September Marina District-related comment at TT

My September 18, 2013 comment at ToledoTalk.com

"The casino could have been built at practically any of those places, but chose a comparatively tiny piece of land."

Who chose the casino location? Carty or the the casino owners?

June 2011 comment by Johio83:

I've heard from some people connected to the deal that they chose the location because it is close to a highway, but secluded enough from other things that it will keep patrons from straying to other entertainment stops that might take away some profits.

I'm assuming "they" means the casino owners.

Some day, people will realize that the goal of a casino is to keep patrons in the casino. The casino does NOT want you to wander around to other area businesses over the course of the evening or day. People go to the casino, and then they go home. The casino does not encourage growth in other area businesses because it's not their goal to do so. The casino even wants its employees to eat their lunches and dinners within the casino, instead of driving to other area businesses.

"Who buys a property for development and lets it just sit there for years, untouched?"

Allegedly, Asian business people think longer term than American business people.

Remember, the Marina District land had been available for anyone to purchase and develop since at least 2000, and the Chinese group only bought the land or some of the land in 2011 or 2012.

If the Chinese group is thinking 5 to 10 years out, instead of the next fiscal quarter, then it may take a while before something occurs on that land. But how is that any different from the previous 10 years when the city owned the land?

By the way, other area projects took several years to unfold. From a 2009 comment:

Toledo's new arena will open this fall, 2009. Ideas about a new arena development with plans began to be offered in 1993.

Perrysburg's Levis Commons opened in the fall of 2004, and development continues on this multi-phased project. But Larry Dillin said talks about the Levis Commons project began in 1990.

The Rossford Bass Pro opened in the summer of 2008, but talks about this project between Bass Pro and Wood County began in 1992.

Arena: 16 years.
Levis Commons: 14 years.
Bass Pro: 16 years.

Once land was acquired in the above projects, then development may have begun soon after. A lot of the time in the above projects was probably spent on discussions.

From a May 2013 comment

The Chinese represent the fifth developers/investors interested in or involved with the Marina District project since 2001.

But the Chinese group is the first to buy Marina District land. The other four developers produced artist drawings of their projects.

Past announced Marina District developers:

~2001 - Frank Kass - Columbus
~2003 - Bruce Douglas - Toledo area - remember "Esplanade at River East"
2005 - Pizzuti Cos - Columbus
2006 - Dillin Corp - Toledo area

The Columbus-based Pizzuti group seemed to have the most interest and momentum in the Marina District project. But Carty got elected in November 2005, and one of Carty's main goals was to eliminate anything associated with Jack Ford. So in the spring of 2006, Carty fired Pizzuti from the Marina District project.

http://www.pizzuti.com

#toledo - #development - #marinadistrict - #business - #politics