Kingpin to Finally Knock Bowling Alley Down

[XLFD]

Back in 2004, Bob Neal, Ludington businessman extraordinaire, purchased the Ludington Recreation Bowling Lanes property for three quarters of a million dollars.  Early in 2005, he predicted that he would be demolishing the building in the summer to make way for new development after seeking Brownfield Development tax-incentives.  New construction with eager developers were to begin in early 2006.  If you move to the 2nd page of that article he is quoted:  "It should be a wonderful addition to downtown, if all pieces come together.  If nothing else, it'll be a big eyesore gone."

 

For some unknown reason the pieces never came together, the Brownfield tax-incentives were never sought through the City, and the old bowling alley stood tall through 2005, and the only developers that showed up in 2006 were artists, as this January 2006 LDN article tells us in its last paragraph.  "... thanked Bob Neal, the building sponsor, for allowing them to decorate the (old bowling alley)."  

 

The building remained standing for a three more years until Bob Neal sought to get an Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act (OPRA) certificate in 2009, just after the time Western Land Services were proposing an ambitious six-story headquarters where the Ludington Fire Department sits.  The full development would likely have involved Mr. Neal's property as well.  The City Council quickly passed the OPRA at this September 28, 2009 meeting (see p. 1), but WLS's project never developed.  The LFD still proudly sits where it is to this day, however, and so does the old bowling alley, as well as the OPRA tax break.

 

Now here it is more than two years beyond that, seven years after Bob Neal said that the building would be demolished, and find that it is going to be demolished in about two weeks.  According to today's Ludington Daily News, Neal plans to raze the old bowling alley and let the other structures stand, for now.  The old NAPA building will be graded so as to prevent water damage to its subroof.

 

According to Bob, the retail development he originally envisioned was nixed when he found broken roof trusses since the OPRA vote, and decided the building was not salvageable.  He and the City Council have not decided to revoke or annul the OPRA certificate accordingly, after all it has about ten years left on it, and Bob has a reputation of being well-loved by certain City Hallers.  So even if his expected investment ($150,000) and optimistic employee hiring will not be achieved, his property will still have that certificate.

 

"It's demolition would remove an eyesore from the downtown business district and also solve the problem of water leaking into the former NAPA building.  There's no practical use for the buildings as they are, they're not salvageable.  We are going to take it down, the middle section of it.  It's such an eyesore."

 

That eyesore thing hasn't changed for the better since you said it nearly eight years ago, Bob.  But the business climate sure has, for the worse, and with your ambiguous statement--  "I'm still on the same general idea (having retail and apartments at the site), but I don't know if I will do it-- I'm not getting any younger."-- we may find a gaping hole for a while where this eyesore once stood. 

[AQUAMAN]

I've seen bigger eyesores around town than this, and they are still standing irregardless. With Mr. Neal's vast financial resources, into the many $Millions, you would think a "plan for coming together into the future", would at LAST NOW be proposed, but I didn't hear any mentioned yet. Did we ever get the Mayor Henderson proposed youth center talked about some 10 years ago? Maybe this building would suffice for such a project, or maybe the replacement building will, if indeed any building is ever going to go up in the bowling alley's place. Either way, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to demolish our past heritage, and to leave the door completely open to nothing but another vacant space in the downtown hub, doesn't impress me with any favorable replacement that will add anything to the landscape. Mr. Neal, show some initiative and foresight for the future, or just sell the darn property to someone else with the guts and foresight to make the valued investment for our downtown's future. 

[XLFD]

Mayor Henderson envisioned both a downtown youth center, a downtown hotel, and a downtown convention center early in his political career, and this would be the perfect area for either.  If you also take out the NAPA building and relocate the fire station (another goal), you could have space for a couple of these projects.  What is missing is an entrepreneur, and whereas Mr. Neal has oft been one of these, he has grown gun-shy since 2008-- which happens to coincide with Jack Byers' lawsuit against the City with allegations that the City had shown a tendency to overlook building codes to appease Mr. Neal. 

Mind you, that suit was settled out of court with Byers getting $250,000 from the City, even though our Chief Executive John Shay said the City would have won.

[Willy]

Why doesn't the City drop the New Years Eve ball on the old bowling alley at midnight tonight with the Mayor, Shay and Begonche inside to direct it to the perfect spot. If we're lucky the building and all three co-conspirators would end up in a pile of rubble.  It would be a clean sweep and a good start to the new year. Or, how about building a wind turbine on the old bowling alley lot. All of the evil forces in City Hall could channel their collective evil thoughts and create a lot of hot air and BS to produce the most energy efficient generator ever produced. Tourists would come from miles away to witness City dignitaries  releasing  hot air and other sorted crap which will turn this wonder of technology into a modern day marvel. Ludington could collect millions in Government grants. But this idea would never fly because the Mayor, Shay and Begonche , if they survived the ball drop, would be screaming "not in my back yard".

[XLFD]

If Nick Tykoski and his brother would put a special NYE wrecking ball with a bunch of lights on it at the end of their crane's line, and drop it repeatedly on the bowling alley, I'd come downtown to see that action this NYE!  

But leave Shay, Henderson, (and even Begnoche) out of it, because they have some legal problems they need to tend to in the upcoming year, some music yet to face, before they face the ultimate judgment.

[Marty Redman]

Bob Neal, the only guy in Ludington who could get away with letting an eyesore in the middle of town stay up for eight years while the city council bends over backward to kiss his ring and give him any tax advantage he wants.  I like the guy, but c'mon......

[XLFD]

In retrospect, if the building had been torn down on schedule back in 2005, there would likely have been a new structure put in place, and businesses/services in place that may have helped the City better weather these recessionary times. 

[Willy]

Or, a new business could  have been established that would have gone belly up due to the recession and the City or other Government agency or bank would have to baby sit the property until the bankruptcy was complete. I think the building and lot remaining in this condition, until the recession is over or at least in a neutral state, was for the best.

[AQUAMAN]

If I owned or leased the vacant property, I'd inquire about a franchise for a Golden Corral, or  maybe a Bob Evans restaurant. I like both as they are economical and serve good food, and few I've ever witnessed go belly-up. With the big lots out back for parking, I'd think it's ideal. I esp. like the Corral for it's steaks and big buffet, that which is lacking pretty much around Ludville for the money. Unless you like the bologna steaks out east.....from S. America......lol.

[snide]

What bothers me is that Neal had "planned" to make the old Ludington Rec. lanes into a mini-mall(an idea that failed back in late 70's in same location) . To do so he went to the City Council and said he needed a tax break. Of course . the CC bent over for him , as they always did in the past. Now , after doing NOTHING substantial to the place ,wants to tear it down. My question is WHY NOT MAKE HIM PAY BACK THE DIFFERENCE IN THE TAX BREAK....? He didn't hold up his end of the deal and refurbish, so why grant a permit to tear down .....?.....

[XLFD]

From what I've read on OPRA law, the City Council  can't go after him for tax breaks already received, they can just revoke the break anytime in the 12 year life cycle of it.  They won't do this, as they would hate to see Neal dissuaded from rebuilding the site.  This is what's known in Ludington as "Bob Hope".

[AQUAMAN]

I like your thinking snide, and it's only common sense at this juncture that the tax relief discontinue. Unless and until BN decides to get some idea people (since he has none to contribute himself) to make something worthy happen on the vacant property. After all, this is what BN boasted nearly a decade ago when he purchased it. A prime piece of real estate with that location should do well if the idea fits with Ludington's future. As it stands now, both the COL and BN appear to be disconnected and aloof to the COL's future, basically staying still and asleep. Is this what the COL thinks is best for Ludington's future, standing still and asleep at the helm? Watching things deteriorate even further downtown without any new ideas? Even the idea of a local inside flea market is better than nothing, and would get people moving in that district for shopping and spending again. I guess silos is a better idea?

[Heaven Therzke]

bob neal does not appreciate bad publisity.  your gonna wake up with a melted ice cream cone next to you on your pillow.