Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

As I opposed this when it came before the Board of Zoning Appeals last summer, I would like to point out the ad in the Home/Life Section of SNP this week. $115,000 starting price with 2 & 3 bedroom condominiums, plus a loft. Cheap home for two or more children. $375,000 was a small price to pay for the privilege of building in the Pickerington school district. Thanks to Daryl Berry and the Pickerington officials who allowed it to happen.

Misrepresentations

I think the most important thing to remember about these condos is how much different they are than what was originally suppose to be there. I am not certain of all of the detail, but I remember reading somewhere on this site the minutes to a zoning meeting where an attorney who?’s name you?’d recognize indicated that this area would have a golf course, a senior center, offices and a few apartments and condos.

None of the ?“desirable?” stuff has been built?…no golf course, no senior center, no offices, nothing that might bring in revenue but not add kids to the schools. But, I noticed a bunch of apartments from MI, and now a bunch of condos whose development benefits the usual suspects.

Even when it was apparent they would not build any of the favorable things they initially indicated, the folks involved in this portrayed these as primarily attractive to seniors, and published (with a perfectly straight face) information indicating that they would likely see only a handful of kids from the whole complex. I believe the slogan of the company that is building these is something like ?“starting out or starting over?”. Given that, and the look of the advertising in the paper this week, who are they really trying to sell these condos too. The answer is the same as always?…whoever will pay them money for them, and in this case, the group of people most likely to want to live in a community like ours are young families with children. This complex will generate several times the number of kids they told us it would, and there will be no penalty for their clearly inaccurate information. $375,000 was an excellent deal for them.

Beyond continuing to put pressure on our schools, and lower our already pitifully low valuation per employee (raising everyone?’s taxes in the long run) there were a couple of other impacts. I used to live in Cherry Hill. Between the apartments and the condos that will soon fill the fields across from that subdivision, the houses in our neighborhood have started to depreciate, suddenly, and at an alarming rate. It was hard to count the ?“for sale?” signs last year, and wait until this year, when those condos start getting closer.

Think I?’m selfish? (then you don?’t know me) Who else is going to look out for my interests?…Joyce Bushman? Thanks for speaking out Rita, but you never had a chance because you?’re constrained by your honesty, so you have no chance against ''them''

Two Story Townhouses

To add to the draw of families with children is the fact that these condos for $115,000 are two story. Many people that have reached their golden years want a one story dwelling because of the steps. How can those that have approved these condos sleep at night and then stand before council to proclaim that condo's are ''cash cows''? Doug Parker has made that statement more than once. Before I ever saw Doug in action I was told that if Daryl ever turned real quick Doug would breack his nose.

Even last night Doug voted for the purchase of the Bus Repair Depot. He hoped he could work with David Shaver in the coming year to complete the road. He had admitted to speaking with Daryl that morning. I don't know about the other citizens in Pickerington area but I will have my referendum ready to oppose any road being built between Daryl's property and Center Street.

Daryl I predict you will get lumps of coal for Christmas from here on out.