On Nov. 4th, you will be asked to vote for or AGAINST the rezoning of 3371 and 3381 Tremont Road. The proposed ordinance seeks to rezone the properties from R-1B One Family Residential District to O, Office District. I urge you to vote AGAINST Issue 51.
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October
6th -
Want a yard sign? |
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October 3rd - Citizens, I'm no sleuth, but I believe I've figured out why neither the UA Chamber of Commerce nor Superintendent Weaver contacted either me or anyone at Citizens Against Rezoning Tremont before making their public endorsement of an elections ballot issue -- old fashion politics. Weaver and the owner of the properties on Tremont (De Libera) served as Co-Trustees of the UA Chamber of Commerce together.
As an interesting aside, the UA Chamber's website doesn't list Weaver as a Trustee anymore... but it did last week before the full page ad and mailer. Just coincidence?
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Last week. (Before the full page ad.)
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This week. (After the full
page ad.)
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September 30th - Like many of you, today I received the propaganda from those in favor of the rezoning. It contains numerous false and misleading statements, which will be dealt with accordingly. I write, however, to express my shock that the Superintendent of UA Schools would endorse rezoning.
First, he justifies his position under the guise of "much needed revenue to our schools." Just last year UA passed a school funding levy! Are the schools so fiscally mismanaged that they are broke in just one year?!?
Second, this is a REZONING issue not a school funding issue! For the Superintendent to use his prominence at the top of the UA School system to promote what is clearly a private commercial venture is nothing short of outrageous. Fortunately, the Board meets on Monday, October 6th at 6pm at 1950 North Mallway. And maybe some answers can be had from them.
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September 28th - Most Arlingtonians know that brothers Ben and King Thompson were the founders of U.A. having formed the King Thompson Company in 1914 and the Upper Arlington Company in 1917 to sell home lots and develop streets, sewers, and essentials. By the early 1940s U.A. had expanded from Fifth Avenue to Northam Road. At around that time the Upper Arlington Company produced a fold out brochure/map that showed the outline of U.A. shortly before the annexation of what is now Northam Park. As part of the brochure, a list of "15 Reasons why you too, should live in Upper Arlington." Reason number one: "Every home in the entire village is absolutely protected against the encroachment of business and semi-business buildings." As was evident to our founding fathers, the value of U.A. is in its residential character, not in commercial exploitation. Vote No on Issue 51! |
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September 25th - In making phone calls this week to have residents host a yard sign the question came up as to what affect demolishing the houses have on the referendum. The answer is NONE. The property can still be used or sold as residential lots. U.A. continues to be a place where people want to move to and raise their families.
So why were the houses torn down? They were not rundown, damaged, or had any other issues. The residents weren't problem tenants; indeed, they were long term families wanting to eventually own a home in our city and moved into another house in U.A. Centro claims the reason for bulldozing the houses were that they "not economically feasible." (Cols. Dispatch, 08/29/08) See my response to their claim.
What a coincidence! Just as the rezoning referendum gets put on November's ballot, both homes suddenly become "not economically feasible." Just how naive does Centro believe U.A. voters are?
By tearing down the houses Centro makes the properties look vacant with no other use. Secondly, Centro eliminates any chance, you, as the voter, had to see the houses as they stood. Your vote AGAINST the rezoning will preserve the residential integrity of our community, and send a signal that voters will not reward the intentional destruction of the very thing at issue on the ballot. (Click here to see the houses before demolition.)
September 22nd - I've add Councilman Steen and Councilman Ciotola's letters to the editor on why they voted AGAINST rezoning. Also, I've exposed in Sound Bites those who write letters in favor of the rezoning but who don't disclose their personal connections to the owners.
September 18th - Some of you may have seen my letter in the current edition of UA News ("Centro turned down chance to retain Tremont properties" UA News, 09/17/08) Following my letter was one in favor of the rezoning written by Maria Mone. What Mone fails to mention is that Jeffrey Bibbo, President of Centro, Inc. (owners of the Tremont properties) is HER HUSBAND! Now I don't mind people expressing their views, but they should do it with full disclose of their personal interests.
When I have a chance, I'll go back and expose that those who have been writing letters to the editor in favor of the rezoning are a string of family members, in-laws, and law partners of Centro. This reminds me of something I once read - carry a mirror; it lets you expose that which hides in the shadows...
September 17th - Obama vs McCain, Rankin vs. Celeste, for or against the trash initiative, for or against the rezoning, etc. whatever differences Upper Arlingtonians have, our neighbors are our friends and family. Those rumble strips you feel under your car in the morning, are the electrical cords that bind neighbors who have with those who need. Now that's a community we can be proud of!
September 16th - I've redone the site for better navigation and will be adding quite a bit of content over the next few days. Check back every Monday to see more information.
A little background on me, Martin Cordero. I live four houses up Tremont at 1565 London Drive I am essentially a life long resident of this city having moved here when I was just two years old. I went to Windermere, Greensview, Hastings, and the High School (1987). I'm not opposed to development, but feel that this particular rezoning request is wrong for the neighborhood and wrong for U.A.
- Media Inquires
- Fort Merullo, (614) 459-2275
- Citizens Against Rezoning Tremont
- Renee Merullo, Treasurer, 1585 Pemberton, UA, OH 43221-1507
- Website
- Martin Cordero, 1565 London, UA, OH 43221-1423, (614) 457-6498