Let's go in order according to the photos above because I think you'll find what I share with you very interesting.
The new States Attorney Office. The building was bought for a song and a dance. Wicomico County has $6,000,000.00 in a reserve account that was designed to be used to purchase a property for the States Attorneys Office. The Judges in Wicomico County provided letters for years that was backed by the Governor to remove the State Attorneys Office out of its current location to make room for the expanded volume of Judges. Former States Attorney Davis Ruark ignored the request and just as soon as Matt Maciarello was elected they forced his hand and a move had to be made.
So fiscally responsible County Council Members reminded the public the $6,000,000.00 was in place but rather than purchasing their own property they elected to RENT space instead. I know, it makes no sense for the following reason. They could have purchased and remodeled exactly what they wanted for around $4,000,000.00.
Nevertheless, Gillis won the bid to remodel the above building to fit their wants and needs but you should know, it's at a heavy price to the taxpayers. The lease is for 15 or 20 years at a total of around $30,000.00 A MONTH. That's $360,000.00 a year.If the lease is 15 years it will cost the taxpayers $5,700,000.00. If it's 20 years it will cost the taxpayers $7,200,000.00.
So how do we as taxpayers swallow this without throwing up. Well, you might consider this building as part of the Downtown Revitalization Plan. However, as I have stated over the years, it will be at taxpayers expense.
Then there's the Feldman's property purchased for only $5,000.00. Again, Gillis will revitalize the property, (like he has to several others Downtown) and perhaps land yet another government agency to foot the bill like Mikulski, Harris, States Attorney and the IRS.
Are we to begrudge a successful businessman for continued success, I don't think so. However, follow the money. Who has made donations to who's campaigns? I saw a comment on yesterday's Post that has me curious as well, should Jake Day have recused himself in the Station 16 vote? Should Mayor Ireton have been allowed to hold behind closed door negotiations with Gillis?
Then there's the new Station 16 Headquarters where Gillis was, (I believe) the general contractor on an overall $16,000,000.00 project. You've got the Gateway Building and the Gallery Building Gillis has had his hands in, (ownership) as well as 300 W. Main Street. There may be more, I don't know.
So you have to look at all of this and accept it one of two ways, (as I see it). One, Gillis has played a roll over the years revitalizing Downtown Salisbury OR Gillis has been a favorite, (for some reason) as a favored developer/contractor to local government.
I will add, it is also questionable that the President of the Chamber of Commerce is the purchaser of a real estate transaction that could have easily been handled much better for the taxpayers of Salisbury. Again, I'm all about getting a great deal on any piece of property. However, I told ALL of you when I was running for Mayor that you needed a businessman leading your City as I would have encouraged that property go up for AUCTION with a beginning bid of $100,000.00. The assessment alone would have brought in much higher figures than what it was sold for and in the end fair would have been fair, a legitimate highest bidder.
So there you have it. You now know what the rest of the Main Stream Media failed to tell you. Wicomico County and City of Salisbury taxpayers are now fully aware of the money being spent on the States Attorneys Office and why some Council Members are outraged. I should mention that the rent for that building is actually around $25,000.00 a month but that doesn't include taxes and upkeep, which was estimated at around $5,000.00 a month additional. I mention this just in case the Daily Rag tries to technically challenge me on my figures.
Fire away in comments.
19 comments:
Jake Day and Brad Gillis were together at Evo's last night.
gillis and gilkerson went where no one else would go on most of these projects. yes maybe the city should have done a better job on the firehouse but on the feldmans building how long did it sit there empty. complain all you want but they are the ones taking the chance. as far as the states attorney office it was out to bid they did their homework. look at all of the school construction in the county. it used to be competitive bidding. now it is all handed to whiting turner. that is costing the county more than gillis is. palmer has worked hard to figure it out and he takes risks to turn abandoned buildings into something, he is entitled to make money
Why is all of this news? Why hasn't our local newspaper already explained this to us? What do their reporters do all day other than re-write police press releases? Doesn't Tom Claybaugh care about serving his subscriptions? I'm so fed up with a 1 man blog beating these professionals.
anonymous 10:50 said, "gillis and gilkerson went where no one else would go on most of these projects"
Really? Did they offer $250,000.00 for the old Fire House?
Really? Didn't I propose a Station 7 restaurant there and then Gillis call them to ask they would join him instead at $85,000.00.
Do you actually believe no one else would have purchased the Feldman's building for a reduced price. Mind you, I should add, it IS waterfront property.
I can tell you I offered $1,000,000.00 for Feldman's, (all of it) contingent upon the state allowing me to demolish the older buildings. The Historic people in Baltimore refused to allow ME to take down what Palmer is leaving up but the City could have taken the property by default and the City could have taken down the historic portion of that property. A regular Joe could not.
As far as the States Attorneys Office, there were THREE bids that had been challenged. Bob Eden and David Moore offered to provide what was required and they chose the highest bidder instead. Mind you, the County states it was for good reason though.
Do tell me the RISKS Gillis will take on the States Attorney project, there are none. The taxpayers will foot every single expense on a property Gillis will enjoy for decades to come and beyond.
I'd like to know the RISKS on the old Fire Station and Feldman's as well. They made a $5,000.00 investment on Feldman's and $85,000.00 on a 10,000+ sq. ft finished building already made of brick and concrete.
Here's the kicker. do YOU feel sympathetic for me to RISK $475,000.00 on 300 W. Main Street now assessed at around $300,000.00???? No, I didn't think so. How about ALL of the other property owners who will be SCREWED when they do COMPS to VALUE our properties from here on out when Feldman's and the Fire Station sold for far LESS than what they were worth. Do you feel SORRY or SYMPATHETIC for the rest of us?
Then there's the TAXPAYERS who lost hundreds of thousands of dollars on the old Fire Station.
Again, I'm all about a fair and honest deal on real estate but come on now, if you had an educated Council and Mayor they would have known that these deals absolutely SCREW the property owners and taxpayers. None of them are business people and quite frankly this is why Salisbury continues to fall to pieces and a select few laugh all the way to the bank.
Sounds like some people are upset about all of this... Sounds like you want to stop this... This also sounds like someone is tired of this crap...
OH OH BUT WAIT, you all are not upset, you all are not going to stop this... OH AND WAIT FOR IT, you all are not tired of this crap...
You see, when someone is TRULY TIRED of crap, they don't stand for it, they won't take it and they invoke change or bring on some sort of action...
What we have here is a bunch of pansy losers who run their mouth to much... We have here people who don't give a shit about shit unless it directly affects them...
What the f--- else do you want or need to happen before you invoke some action?
There will be no WHITE or BLACK or GREY or ANY OTHER DAMN COLOR knight coming to rescue you or anyone else...
IT is up to you and me and the rest of us... I am only one man and I will not fight for your rights whilst you sit idling by watching and just complaining on a blog post from JOE...
do you KNOW who the problem is? Yeah that's right it is you and solely you who are the problem... You are ill informed, you refused to do research, you refused to educate yourself, you refuse to fight for anything, you refuse to be a productive member of society...
SO if you want to fix the problem, then fix your damn selves... NOTHING WILL CHANGE UNTIL YOU MAKE IT CHANGE and you can't change shit, if you're sitting on your fat ass eating bon bons waiting for someone else to fight for you...
Moreover, the most important problem left is the fact that you all direct your hate, your disgust and your actions to the wrong people and in the wrong places...
Gillis Gilkerson is the largest Construction Company and best in this area. They go above and beyond for the entire Eastern Shore. They should also have the school contracts and not outsiders. Know the people who you are bashing, this is just for their purchases and work.
Tony Gilkerson and Palmer Gillis are two of the kindest and giving people I have ever known. My Uncle worked for them as a supervisor for many years; upon his death they went above and beyond for our family, as they do for the entire community!!!!!!!!
joe - i never said that you did not take chances, my point is that gillis and gilkerson have been successful playing the game which is exactly what they are doing. if the people of salisbury actually cared about business dealings you would be mayor. they don't and palmer and company are taking advantage of a system that is simply broken. im not saying you should give up because you definitely provide a service. all i am saying is they are working it and making money. it would be nice if the downtown worked like berlin's, and if they can renovate it, sell it maybe it wont be the eyesore that it has been. i guarantee that another government study won't help
My question is, why didn't Palmer Gillis save downtown when he was on the city council? Wasn't he also president of it?
I don't have anything against the man personally or with him making a buck as a businessman. I'm just asking the question because I don't understand what's going on here. Thanks.
Facism is alive and well in Salisbury City.
joe, you got screwed!!! and, not just you.. all of us, as well.. tony and palmer are good people, but this is so blatant, it is ridiculous!
Palmer Gillis taking up where Tom Ruark left off. It is alot easier to become the largest builder on the Eastern Shore when you have "friends" in local government greasing the skids and accessing taxpayer money to your projects.
I just can not see why the property wasn't listed properly. Salisbury is a failure and is an armpit of the Eastern Shore because instead of opening the door for someone with some difference creative ideas to come in property is sold behind the scenes to the same old tired companies who have been around downtown for forever and have no proven track record in stimulating business. Being a builder isn't rocket science especially doing it for another party. Quite frankly just about any Happy Larry can do it.
But taking something and turning into something successful and viable is hard.
11:48-I understand your sentiment but it's not logical. You can not base contracts on whether or not someone is local. That's okay for someone who is spending their own money but the government has a fiduciary duty to the tax payers to spend wisely. It has to be first and foremost about price and who gives the best quality for the lowest prices. Otherwise if local companies know they have an advantage for being local they will not care about giving the best price and the governments would go broke overnight.
THEY ARE SCAM ARTISTS.
It goes way back. I believe Gillis was a board member of City at one point. All people in politics get inside connections and make deals with devils at some point.
Greed will always destroy the country.
When the Child Support Office was there, there was constant flooding from the street into the building, mold, rats from the food places around the building, and birds getting into the vents some how. Restrooms didn't work properly, etc. and the state paid rent on it for years before the department finally moved out. It can be dressed up but it's still a pig in a poke.
I stand blind sided watching the sale of the firehouse and other "assets" the city owes being tossed away for nothing. I would be less likely to be upset but any money made is going to be thrown away because of the one sided views of most of the council. Kiss what ever I may have had good bye because it's not worth anything now.
So, pretty much Joe, your building's value will now go down to around $150-$200k. What a a shame...
So, Salisbury has destroyed Linens of the week, Feldman's buildings, Thrift Travel Inn (a perfectly structurally sound building) and called it progress.
Yankee Doodle went to town riding on a pony, stuck a feather in his hat and called it macaroni.
I see no difference in the two.
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