Salisbury - Mayor James Ireton, Jr. today announced that the City has retained the services of consultant David Wilk of Sperry Van Ness to help further the ongoing dialog with Labinal/Safran. To that end, Mr. Wilk will meet with Labinal’s executive and real estate teams to better understand their goals and objectives, and to determine if there is any way to either entice Labinal to stay in Salisbury, or to gain their buy-in on an exit strategy that is most beneficial to employees and taxpayers.
Key to the discussion will be the consideration of several new development concepts which would “place-make” the former Salisbury Mall property, Labinal property, and the surrounding neighborhood into a “community of innovation”, regardless of Labinal’s ultimate decision. Mr. Wilk will reach out to stakeholders—including SWED, PRMC, Salisbury University, and local neighborhood associations, among others—to seek participation and input in developing strategies which would energize the Labinal and surrounding properties in the future.
“The city is employing a 3-option approach to the cards dealt,” said Mayor Ireton. “A.) Continue to work to reverse the Labinal/Safran decision to move to Texas; B.) Some Labinal/Safran employees stay in Salisbury and work towards reducing the effects of the economic loss; C.) The entire plant closes and we work to rebrand, refurbish, and revitalize the facility for a new employer.
“With these options, the area as a whole will need to be reconsidered. Utilizing Mr. Wilk, as we have done in the negotiations on Parking Lot #1 Downtown, I realize what an asset he is to the conversation of what to do at the East Salisbury plant. Mr. Wilk will be at the table with city leaders to work with all stakeholders on long-term, sustainable options for the city and surrounding community.”
* Mr. Wilk is National Director of Corporate Real Estate and Advisory Services for Sperry Van Ness and Corporate Valuation Advisors (“CVA”). Mr. Wilk has been involved in similar consulting projects on plant closures in Florida, North Carolina, Delaware, Ohio, Colorado, New Mexico, Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, Louisiana, Texas, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Maryland since 2008. Mr. Wilk’s local clients include SBY Airport and Wicomico County, Town of Princess Anne, City of Salisbury, Salisbury Mall Associates, Wallops Research Park,
and Johnny Janosik.
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28 comments:
More wasted tax $$$$$$$$
It is too late and this is just another cushy job for a buddy.
So, bottom line, Jimmy,SWED, The City and County Councils, SU, ans PRMC are all caught with their pants down because they haven't been paying attention for the last 3 years, and are now 3 years behind Labinol's Corporate plans, who HAS been paying attention to our stifling taxes and regulations!
OH, POOP!
"We're sixth in line, Jimmy!" comes to mind!
I'm tired of a Mayor who isn't a mayor at all, and am glad to see we now have a REAL County Executive. I'm hoping Mr.Culver's actions which have already made some positive changes will somehow negate the idiocy of the Mayor's office until we can fill it with a competent person.
the big winner in all of this will be ---------wait for it -------- MR. WILK!
Leave SU and PRMC out of the conversation. They own enough tax exempt property in the city and county that we have to foot the bill for.
I instantly, upon reading this article, thought the question... How close is the Mayer to Mr. Wilk because this is just creating work for a lost purpose. Everyone, without exception, knows this is a done deal so why pay more of OUR money to fund a friend? Is this anywhere close to being correct??
When we start paying folks for having dialogues, furthering conversations and energizing plans, we are circling the drain. If our governmental and business leaders can't talk with the executives of Labinol, let's not spend money we don't have to be told we need to dismount from the dead horse.
Sperry will come out smelling like a rose. Taxpayers lose again.
Well, ask yourselves this. IF the property is in fact NOT in the City, why is Ireton hiring a consultant? Feeling a bit GUILTY there Jimmy?
Others are correct. Marketing to PRMC and SU would take the property off the tax roll.
These are all the EASY options and once again special interests would get the first bite of the apple.
I'll give Jim credit in one part of this. For once he is hiring someone to do something he has no clue about. You elected him, fools.
Finally, why does Ireton continue to attempt to over ride County Executive Bob Culver? Why wasn't Bob brought into this press release, because he's not a part of it and the property is in the County.
I personally think my idea is better. Let's see if these clowns come up with something even close. My guess, they'll ride off of my idea/concept anyway just like Jimmy did with the Downtown Plaza.
Funny how it took him all those years to NOT think of it and then I come along and BAM.
I don't give a damn who Mr. Wilk's clients are or any of this vague stuff about all the same circumstances he's consulted on.
I want to know, SPECIFICALLY, what SUCCESS has he had? Salisbury Mall Associates were his clients? Speaks volumes to me. How's that development coming along, Mike Dunn? How's that TIF, another taxpayer giveaway.
Then Ireton says WE will refurbish that building to attract a tenant. Hello, why don't you leave that to a De-ve-lo-per and a Real-tor?
Ireton's failure to reach out to Bob Culver - who, by the way, unlike Little Jimmy Ireton, INVESTED in Salisbury's downtown - is an insult and example why Ireton doesn't accomplish anything. He does not know how to reach out to ANYONE who is A) a Republican or B) a Democrat who isn't "progressive" enough (read FAR FAR left) to get things done. Remember the hell he put Debbie Campbell, Terry Cohen, Tim Spies and Mark Tilghman through? (All are registered Democrats.) He even joined in Mike Dunn's chorus of accusing them of an ethics violation (of which they were ALL cleared completely.)
Sorry, Mike and Jim. That little plan failed and you both looked like idiots. Maybe you could meet up at Cactus Taverna again when you think nobody is looking.
Who is this Wilk and how is he qualified to handle this better than the buffoon boys, Jimbeau Ireton and Fake Day?
Salisbury Mall Associates is/was a client? That turned out so well! Courtesy of the Slickster we got a parking lot and the SMA owners got a chunk of change.
Labinal appears to have staked out an orderly (for them) transfer of work and equipment from Salisbury to wherever.
So how will the city pay their consultant?
To 7:29 Poster - that said;
'So how will the city pay their consultant?'
I'll tell you how, just like the City paid for the sewer plant, sell more junk bonds. IMHO - I truly believe that if the truth be known the City of Salisbury is using the bond money to pay its annual budgeted operational expenses. That is how much confidence I have in Ireton & crew.
WTF has he done for the airport and Wicomico County. PS to Bob Culver: get rid of him, too.
How much is he being paid to shill for Salisbury.
Why can't he do it pro bono? There are plenty of Wicomico citizens who are doing things pro bono because they truly care about improving things.
8:15 -- because he's a professional hustler.
Why didn't they hire Brad Gillis?
8:29 is spot on. Wilk is a hustler who "facilitates" absurd plans like Ireton's and Day's dream of doing away with the downtown open parking lots so that Salisbury becomes another Glen Burnie or Hyattsville. If that happens Wilk will make a killing and Salisbury residents will be the ones killed.
This is like feeding the horse aftet it's been shot in the head.
Anonymous said...
I instantly, upon reading this article, thought the question... How close is the Mayer to Mr. Wilk because this is just creating work for a lost purpose. Everyone, without exception, knows this is a done deal so why pay more of OUR money to fund a friend? Is this anywhere close to being correct??
January 22, 2015 at 6:34 PM
You wonder the connection? Sperry Van Ness with Joey Gilkerson and Bad Gillis? Does the old firehouse deal ring a bell? What about Feldmans? Yes there is a connection and all you need to do is connect the dots. Joe keeps protecting Gillis and Gilkerson, but there are some corrupt things going on with this trio.
6:13, I protect no one. Joey and Brad know who I am and what I do here and they respect that.
Now I will admit, I'm excited about their forward momentum to revitalize Downtown. Is or will there be something in it for them, I'm sure there is. However, who else is taking the risks and stepping up to the plate?
If this is the way the Mayor and others want to go Downtown, so be it. It's NOT how I would do it but I am NOT going to get in their way.
Now, if YOU want to take the same risks, start by using your name instead of hiding behind anonymous. Their names are plastered all over their interests and projects.
Don't be such a hater.
Love ya Joe.^^ Don't get in bed with them. Respecting them is joining them and Ireton. LOL
seems to me that some people at Sperry Van Ness have quite a bit of influence in the city government as well as receiving some sweetheart deals
spend spend spend! WHAT GOOD IS IT?
Give it up they have made up their minds and they are leaving! No amount of begging or pleading is going to make them change their minds!
THANK YOU, 1020 AM, BECAUSE IT'S TRUE. (sorry for caps, unintended). They are leaving, and for good reason.O'Malley's torturous taxes are exponentially higher than other states; hence the exit.
Can Hogan cure this?
I'm sure this may be on the Agenda!
Best off paying Rick Perry of Texas to come here,he has a proven record of job creation but he might take what businesses are left also.
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