Tony George Cashes In

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Bill Call
Posts: 3317
Joined: Mon Jun 06, 2005 1:10 pm

Tony George Cashes In

Post by Bill Call »

https://www.clevescene.com/news/park-co ... y-41693216

When is a real estate deal just political corruption?
Richard Baker
Posts: 361
Joined: Mon Oct 10, 2005 12:06 am

Re: Tony George Cashes In

Post by Richard Baker »

When is a real estate deal just political corruption?

After looking at buliding that been vacant for years, 1435 West 25th Street, Cleveland, OH, I request the propterty tax bills for 2021 and 2021. When or If I get them I'll publish the info.
Richard Baker
Posts: 361
Joined: Mon Oct 10, 2005 12:06 am

Re: Tony George Cashes In

Post by Richard Baker »

When is a real estate deal just political corruption?


I sent in a request for the tax bills for 2021 & 2022 and received a response, the information was available online. However, when parcel 003-21-001 was queried, it listed the new owner as CUYAHOGA COUNTY BOARD OF COM, exempt from taxes and all the previous year’s tax information was zeroed out. I would never accuse the Cuyahoga County Board of Commissioners as ignorant, when political corruption will suffice. I'm sure they will have an excuse that they change the parcel number when they purchase the property. However, I be more specific on my next request and have them sent the property tax information when it was owned by Tony George.

Democrats for “democracy” in a Constitutional Republic what a joke. Cuyaghoga voted out the tax assessor as elected postion with oversight by the People. Instead the placed it into the hands of the Commissioners, expanding their power of favoritism and political corruption. Typical Democrat’s hypocrisy, publishing and putting in lawn signs with vote NO for "democracy" on Issue 1.
michael gill
Posts: 391
Joined: Fri Jun 02, 2006 11:28 am
Location: lakewood

Re: Tony George Cashes In

Post by michael gill »

This is old news, from March.

This isn't a political issue in any partisan sense.

A businessman bought a property, probably assuming it would increase in value, or that the location could make good restaurant business sense, possibly with knowledge that the government would subsequently want it for the planned park on that hillside.

He sold it to the government and made a huge profit.

It would be great to know if a tax balance was wiped away as George sold the property to the government. That is common with vacant, abandoned property. The private property owner skates; the taxpayers lose on that score; However, often this is the only way properties can transfer to responsible parties.

This isn't the first time Mr. George has gotten in the midst of planned development under threat of eminent domain and profited handsomely. Remember the Flats East Bank? A private developer wanted the property, but it was a very similar situation.
Richard Baker
Posts: 361
Joined: Mon Oct 10, 2005 12:06 am

Re: Tony George Cashes In

Post by Richard Baker »

[quote="michael gill"]This is old news, from March.

This isn't a political issue in any partisan sense.

A businessman bought a property, probably assuming it would increase in value, or that the location could make good restaurant business sense, possibly with knowledge that the government would subsequently want it for the planned park on that hillside.

He sold it to the government and made a huge profit.

It would be great to know if a tax balance was wiped away as George sold the property to the government. That is common with vacant, abandoned property. The private property owner skates; the taxpayers lose on that score; However, often this is the only way properties can transfer to responsible parties.

This isn't the first time Mr. George has gotten in the midst of planned development under threat of eminent domain and profited handsomely. Remember the Flats East Bank? A private developer wanted the property, but it was a very similar situation.

Mr. Gill,

Old news, March, you certainly jest. Are you suggesting that I accuse Mr. George of doing something illegal or wrong? Read my post again, and why are you so interested in fighting windmills for Mr. George?

Right, the perfect place for a restaurant, the neighborhood is a highlight of welcome. That is why the building has stood vacant for years.

This is about the assessed value of the property compared to the price the County Board of Commissioners gleefully paid for the property.
Richard Baker
Posts: 361
Joined: Mon Oct 10, 2005 12:06 am

Re: Tony George Cashes In

Post by Richard Baker »

I located the assessed value of the property of parcel that listed the building and land for 2022. The land was listed as $142,900 and the building $207,100 for total of $350,000. If I read it correctly the Cuyahoga County Board of Commissioners paid $1,250,000 or about 3.5 times the assessed value, In the meantime hammering the owner of residential property with double digits increases in property values.

What is troubling is the fact the parcels near this particular building are still privately owned and the fact the Metroparks is considering build a restaurant that will be built on the spot, that may be leased by Mr. George. The parcel is not contagious with any of the current parks, why the interest in building restaurant?

Question remains is the Cuyahoga County Board of Commissioners totally inept or just inert. With the legal fees of $1,600,00 involved by all in the sale of the property we can be insured all the connected legal firms are happy.

Another example of Democrat’s “democracy”, the Metropark District, a taxing district, is governed by Cleveland Metroparks Board of Park Commissioners, composed of three citizens who serve three-year terms without compensation. Board members are appointed by the presiding Judge of the Probate Court of Cuyahoga County. Becasue the draw no conpenstation, is irrelevant, when handling $127,000,000 budget and it's influence.
Where is the People's oversight other than approving a tax levy?
Bill Call
Posts: 3317
Joined: Mon Jun 06, 2005 1:10 pm

Re: Tony George Cashes In

Post by Bill Call »

michael gill wrote: This isn't the first time Mr. George has gotten in the midst of planned development under threat of eminent domain and profited handsomely. Remember the Flats East Bank? A private developer wanted the property, but it was a very similar situation.
I guess we will never know the truth. The Georges insist that when they bought the land they had no idea that the land was unstable, no idea that that the port authority was buying land in the area and no idea that the land might be needed to keep the entire area from collapsing into the river.

Here is another source:

https://signalcleveland.org/weekly-chat ... nd-speaks/
michael gill
Posts: 391
Joined: Fri Jun 02, 2006 11:28 am
Location: lakewood

Re: Tony George Cashes In

Post by michael gill »

No defense of Tony George here. This was a legal ream of the taxpayers by someone working the dynamics of the situation.

Bill, that's the pool of info I am working from. His denial of knowledge of all that is really incredible. Years earlier I sat in hearings and watched him protest to jack up price of another similar situation on the Flats East bank, with a small businessman--his brand new tenant--talking about how a developer's plan with city support was derailing his dreams.
Bill Call
Posts: 3317
Joined: Mon Jun 06, 2005 1:10 pm

Re: Tony George Cashes In

Post by Bill Call »

https://www.clevescene.com/news/george- ... g-37641888

This article has some revealing coments.

It's hard to believe that the City Port Authority and Metro Parks just forgot to buy the property until after yhe Georges.

In defense of the Georges I'll steal this quote about Tammany Hall:

"They saw their chances and they took em."
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