do all of our Christmas shopping downtown this year.

If we want these things to succeed, we have to realize that our city government is only responsible to a certain degree. At some point we have to look in the mirror. Do we patronize these establishments? If we don't, then we cannot expect the Kent to have prosperous businesses.

Uh, VILCO? If you're seriously going to nitpick DSmiths spelling error, perhaps you should use proper capitalization, punctuation, and tense in your comments. Especially in the same sentence you rip into him about it -

"i[I]t's good to see your[YOU'RE] concerned about the community[,] obviously because it is where you're[YOUR] bread is butter[ED,] but you need to get your facts & information in order and run spell check before spouting off."

I'm just saying...

Dan Smith does have his head somewhere and it may not be in the sand. sounds like he is running scared over he and Silver MAJOR screw up. after the city loses this one they both need to be OUT-!!! to say that Smith is a lip services for Ruller hits the nail on the head! Mr. Smith should never ever post those ridiculous commets on here, kind of shows his true ignorance. the whole city is falling apart around downtown because none of these people ever travel the other streets to meet the REAL PEOPLE OF KENT and discuss their thoughts. to say the schools are suffering over 1 property is absurd!!

has anyone seen or heard from dan smith lately!

Didn't think he had the backbone to spout off again and answer some simple questions about his buddies.

i am certainly not hding behind a name nor did i last week.


EKlectic

it's not a pass the blame game but only fact.

f.y.i.
code compliance can not be selectively enforced and if you think the hotel is the only true eyesore in town take a brisk walk around town with your eyes wide open.

by your approach, i assume it is acceptable for a public official to make false claims & misleading comments but my comments cross the line.

you happen to miss the point of my comment which was directed & intended to dsmith when i noted in the end "just ask and you will receive". beleive me, he knows along with the rest of the goofs in city hall know what i am talking about.

JMB9039...uh, how is akron working with akron u? the city of akron has GIVEN properties to the university and/or sold at a loss to the mayor's friends properties to be developed catering to university students---not akron residents...the new condos on exchange? for students and actually they aren't selling very well at all and the city has in the contract that they'll buy them back at market value if they don't sell....akron benefits how from that???? what's downtown akron?? businesses, bars and restaurants....oh and the peanut shoppe...i am sure students go to the bars and restaurants....residents go there too....but is there shopping downtown akron (besides the peanut shoppe)? not really....

you cannot compare akron and kent....2 different city's entirely....and akron is doing the wrong thing by practically turning over downtown to the university.....

what about other kent businesses? why is the focus on downtown downtown downtown?? but speaking of downtown, why is downtown filled with bars and tattoo shops? how about curtailing new tattoo shops downtown? or new bars?

the ideal picturesque downtown that many of us grew up with wherever we may be from is for the most place, GONE.....abandoned for malls and big box stores....for people to think students are going to shop downtown is a pipe dream....they go to the bars but the days of walking downtown to shop never existed to the young college students...they have always driven to a big box store, mall, or a strip mall...

i first came to kent (to attend ksu) in 1988....i was from a city that had a downtown (Which has since gone by the wayside) and i would walk downtown kent to shop and i'd end up at spinmore...there was no clothing stores, no bookstores (i know there is an used book store now but i'm talking 1988), and there was a couple boutique shops, but other than that? tattoo shops and bars....i gave up walking downtown and would take the bus to stow-kent plaza (when it was good back in the day)....

it will be interesting to see how acorn alley does....i wish it all the success possible as it looks greats and has a great mix of businesses....but in a few years, will those stores still be there?? i hope....but...i dunno...

even WITH stores, where can you park? you can't even shop for more than 2 hours without dana the compliance officer writing you a ticket....(happened eating lunch at rays one day)....i tried to go to kent jewelry one day but after circling for about 3 trips around the block i gave up....

there is much more wrong with downtown and the city than this hotel....and the city is part of the problem with the hotel....how much has kent spent in the past 10 years on downtown development???? is there a total?? i'd be scared to see that, as it would probably cover repairing most of the streets that need it...

"i will be happy to post every kent property owner with delinquent taxes and include property owner's having property out of compliance with city code/ordinance. just ask and you will receive." There are boundaries one should not cross, and you just reached one of them... :(

Blame, blame, blame... Pass the blame over here! No, put it over there! They don't have enough blame, give it to them!!! The blame game. Are we having fun yet?

Fair Tax

the property transferred from bujack to kent hotel, llc without any portage county or city of kent liens on record. at the time oftransfer the standing bujack judgement/fines were in the possession & control of portage county and not a single party (county or city) choose to enforce the bujack fines prior to the transfer.

the fines were only imposed to force the property owner to comply with the court order in which kent hotel completed within 18 months of becoming the owner.

the city was aware of the transfer and filed the fraudulent lien only after the improvements were almost complete.

this is how the city beleived they would gain some leverage against the owners by playing a supporting role until the property owner sinks a ton of money into the building, cleans it up and then try to take it away. these improvements prevented the property from future damage and made the property marketable. the city has always mentioned to foreclose on the property but never stated their intentions to give in to a couple of the favored townies.

kent is corrupt and the past 40 years are the example

dsmith

first of all have you ever in your time being employed with the kent chamber or the city of kent ever introduced yourself to the kent hotel owner, inspected the property first-hand or ever extended any kind of offer to discuss solutions.

it's good to see your concerned about the community obviously because it is where you're bread is butter but you need to get your facts & information in order and run spell check before spouting off.

Dirctor is spelled DIRECTOR.

you appear to be noting more than lip service for mr. ruller and that is what you were more than likely hired for

i will be happy to post every kent property owner with delinquent taxes and include property owner's having property out of compliance with city code/ordinance. just ask and you will receive.

i am not surprised you forgot to mention mr. simpson of the kent stage and his situation. i would think your buddy mr. simpson would fall somewhere just below the snakes belly for not paying taxes and stealing enough money from students to pay back for many years too come. but that's not of any interest because mr. simpson is your friend & buddy.

on another note, what is a reasonable offer for land or property in downtown kent today? i would think reasonable would be consistent with other properties that have sold.

dan smith, please educate yourself and I will be happy to forward an itemized spreadsheet to you including properties transactions within the downtown area and keep in mind the average numbers are well more than the unreasonable. please enlighten us with your opinion of the hotel property current market value. in fact, you should also check with mr. silver to see if the city has ever made an offer

since moneypenny & mayfield choose to speak on our behalf, i would hope to get your attention & comments regarding the moneypenny compensation from the city for appraisal services & management fees for servicing city owned properties and let's not forget to find a way to justify the purchase price for mr. mayfield's bridge property.

i am also aware of the reasonable offer to the owners of kent hotel which was structured as a property trade. the barter property offered I was stated to have a current market value equal to no more than 230,000.00.

would you accept that kind of number if your where in the shoes of the hotel owner?

mr. smith, you should be ashamed of your comments and actions and you need to remember that you are a only a public servant and not an expert or experienced in real estate development.

I am a "real" resident - homeowner - in Kent and I have to say that if you look at other college towns across the country, it is the connection with their college that brings that town prosperity.

There are nearly 24,000 students at Kent State. That is a lot of revenue if you can connect them to the city. I look at what UA is doing in downtown Akron and it seems to be working. I'm also familary with how State College and Penn State work together as well as ND in South Bend and further down at OU with Athens.

I think it is pretty easy for many of us to simply blame the city, but the legal environment has a lot of obsticles. Also, we live in a country where we get to "own" property and the city cannot just take it over. There are certain criteria to be met. What those criteria are, I do not know. But, I know better than to make some hysterical and uninformed statements trying to throw blame around before I know the details of this issue.