Barry Real Estate Continues to Loot Fort Wayne Taxpayers
Posted by Jeff Pruitt - 12/24/09 @ 1:36 pm - Filed Under Featured, Local Politics
Here’s a question for 2010 - how many times will we see redevelopment director Greg Leatherman tell us that Barry Real Estate is making progress on their promises to build something at the Harrison Square site before even his most staunch advocates at city council begin to laugh?
But have no fear, someday when we re-inflate the massive real estate bubble economy of the mid-2000’s then Barry Real Estate will step up and deliver on their promises. I know I say this every year but Barry Real Estate is a fiction of the largesse that took place in the real estate market. Their business is not sustainable in these economic times.
They are kleptocrats who flew in and bamboozled the locals into handing over their money with nothing to show in return. Con artists like these guys have been around as long as the trading of money itself. The best ones always leave you thinking that they are doing you a massive favor by stealing your money and that the pot of gold is just around the corner if only you have the patience to wait.
The city should fire these looters immediately and file suit against them. Let’s see how well their business does with that lawsuit hanging over them. I get the feeling they might actually get off their ass and do something if that were the case. Remember when Chris Schoen said he didn’t know how he would do it but he’d self-finance the building if he had to?
Why doesn’t anyone from the city thrown those words back on him? Oh yea, it’s because we don’t want to upset the charlatans - after all the pot of gold could just be around that corner…
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10 Responses to “Barry Real Estate Continues to Loot Fort Wayne Taxpayers”
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Jeff,
Are you aware that they just signed a deal to develop a m ajor multiuse complex in downtown Nashville,Tenn. ? Apparently they can get financing for the projects they want to do but not the ones they have signed contracts on over 2 years ago!! Charlatans is a good name for them-shame on us for letting them con us but double shame on Leatherman and his board for not calling them to perform!!
Lockwood,
As we’ve learned, just because they announced something doesn’t mean they have financing. Also, they are not the sole developer in that deal as they are in ours.
The city pretends that a lawsuit won’t accomplish anything but they are missing the point. If the bad publicity of a lawsuit filed on behalf of the city doesn’t spur them into action then nothing will…
Jeff,
Good information. The Mayor sent a letter to Navstar to keep their operations open in New Haven and the City of Fort Wayne filed suit against I&M. I think you are correct. The city needs to file suit, make sure they enforce contracts and this will send a message to all potential companies that want to con Fort Wayne.
Didnt I just read they are going to do some upgrades at Parkview Field which the city is paying 50% of?
The Field of Schemes is only a year old and already it isn’t good enough for them to play in.
Well, I didn’t start calling that white elephant COSTAPLENTY SQUARE for nothing…
Good post, Jeff!
Happy New Year, gang!
Well put. Greg, I will guess, is simply afraid that it will all fall apart and is trying to buy time. I assume that he knows more about the structure or all of the deals and may have fears concerning addition provisions that might unravel. But, I think it is simply time to demand performance and to begin collecting one what is due the city. There is a fine structure. Time to apply it. Time to put Barry to the test, as well as Greg.
It is interesting how the City appears to be operating from a position of weakness, as opposed to a position of strength in this matter. Mr. Sack is correct that there is a structure that is not being utilized for whatever reason. Perhaps there are more “sky-bridge” surprises that they City does not want to come out at this time.
I asked a member of council if he had seen the sales contract between the city and Mr. Huber’s company concerning the old W&D’s. Nope. “Why not,” I asked? No answer. I asked another council member and got the same blank look. Council, which is supposed to oversee the executive, simply abrogated their responsibility to Mayor Henry to cut the deal and didn’t bother to read the contract. Same thing with the Skybridge to Nowhere. I wonder if they read the deal concerning Harrison Square? I know Councilman Shoaff is still fighting that one and did analyse the agreement, hence his opposition two years back and his ongoing concerns. He doesn’t get much support from his colleagues, now that the horse is out of the barn…nice old saying.
I suppose by “transparency in government” iwe can take that to mean we can SEE RIGHT THROUGH THEM?
(sounds about right these days)
Good post, Jeff!