Retail Vacancies, the Ross Economic Development Committee and Self-Serving Township Commissioners (Kinross, Stanko and Mazur)

It was pointed out to me over the weekend, that the shopping center on McKnight Road that is home to Pool City is looking at foreclosure. Wells Fargo bank started foreclosure proceedings March 1st on the property, citing that the mortgage hasn't been paid in 4 months.

I can't believe that Blockbuster's departure made the property fall into foreclosure?!!?

I certainly hope that this can be resolved as we don't need another major retail vacancy on McKnight Road.  There is already a vacancy where Roth Carpet and Burtons Pet Place were.  There are significant retail vacancies as you travel along the McKnight Road corridor and some of them have been sitting empty for quite a long time.  It does seem like every time one vacancy is filled, another one opens up.

What is Ross Township doing to address this?  The Township's Economic Development Committee (RED) holds meetings a few times a year.  What is a RED meeting you ask? Well it is a meeting where business representatives from Ross Township are invited to a luncheon hosted by the leaders of the RED -- Commissioners Kinross, Stanko and Mazur.  In essence these events function as networking events where Ross Township businesses can network with other Ross Township businesses.  It also provides Commissioner Kinross with a setting to sell insurance policies for his insurance business, Commissioner Stanko to sell printing services for her husband's printing business (North Hills Printing) and Commissioner Mazur with an venue for promoting Mazur autobody.  From the notice I saw in the McKnight Journal, the last luncheon was held at Sieb's Pub on March 8th.

It us our belief that the RED committee needs new direction and new leadership or it needs to be scrapped in its entirety and replaced with new committee or other municipal entity that would be responsible to economic development and redevelopment in the Township.  It can no longer exist to serve the personal business interests of of Commissioners Kinross, Stanko and Mazur rather than the best interest of the taxpayers. 

The new leadership of the RED, or the leadership of its successor, must work with other interested members of the community, including the businesses and other stake holders from all three of the Township's commercial districts --McKnight Road, Babcock Boulevard and Perry Highway.  The new leadership must develop and implement a well thought out, long-term game plan on how to revitalize the McKnight Road, Babcock Boulevard and Perry Highway commercial districts.  The focus should start on McKnight, but should also include the others.  Otherwise, McKnight Road is in danger of being taken over by Chinese massage parlors, check cashing stores, mattress stores, and temporary seasonal Halloween costume stores!

What do you think?  Let your voice be heard and comment below!