A Diamond in the Rough Rob Alway's "Vision"

[Barney Reinberg]

 

McPhail Estates

The City of Scottville has financial woes.  The current solution is cost-cutting services.  Gone is the Scottville Police Department.  A city clerk left for a position elsewhere.  Scottville City manager Clarence Goodlein is walking a financial tightrope “Goodlein proposed several ways the city commission could reduce expenses including cutting his salary and hours worked, leasing the operations of the city’s boat ramp, returning zoning, building code enforcement and rental regulations to internal control, and eliminating or re-aligning police services” (Mason County Press, January 25, 2025). But there is only so much meat on that bone before they begin to ask property owners to pay more taxes.  For Scottville, climbing out of debt could be painful.  But there could be an easier solution.

There it sits, like a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.  Nearly nineteen acres of undeveloped land within the city limits.  The promised land of McPhail Field.  Mr. Alway has a “vision”.

In a recent article “Scottville should develop McPhail Field into housing” (Mason County Press, February 12, 2025), Mason County Press Editor-in- Chief posted his “vision” for the plot of land.  His solution, as the title of the article suggests, a housing development.

I’m not one to initially agree with Mr. Alway.  I’ve seen one of his “visions” in the past.  Sadly, it was only a “vision” that was seen by him.  He had a “vision” that landlords would invade Scottville because the city did not have a Rental Inspection program.  Although he presented no evidence of the Hanus band of individuals, he stuck with his “vision”.

Mr. Alway desires the city and its citizens to think “outside the box”.  Interesting, that same comment was spoken at a city commission meeting when discussing a marijuana dispensary.   The same meeting his evil landlord’s “vision” was publicly addressed and challenged.  So far, crickets.

But let’s not beat up on Mr. Alway too much, he’s right.  I agree with him; McPhail Field should be developed into housing.  But there are a few hoops I think need to be jumped through.

First, Mr. Alway has reviewed McPhail’s Will and Deed.  He is of the opinion that Scottville is free of all restrictions put forth under the original property grant.  I prefer Scottville to follow the advice of an attorney and not Mr. Alway.

Second, the McPhail family needs to be notified concerning the intentions for the field.  I have doubts that any living descendants of Curtis and Catherine McPhail have heard of Scottville, Michigan or McPhail Field but it would be a great gesture to acknowledge their family.  That they once again made a difference in this small community.  The name “McPhail” should be in the name of the development.  Furthermore, some funds from the sale should go to develop or improving existing baseball fields and practice fields for the youth football program.  The funds for the improvements should be made in the name of the McPhail family.

Third, Mr. Alway states that the County Commission is looking at county owned property on Johnson Rd near Brye Rd for a housing development.  “Who wants to live on swampy land near an airport?” (Mason County Press, February 12, 2025) he asks.   We’re talking about the Mason County Airport not O’Hare International Airport.  Speaking of McPhail Field, who wants to live near train tracks?  There are advantages and disadvantages to every scenario.  But apples to apples I would pick McPhail Field over the Johnson Road property.

Fourth, unrelated to Mr. Alway’s “vision” is the current housing market.  In some way shape or form, there is always a housing shortage.   Supply and demand fluctuate. Higher interest rates can put the real estate market into a stall.  There are local economic factors such as jobs and population growth.   Can this question be answered with a “yes”? Is a new housing development needed?

Are the current apartment complexes 100 percent occupancy?  There is a new 97-unit apartment complex being built in Ludington.  Will that satisfy the demand?  Sweetwater Estates, a development on the East side of Scottville, has vacant lots and houses listed for sale.  With such a demand, why haven’t they all sold?  Not to mention the “X” factor of the Mason County Commission green lighting a housing development project despite the availability of McPhail Field.  The housing shortage is not a problem with a lack of housing but a lack of affordable housing.

Here is my “vision” for McPhail Field.  It would be one of mixed housing.  An apartment complex for one.  My “out of the box” vision.  A portion of the property would be a subdivision for “tiny houses”.  I would like to see a single-story building(s) for senior citizens.  The rest, build as you will.  An overpass across the highway so the kids can safely get to school.  Not too much to ask.

With the sale of McPhail field, the City of Scottville is “in the black”.  Maybe the city police will be back in uniform.  City officials and “involved citizens” pinned their hopes on downtown redevelopment.  A winery and restaurant have been the talk.  It has been years in the making and a 50K grant to the business partners.  Scottville has not seen any evidence of progress.  Quite possibly Scottville should not have looked downtown for new business development instead they should have considered housing.  It’s a hard lesson to learn when you’re facing financial struggles.

Mr. Alway’s “vision” is not a bad idea.  McPhail Field would be a prime location for a new housing development.  Should this begin to take shape, I only hope that “affordable housing” is at the forefront.

One last item or bit of advice. Mr. Alway concluded his article with the following statement. “Perhaps not everyone agrees with my opinion. For those who don’t, I welcome you (and I am speaking to those who have a vested interest in the town, i.e. taxpayers and residents) to share your ideas for how Scottville could significantly increase revenue without taxation” (Mason County Press, February 12, 2025).  When you have an “out of box” idea, include everyone’s ideas.  Sometimes the best ideas come from “out of towners” who carry a brief case and a FOIA request.

BR

“Scottville to eliminate police department” Mason County Press, January 25, 2025

“Scottville should develop McPhail Field into housing” Mason County Press, February 12, 2025

[XLFD]

Barney, 

Thanks for your article on that topic.  When Rob Alway initially proposed that in the 2-12 article, I was thinking of putting out a poll on our Facebook presence to see what Scottville folks thought about the idea.  In growing up in Scottville, I recall many hours of playing tennis on the courts now long neglected.  Playing and watching baseball and/or football games when this was the primary facility in Scottville for both.  Rob looks as if he really hasn't been to McPhail's (or a gym) in a while except as a reporter.

I will probably do that poll over the weekend; out of full disclosure, I'm not a fan of the idea.  

[Willy]

Well written article Barney. I'm not familiar with Mcphail field or it's history. Most of my memories are of Scottville's once thriving downtown and the PM river boat launch and park. Also the fall celebration in the downtown area. Scottville used to be a vibrant and lively area and I don't think it will ever return to that. I just hope the citizens can turn the town around because they deserve better.

[XLFD]

A very funny part of this is that Alway asks his readership at the end of the editorial for alternative ideas to his in order to solve Scottville's financial woes, and once they start showing up in the comments, he gets rid of them and shuts down commenting.  Typical.

I did put out a poll on Facebook, lazily titling it by switching Alway's first two words as "Should Scottville Develop McPhail Field to Housing?", offered a link to his editorial, and neutrally asked those with interests in Scottville whether they saw merit in the idea.  The answer was a resounding "no", with 37 of the first 40 respondents voting that way and a unanimous bend that way in the responses.

I believe that 1) one cannot build themselves out of an affordable housing crisis by ignoring basic free market truisms, and 2) you screw up the free market from working properly by subsidizing housing projects, especially during periods when interest rates are high.  Ludington puts in Lofts in Rowe with over $4 million in local taxpayer subsidization (over $6 million in other government offers) and what do they offer us back:  studio apartments for $1039 a month just for rent.  It's not sustainable; the government has screwed up most everything else, why should we think there would be any different outcomes when they get into housing?   

And let us not forget, when your administration looks to actively bring in millions of illegal aliens into the country as they did over the last four years, it greatly exacerbates the affordable housing problem and makes the idiots in government want to get into housing all that much more and inefficiently waste your money, deepening the crisis.

Let those in Scottville have their easily accessible green space and let's find some of that money being saved to make McPhail Field Great Again.  Resurface the four tennis courts and make them compatible with up to 8 pickleball courts.  Consider replacing a baseball field with outdoor basketball courts and/or an outdoor ice rink.  

[Barney Reinberg]

thank you for the comments.  I too have fond memories of McPhail Field.  Getting banged up and bruised on the football field.  Running track on the cinder quarter mile track.  Watching some of best softball players in the State.  The Matt Urka Memorial Day Tournament was the beginning of Summer.  The football games and track meets are gone.  The Matt Urka Tournament is gone.  X's fond memories of tennis court at McPhail field are different than mine.  My memories of tennis and basketball were created at the "Magic Square" behind the Scottville Elementary.   Different as they may be our memories are that of sixty-year-old-men.  We can't let our memories impede progress, for better or worse.  

I'm not sure housing at McPhail Field is the "be all end all" answer.  But a green space and pickle courts will not service the financial woes of the city.  

Thanks again for your comments.  I think X should submit this article of a Pulitzer Prize.  But that's just my opinion.

BR

[XLFD]

There's no doubt that both of our minds can be conflicted with nostalgia and memories of how much more important McPhail Field was back in the good old days, but even when I discount such nostalgia, I see a current need for the facility, as do over 90% of those who care about Scottville's future (as noted in my referenced poll:

Several people, young and old, mentioned why they felt this was still a good use of the land.  Except for the Riverside Park located on the extreme south end of the city and (especially before the river hill sidewalk was built) difficult to walk or ride to for many, this serves as green space for the city.  A municipality like Scottville needs areas like this to not only prosper but offer something to the public.  If housing options were used here and developed like the other housing projects in Scottville, Scottville would lose a lot of its charm and too much of its soul, in my honest opinion.

I asked AI whether it could provide you with that Pulitzer Prize you wanted, but they said you need to do better with supplying links and images to provide the readers with the perception of more space.  It did create a Pullitzer Prize for you instead: