Ultimately, with Whitehall landlocked and most of the available land already in use with no real empty expanses in which to unleash the political aspirations and fevered egos of civic leaders, the city (and no doubt, developers) are stymied by this quandary that is Whitehall. We have seen some inventiveness at City Hall as seen in the use of fallow land in Whitehall Community Park for the Heartland Bank, as well too the acquiring of the golf dome to build office space and increase (in a better way) the park’s acreage. Unfortunately, we have also seen scurrilous means they’ve used in trying to obtain land for their projects; abusing the governmental powers of eminent domain to build what they’re calling a ‘street’* into the proposed Norton Crossing, as well as their abuse of power regarding the Woodcliffe area, as detailed in this particular post, and others:

https://votedixon.com/2015/10/30/woodcliff-v-whitehall-part-two-the-pirates-of-whitehall/

To these means I have this to say: Columbus is growing and Whitehall has a natural advantage in that growth as a bedroom community within the outerbelt. And yet, the reality of Whitehall’s available land for development along with our economic realities, stymies their ability to take advantage of this good fortune, particularly in areas that are desirous for development. In their zeal to ‘compete’ and to show that they’re more than the perception the public have of ‘Whitehall’, they have been going to some exhaustive measures (reasonably and unreasonably) to circumvent and circumnavigate the many prongs of this dilemma (as noted in the two examples above). There are two problems I have with their movements:

Firstly, being that we have been a city on the skids, we are in no position to be other than either, a) beggars for business and residents, or, b) an inexpensive banquet for people and developers wanting to save money, because in a place that’s fallen down, everything is cheaper (Despite our distinct advantage in a growing city (Columbus) that our location will naturally benefit from in the coming years). However, we do have greater worth and they’re letting it go for a song.

It is no figment of my imagination to say that things (real estate, homes, etc.) are cheaper here than hotter commodities like German Village or Clintonville. This is natural and I have no judgement of it other than as an observation only. It’s the truth. However, Whitehall’s rise will happen, it is nearly impossible for it to not given its locational and economic advantages but, City Hall is unwilling to allow that to happen organically for the greatest benefit to its citizens, those who already live here. (Note now that I am championing and arguing for the citizens) They’re champing at the bit ready to make it all happen yesterday and instead of showing patience, waiting on this natural movement to happen, wherein Whitehall would be the deciders and full beneficiaries of the placement of development, they’re inorganically trying to fill up the empty spaces by offering tax incentives to companies to jump start that which will come anyway, thereby losing important full tax revenue and organic placement of development right for our community over right for developers. This is because they don’t properly value their position and/or are too nervous and impatient (and ignorant) of social/economic waves to simply relax and wait for the wave to come. They’re acting like beggars instead of bosses who know their (our) true value.

A self-aware person who knows their worth doesn’t accept or invite into their life the first person who makes advances merely because they want to go to the dance. They know their worth, they play the field and hold out for that quality ‘other’ that is worthy of them. Anything less cheapens their standing and true worth. If that person has any understanding of how things work, and is smart, they will make certain they come out the winner given the assets they have to offer and not simply hang a sign out their window saying, ‘Opportunity is here’, that which telegraphs a beggars come-on of which profiteers flock to take advantage of. So then too, it appears our Mayor doesn’t properly value the true worth of our city. Given her hunger for self-aggrandizement it is no surprise that she’ll do whatever she needs to with our city (and the higher principals of the office she holds) in order to go to the dance, that event where you get a feather in your cap, not for the full merit of your dance (both apparent and what lies beneath) but, simply, because you showed up.

Believe me, despite the movements and machinations of Mayor Maggard or anyone else in this city’s government, Whitehall will rise. It is inevitable. The question is, will Whitehall City Hall’s neediness get in the way of our own wave of success and/or will those in power make whatever success happens work for the citizens themselves, those who are Whitehall? This brings me to my second problem with their current movements.

I believe it is a disloyalty to the Whitehall that exists to introduce a development with “upscale apartments, office and retail use”  in a city that is primarily lower to middle income, middle-class, as it has always been. We know what ‘upscale’ is code for; wealthy over middle-class and poor, profits over people. A repudiation of Whitehall’s core citizenry, this ultimate disloyalty to all the people, past and present, who made Whitehall what it was and is. She who takes up the Ram cheer while underneath dismantles and destroys its very tenets and long-held traditions. (‘City of Pride’ anyone?) Allowing forces to deconstruct and reconstruct things to rid it of its profit-killing lower/middle-class ‘odor’. That ‘odor’ which doesn’t smell like money and that I and most everyone in Whitehall ‘gives off’. In an organic movement, it is we, the actual citizens of Whitehall who would benefit and bask in our community’s wave of economic good fortune, that which our Mayor would insist we (those who already live here and have done so through thick and thin) be the ultimate beneficiaries of. This inorganic push for ‘something/anything‘ brings us that which will benefit others but, I believe, will ultimately be the socio-economic arrow that pierces the true and loyal heart of Whitehall.

That which lies beneath
*  As you can see by this proposal, it looks like City Hall has simply jammed this ‘street’ into the draft so they could take the man’s property who owns the strip shopping center there on Hamilton Road. Instead of giving him what its ultimate worth is to the city (in the development they stand to gain from), they give him little more than its property value as an offer and are invoking eminent domain as a means to have it (They’re generous with our tax dollars at the front end but at the back end when they want to seize a man’s legal and rightful property, then they get chintzy). It is no more a ‘street’ than merely an entrance/exit into the development. Anyone with a modicum of intelligence can see this. Sooo, first him, then you, then anyone else who is in the way of their schemes and plans…this matters.
Not once, not ever.
Fighting this sort of abuse matters. (Just ask the strip shopping center’s owner)**.The link below is an excellent article on the issue of governments taking peoples property using eminent domain. Worth an extra read. This is my favorite part of the article:

“I thought I bought this place. But I guess I just leased it, until the city wants it,” says Jim Saleet. “That’s what makes me very angry. This is my dream home. And I’m gonna fight for it.”                                                                                                                                                   He fought, and he won. In separate votes, Lakewood residents rejected the proposed development, removed the “blight” label from the Saleets’ neighborhood, and voted Mayor Cain out of office.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/eminent-domain-being-abused/

Something valuable to remember: Just because a person is elected does not mean they are free of corrupt or scurrilous behavior or that they’re working, truly, for you. It is the citizen’s responsibility to scrutinize those they place in positions of power to ensure they’re behaving in their name on the up and up. It is not enough to simply absorb whatever it is they want to tell you and have you believe during the election and then vote them in and walk away. A person’s character is in their actions, not their words. Its up to you to determine if their glowing word-banquet during the election translated into actions which show proof of a leader of trust, value and solid principals.

**It is not development, per say, that I have an issue with, it is the underhanded abuse of power which our city leaders are willing to undertake in order to have it. While I applaud economic development, I refuse to look the other way when my city’s elected leaders wrongfully take a man’s private property simply because I and everyone else get a bar of gold in the exchange. That’s not principled, that’s not ethical, that’s not right, even if I’m the only one who speaks it aloud. Isn’t that what we would call Ram Grit?