REVIVAL ON MAIN STREET - Downtown Kennesaw Residential and some Retail
From the inception of this concept I have said that it will either be the best thing since sliced bread or a major flop (OK, I didn't say 'flop' some other words one being 'up'). I don't know which it will be, in a year we should know which it is.
A Face Book thread had info and comments on this development so I will post my comments from there on this site also. Here is the pictorial depection of the development from clearing the property to today: http://downtownkennesaw.blogspot.com/, go take a look at how things developed over the last 18 months.
Here are some things you would want to take into consideration before renting here:
1) I was in the first group to take the 'tour' of the place on June 11th, I am NOT in construction nor do I have that as a background but several people commented that they did not think that the construction was being done that well, (see my blog photos for interior shots),
2) Has anyone but myself noticed that this complex is 150' from the most traveled section of railroad in Metro Atlanta (ie: Atlanta to Chattanooga) and that just across the street from the building is a crossing and per Federal regulations all trains must sound their air horns when approaching such crossings (yes, that means 3 a.m. etc).
3) Take a look at the traffic both morning and evening, 2 hours each of 'rush hour' traffic, that means long back ups AND a lot of traffic noise.
4) Those units facing Main Street will have a major noise problem from vehicles and trains, even those facing the City Hall will have noise problems.
5) I bet $ that there has been no effort made at sound proofing, either the walls or the windows and patio doors. As a former condo owner I would warn all of you that the construction in #1 above seems to indicate that you are going to hear every step your upstairs neighbor takes.
6) Summary: When finished tenants will find that living downtown is crowded, noisy and expensive.
Revival on Main, consists of 252 residential units and retail commercial area of approximately 9,000 square feet.
The project also included approximately 638 parking spaces.
LIVE CAMERA SHOWS DOWNTOWN CONSTRUCTION
If you want to see a real time live shot of the construction site you can go to: kennesawmainstreet.info for 24/7 viewing and choose either the full screen version or the smaller 800 PX size.
You may have to try multiple times to get access it seems to be a hard site to access. Use 'public' for both username and password.
ALSO: Take a look at the complex via the WSB TV report, it shows some nice interior shots, including the court yard. Rents for apartments will be between $1,000 and $2,000. Go to: http://www.wsbtv.com/videos/news/new-apartments-shops-and-restaurants-coming-to/vDSFR8/
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9/6/15
CASTLE LAKE MHP
Clearing at the controversial site of the new Fuqua Development retail center, 1650 N. Cobb Pky, Kennesaw, continues.
This is the site of the Canadian owned Castle Lake Mobile Home Park, 52 acres of the larger site has been sold to Jeff Fuqua for development of a large shopping center with town homes also in the mix.
The development was and is controversial as 1,500 low income, retired and Hispanic residents were bounced out with very poor relocation packages and the Kennesaw mayor and Council did very little to assist those Kennesaw citizens.
Photos of the clearing via attachment and other info also at:
http://castlelakemhp.blogspot.com and http://castlelakekennesaw.blogspot.com/
A major tenant at the site will be Whole Foods, see below photo.
Also see info on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008587503434
A major tenant at the site will be Whole Foods, see below photo.
Also see info on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008587503434
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IF POLE DANCING DOESN'T WORK OUT YOU CAN ALWAYS RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL
Running for Post 2 against Killingsworth and Grumbien is Yvette Marie Ann Daniel, 3904 Butterstream Way, her FB site is at:
https://www.facebook.com/yvette.m.daniel?fref=ts
A corporate records search shows that a person of the name Yvette Daniel has the business named 'Corporate Divas LLC' which had addresses first at the downmarket Jiles Road strip mall that now has the Mosque and later had the address of a strip mall located at 2655 Cobb Pky, said strip mall owned by Mr. R J Patel. The now closed exercise salon was in Unit #105.
The Cobb Pky strip mall is the same mall that was the home of Pizza 'N Beyond. The Corporate Divas business folded with no notice and decamped leaving unpaid rent.
One of the exercises for this fitness operation was: Pole Dancing classes
"WHY POLE DANCE
Pole dancing offers a fantastic way to get fit, toned, build lean muscle and get a cardio work out. All this while dancing and having fun with the girls, redefining self-confidence and esteem. No more boring gym workouts! Find your potential and lose your inhibitions."
Email address: BIA.ENTERTAINMENT@YAHOO.COM
Other interesting links about our candidate can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/user/ydaniel468/videos, (Update: Guess someone is cleaning up their internet history as there are now only 6 videos of the 30 that were there when this was posted)
http://www.goharduniversity.com/corporate-divaz.html (parts removed of this site) and also
https://www.facebook.com/ayanna.maston/posts/781159671894447 (More cleaning as this site is No Longer Available)====================================================
ATTN: KENNESAW OFFICE SEEKERS -
For information on this case see: http://leonardchurch.blogspot.com/
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2015
WHO IS RUNNING FOR KENNESAW MAYOR AND COUNCIL?
In the Mayor's Race it will be:
Debbie Williams
Charles Derek Easterling
Debbie Williams
Charles Derek Easterling
Council Post #1
Steve Creason
Jim Eaton
Steve Creason
Jim Eaton
Council Post #2
George Leroy (Junior) Grumbein.
Tim Killingsworth (Incumbent)
Yvette Daniel
George Leroy (Junior) Grumbein.
Tim Killingsworth (Incumbent)
Yvette Daniel
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Council Post 4
The seat left open by Debbie Williams resignation, will most likely be contested by Jimmy Dickens and Bruce Jenkins.
The seat left open by Debbie Williams resignation, will most likely be contested by Jimmy Dickens and Bruce Jenkins.
Registration for this contest will be Sept 14th to Sept 16th and it will be on the ballot with the mayor's race and the other 2 council races.
However, the winner of this Special Election for the Post 4 race will take office at once and not have to wait until the 2016 terms of the Mayor and other 2 Council members start.
Funding is said to be by a local property owner donating the funds so that the City will not be out of pocket for the extra expenses.
CHURCH ORDERED TO GO TO TRIAL
After months of foot dragging Judge Mary Staley has finally 'SPECIALLY SET' Dec. 7, 2015 as the date for the Church trial, with motions to be heard on Oct 16th.
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Just in case anyone cares, here are the stats on the 2013 Council elections FYI:
Registered voters in Kennesaw: 15,614 Ballots cast: 1,967, Turnout: 12.60%
Post 3:
Church 768
Jenkins 720
Washington 436
Post 4:
Williams 1,144
Riedemann 757
Post 5:
Sebastian 966
Duckett 934
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8/30/15
SUFFA DAWAT MOSQUE
During the past week signage for the Mosque has been added to their 2750 Jiles Road location. Although a donation of land was made less than half a mile away it is unlikely that the proposed $800,000 new Mosque will be built there.
The current facility has had a hard time getting donations to keep it afloat.
Several of the founding Mosque members are multi Millionaires and could easily afford to build the new Mosque but they didn't get to be multi Millionaires by spending their own money.
So unless those running the Mosque can find a few suckers to donate money, it is likely that they will remain where they are and may well spend some funds to expand to an adjacent unused space next to the Mosque.
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8/29/15
GENERAL AND BASIC QUESTIONS FOR ALL KENNESAW CANDIDATES:
Generally speaking I don't have a preference for anyone in any of the coming races so all of you are starting from ground zero for me.
I'm not going to chase you folks on what do you think of this or that.
There are some general questions below that probably ALL the candidates should cover in their web sites or speeches.
For myself, if you don't provide the info that is fine, I won't vote for you, if none of you provide the info, then I write in my own name in protest for that race.
Here are a few things I would expect ANY candidate to give some info on:
1) As Mayor or Councilman will you not only go on record as refusing any pension benefits but also work to eliminate across the board any and all such benefits for ALL elected officials in Kennesaw,
2) Do you support and will you work for any necessary change in City rules/regulations that would suspend any office holder charged with a Felony while that case is before the courts?
3) Do you support and will you work for any necessary change in City rules/regulations regarding term limits, this includes asking voters in any coming election for their votes for or against these limits,
4) Do you support and will you work for any necessary change in City rules/regulations to do away with the useless Council elections by 'posts' and go to a system in which the top vote getters for Council seats get those seats? (FYI: in the last Council election using posts we found that the 3rd highest candidate in votes did not get a seat on the Council and those 3 seats were filled with candidates who got the 1st, 2nd and 4th highest vote totals),
5) Several already elected officials claim to be working on an Ethics Handbook. It is past time for our elected officials to put forward a draft of what they have and open the crafting of such a book or pamphlet to citizens for their comments and suggestions.
6) Extremely poor advice seems to have been given to our various elected officials, both present and past, to the effect that they must not comment on anything pending before the Council and that any such comments may deprive any person or firm with a matter coming before the Council of their 'due process' right.
This is a mis-use of the term 'due process' which only means that an issue is given a fair hearing, not that elected officials must stay Nancy Pilosi silent until it is voted on.
I ask for every candidate to make a positive declaration that while they intend to take the best interests of the City into consideration on each and every vote they take, that they also will make clear to citizens their thoughts and concerns on all issues coming before them and not revert to the current nonsense of saying that they can't comment on this or that matter until they vote on it.
Kennesaw must be the only backwater in the USA that labor under this mis-interpretation of 'due process'.
I believe this nonsense springs from our City Attorney and I have said for years that he needs to be replaced.
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MAYOR MC CHEESE IS OUT!
In an email to City workers the current ethically challenged mayor of Kennesaw announced that he was not running in November. The MDJ article is below:
Kennesaw Mayor Mark Mathews says he won’t seek re-election
by Michelle Babcock August 27, 2015 05:09 PM
Breaking News
“As I approach the end of my term of office, I have decided not to seek re-election for a third term as mayor of the city of Kennesaw,” Mathews said. “Serving this community as an elected official for the past 20 years has been my great honor and privilege.”
Mathews will complete his second term as the mayor of Kennesaw this December. In 1996, he was elected to the Kennesaw City Council where he served 12 years.
Two challengers have already come forward seeking Mathew’s seat.
In July, retired submarine sailor and former Cobb Sheriff’s deputy Derek Easterling, 55, announced he would be running for the mayor’s seat. In August, Councilwoman Debra Williams, 52, said she planned to step down from her position to run in the mayoral race.
Mathews said he felt good about his service to the city. “I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished together, Mathews said. “We have moved forward toward a vision that will put this city on a course toward success and prosperity. I will carry with me the fond memories of the milestones we have achieved and how we worked so well together to achieve them.”
FROM THE MDJ COMMENTS SECTION OF THEIR INTERNET ISSUE
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Some Ballot | 11 Hours Ago
It will be The Submariner vs. The Sub-moron.
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Charlie Brown | 11 Hours Ago
Good grief,good riddance to bad rubbish! Glad to see Mark go. No one I talk with is happy with the downtown apartments and more to be built on Watts Dr. Wonder what all this new development will look like in 7 to 10 years. Thank you mayor and cronies for ruining the city's atmosphere. More traffic woes is just what Kennesaw needed. What ever happened to the overpass or underpass that was proposed 20 or more years ago for the railroad crossing at Cherokee and Main St.? Still waiting on that to be resolved.
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Suffa Dawat Mosque, Jiles Road, Kennesaw The largest attendance at the Mosque is for the mid-day Friday service. The parking lot of the strip mall is nearly filled.
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8/26/15
August - Castle Lake MHP Quary is being emptied.
8/16/15
Happening now in Kennesaw:
Batson-Cook Construction will be starting work on the Fuqua development at Castle Lake MHP. Contingent of course on getting various City approvals. We will see how that turns out.
Anyway they have their sign up, that might be all they have for awhile.
See also: http://www.fuquadevelopment.com/files/atlanta/kennesawmarketplace.pdf?150816-212455 and
http://batsoncookdev.com/about/
Kennesaw Marketplace Construction to Begin Immediately
THE 288,000 SQ. FT. SHOPPING CENTER WILL HAVE WHOLE FOODS AND ACADEMY SPORTS AS ANCHOR TENANTS WHEN IT OPENS NEXT SUMMER.
Staff Report
CBRE Capital Markets’ Debt & Structured Finance team has secured $78 million in acquisition and construction financing for Kennesaw Marketplace, a 288,000-square-foot retail shopping center located in Kennesaw, Georgia.
Jeffrey Ackemann, Jonathan Rice and Robert LaChapelle of CBRE’s Atlanta office arranged the financing on behalf of a joint venture between Fuqua Development and Batson-Cook Development. The three-year, non-recourse loan was provided by Heitman Real Estate.
“Working with Jeff Fuqua and his team, along with Litt Glover and the Batson-Cook Development team was a truly unique and fascinating process,” said Mr. Ackemann. “Jeff’s ability to attract best-class retail tenants and utilize the entire site to its maximum potential is truly an art form.”
Located at the intersection of Barrett Parkway and Georgia Highway 41, Kennesaw Marketplace will bring Whole Foods, Academy Sports and a host of other national and local tenants to the area. Construction is expected to commence immediately and will be completed by Q3 2016.
Home > Group Companies > Batson-Cook Development Company
BATSON-COOK DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
Batson-Cook Development Company is a commercial real estate company specializing in development, pursuit capital, construction services, property management, and brokerage services.
A subsidiary of Kajima USA, Batson-Cook Development is based in Atlanta and focuses primarily on the development of office parks, for-sale retail centers,condominium projects, government complexes, hotels and conference centers, luxury vacation residential units, residential lot development, and mixed-use projects through the Southeastern United States.
| Main Office | 400 Galleria Parkway, Suite 1900 Atlanta, GA 30339 Phone 770-953-9600 |
| President | J. Littleton Glover, Jr. |
8/5/15
Kennesaw Councilwoman Running for Mayor
AFRAID THAT A MUDSLINGING ELECTION COULD BE THE "NAIL IN THE COFFIN" OF THE CITY, DEBRA WILLIAMS ANNOUNCED HER CANDIDACY ON WEDNESDAY.
A member of the Kennesaw city council will be taking a shot at the mayor’s office during next year’s election.
Councilwoman Debra Williams announced Wednesday that she will step down from the council next month to qualify for the Nov. 3, 2016 mayoral election, the Marietta Daily Journal reports. Williams says her platform will focus on making Kennesaw a spot for tourism and she hopes to unite Kennesaw residents instead of focusing on divisive political issues.
Williams wrote a message on her Facebook page last week that expressed frustration and dismay with fellow elected officials, saying the next election cycle would “be the nail in the coffin for Kennesaw.”
“I say this because you will witness adults doing everything in their power to destroy their opponent and further divide our city,” Williams added. “They will attempt to take a conversation, an action, etc. and twist it to use for their own agenda and make anyone running against them look worse. Well, tell me who’s worse, the person being judged or the person judging?”
Williams urged Kennesaw residents to avoid being “used as the bucket holder slinging the slop to invite the masses to your trough,” and hopes to see residents become part of a positive election process.
Qualifying for the Kennesaw mayoral election runs from Aug. 31 to Sept. 2 at city hall. Candidates must pay a $576 fee as part of the qualification process. Currently, only Williams and former sheriff’s deputy Derek Easterling have announced their candidacies, with incumbent Mark Mathews silent on the issue of whether he will run again.
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TOURISTS TO FLOCK TO KENNESAW IN 2016
7/2/15
QUESTION FOR KENNESAW CANDIDATES -
There are now 2 people who have thrown their hats into the ring for the November elections in Kennesaw. George Leroy Grumbein for City Council and Charles Derek Easterling for Mayor.
It will NOT be an easy race should either actually pay the filing fee and run. I say 'should' as it seems that there are some things for both which if raised, might be a problem.
But setting that aside both potential candidates need to get a feel for some of the questions which will be tossed at them.
Allow me to toss a few just so they can practice and get their answers fixed for when Mathews and Killingsworth start asking.
Mr. Candidate:
Q) Should the City Council and current mayor ask that Mr. Church step down from his seat on the Council due to his six very serious Felony Pedophile charges? and as a follow up: Will you now as a candidate ask him to resign?
Q) Should steps be taken to put into effect amendments to the City Charter to mandate that any elected Kennesaw Mayor or Councilman be suspended from office if charged with a Felony?
Q) Do you support 'term limits' for the positions of Mayor and Council? and as a follow up: Will you actively work to make this happen if you are elected?
Q) It is a given that the current City Attorney is deeply in the hip pocket of the current mayor. Will you now state whether, upon your election, you will get Kennesaw a new City Attorney and cease any legal work going to the Bentley legal firm?
Let me give you my prediction -
there will be a lot of ducking and diving by the candidates on these questions and very little in the way of answers. In other words, probably just more of what we already have in office, same 3 ring circus, just a different name on the tent.
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7/2/15
ANYONE ELSE OUT THERE WITHOUT A BANKRUPTCY OR QUESTIONABLE HISTORY WANT TO RUN FOR MAYOR OR COUNCIL?
We already know that the current mayor of Kennesaw stiffed over 40 people and businesses for $1,100,000 in a bankruptcy, we also know that City Councilman Killingsworth also went bankrupt as did now former City Councilman Riedemann.
Some additional looking at the Federal Bankruptcy site shows info on other candidates for the City positions.
Initial looks found nothing but those 'looks' were under the known names of Junior Grumbien and Derek Easterling, later looks under their 'real names' of George Leroy Grumbein and Charles Derek Easterling find those overlooked bankruptcies.
Is there something in the water in Kennesaw that causes people who want to be running the City to have backgrounds of not being able to manage their own personal financial life?
Nothing evil about going bankrupt, I never have, but maybe someday I might need the protection of the bankruptcy law and who knows maybe I will file.
But seriously people, can we find some people to administer this City that actually know how to manage money or do we have to keep electing bankrupts. If you can't manage your own little life why should we give you a small City to play with?
Also FYI, those new folks running seem to have other problems, EEOC and family issues, which should cause them to re-evaluate their candidacy for mayor and council.
They haven't paid any fees yet so all they have to do is NOT file. If they proceed there may be some other items coming up best left alone.
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08-61529-crm Charles Derek Easterling and Dawn Michelle Easterling
Case type: bk Chapter: 7 Asset: No Vol: v Judge: C. Ray Mullins
Date filed: 01/31/2008 Date of last filing: 07/27/2009 Date discharged: 06/02/2008
Date terminated: 06/02/2008
1 of 2 tax liens
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04-71201-mhm George Leroy Grumbein and June Lula Grumbein
Case type: bk Chapter: 7 Asset: No Vol: v Judge: Margaret Murphy
Date filed: 07/09/2004 Date of last filing: 10/16/2004 Date discharged: 10/14/2004
Date terminated: 10/14/2004
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09-74712-mgd Timothy Alan Killingsworth
Case type: bk Chapter: 7 Asset: No Vol: v Judge: Mary Grace Diehl
Date filed: 06/07/2009 Date of last filing: 10/20/2012
Debtor discharged: 09/18/2009
Date terminated: 10/18/2012
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09-73096-mgd Mark Rea Mathews and Betsy Kaye Mathews
Case type: bk Chapter: 7 Asset: No Vol: v Judge: Mary Grace Diehl
Date filed: 05/21/2009 Date of last filing: 04/01/2010
Debtor discharged: 10/22/2009 Joint debtor discharged: 10/22/2009
Date terminated: 03/30/2010
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98-68112-pwb Matthew John Riedemann and Beth Paulson Riedemann
Case type: bk Chapter: 13 Asset: Yes Vol: v Judge: Paul W. Bonapfel
Date filed: 05/07/1998 Date of last filing: 04/10/2006 Date discharged: 01/26/2002
Date terminated: 04/22/2002
see also: http://riedemanninfo.blogspot.com, and http://riedemanninformation.blogspot.com/
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POST 2 CANDIDATE FOR KENNESAW CITY COUNCIL IS:
Junior Gumbien (George L. Grumbein, Jr) Former Kennesaw Police Officer for 26 Years.
Who says he is in favor of "Determining and Prioritizing what’s important for the people".
Mr. Gumbien is opposing the incumbent in Post 2 which is: Tim Killingsworth, who is a long time supporter of our current mayor.-
See his FB page at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Citizens-for-Junior-Grumbein-Candidate-for-Kennesaw-City-Council-Post-2/1614710085442027?fref=ts
Will Council ask Church to resign?
DEAR EDITOR:
On Monday, a Kennesaw resident asked a simple question at the City Council meeting. He wanted to know why the City Council had not asked for the resignation of Leonard Church due to his arrest a year ago on two child molestation charges and a subsequent arrest on four counts of sexual exploitation of a child. A total of six felony charges going back to 2006, with a possible sentence of 125 years.
Rather than getting any answer, he got some drivel about how Church was entitled to a ‘fair trial’ and from another person how the city could not force Church to resign.
No one I know, or have heard from, has even said anything about Church not getting a fair trial and we have acknowledged that he cannot be forced off the Council.
The question remains unanswered at that meeting and unanswered in my two communications on this topic with the four on Council.
Here it is again: “Why has the Council not asked Leonard Church to resign?”
As a follow up, I would then ask: “Will you now make that request?”
Bill Harris
Kennesaw
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New $150 million development advances
By Ricky Leroux, Marietta Daily Journal June 18, 2015
rleroux@mdjonline.com
KENNESAW — A $150 million mixeduse development at the intersection of Cobb and Barrett parkways is moving forward as the developer has obtained funding for the project and purchased the 52 acres the project will be built on.
Atlanta-based Fuqua Development plans to build a shopping center to be called Kennesaw Marketplace with about 300,000 square feet of retail space. It would be anchored by Whole Foods and Academy Sports, with 180 age-restricted senior living units at the intersection, currently home to the Castle Lake Mobile Home Park. http://castlelakemhp.blogspot.com/
Garvis Sams, attorney with Sams, Larkin, Huff and Balli who represents Fuqua on the project, said the developer closed on the 52-acre property about two weeks ago and began the process of relocating the residents of Castle Lake.
“They’re already moving some tenants out. It’ll be mid-August when they start taking down trees and start grading,” Sams said, adding, “They just started that process, so they probably haven’t moved out more than about 20 or so. So they’ve got a lot to go.”
Sams told the Kennesaw City Council in April that 62 of 118 owners have accepted Fuqua Development’s offer to move residents, and their trailers, to other nearby mobile home parks.
Kennesaw Councilwoman Cris Eaton-Welsh praised the work Fuqua has done to help relocate the residents of Castle Lake.
“One of the things we asked them from the very beginning was to make sure that all of the residents who were relocated were relocated with courtesy and dignity and respect, and I believe they accomplished that,” Eaton-Welsh said. “They treated each one of these families individually. They didn’t do some blanket ‘Hey here’s a number, get out.’ And that’s a very hard thing to do and a very expensive thing to do.”
Darryl Simmons, Kennesaw’s director of planning and zoning, said while the City Council approved a new site plan for the development in April, construction cannot start until the residents of the mobile home have all been relocated.
“They are nowhere near ready for construction of anything because they still have to take care of the families, make sure everyone is relocated first,” Simmons said, adding it may take 60 to 90 days for the relocation to be complete.
Special to the MDJ
After all the residents have been relocated, work on the site can begin, Simmons said, but the developer will need to apply for a land disturbance permit before it can start preparing the site. Simmons said Wednesday the city has not received an application for the permit.
Sams said preparing the site will be a challenge due to the make-up of the soil and the topography of the site, which includes a rock quarry and a small stream.
Eaton-Welsh said Fuqua is building a $3.1 million bridge over the quarry, which will be filled in, to connect the development with the 30-plus acres that will remain a mobile home park.
“That’s a $3.1 million bridge that they’re adding that they did not have to,” she said.
Jeff Fuqua, principal of Fuqua Development, told the Kennesaw City Council in May that crews will need to lay 30 feet of rock on top of the soil to compact the ground, which will cost an extra $11 million.
“This is a 52-acre site and it’s mostly rock. The part that’s not rock is soil you can’t build on,” Fuqua said at the council’s May 27 meeting.
He also told the council he plans to ask for a $3 million tax abatement from the county’s development authority. Nelson Geter, executive director of the Development Authority of Cobb County, said Wednesday that Fuqua has not yet filed for an abatement.
Sams said the site work will take several months, but Fuqua Development is committed to a tight schedule.
“In February 2016, they’ll begin to go vertical, that is, constructing the stores and the shops and the buildings. It should be all completed by November of 2016. … So it’s a pretty aggressive schedule, but it’s one which they have articulated they intend to adhere to.”
Meanwhile, Fuqua is lining up the funding to get the project under construction. Wednesday, Los Angeles-based CBRE Group Inc. announced it has secured $78 million in “acquisition and construction financing” for the project on behalf of a joint venture between Fuqua Development and Atlanta-based Batson-Cook Development. The funds come in the form of a three year, non-recourse loan from Heitman Real Estate. While the press release states “construction is expected to commence immediately,” Bridgette Bonner, a senior communication specialist with CBRE, clarified that the mobile home residents need to be relocated and the site work needs to be complete before construction starts.
“So technically, construction of the improvements will not start until that work is done,” Bonner said. “The process to get to actual construction is planned to begin now.”
“In February 2016, they’ll begin to go vertical, that is, constructing the stores and the shops and the buildings. It should be all completed by November of 2016. … So it’s a pretty aggressive schedule, but it’s one which they have articulated they intend to adhere to."
— Garvis Sams, Attorney representing Fuqua Development on the project
Comments:
We Can Do Better | 12 Hours Ago
Mark Matthews and the City of Kennesaw love apartments. Why must every development in Kennesaw include some apartments? Have they not learned from Ellison Lakes and Ridenhour and so many other developments that apartments do not contribute to a stable and safe community. Ridenhour was presented to the public as a novel "live, work, play" community that would be futuristic. In reality, it has become a Section 8 apartment complex with little opportunities for work other than a few retail establishments and nothing about it is actually a model for the future.
I would hope that the "age-restricted, senior living" apartments would not also become just another complex of Section 8 housing. What would have been difficult about the City insisting that single family, owner occupied homes be built instead?
Matthews needs to go | 3 Hours Ago
Absolutely right. Mark Mathews is becoming the Section 8 Mayor. And next, the Marietta Housing Authority will be building more HUD and section 8 dwellings up the hill behind CarMax on White Circle.
Way to go Mark Matthews. Trade your middle class bedroom community for more Section 8, more extended stay motels and watch people flee. At least now when your nasty police (bullies) want to arrest someone, it'll be more likely he's a criminal than a distinguished veteran just driving down Highway 41.
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6/13/15
KENNESAW COMMONS STRIP MALL
aka: Home of the Suffa Dawat Mosque
For months the parking area of this downmarket strip mall was in bad shape and had 15% of the parking lot out of service and torn up.
Repeated complaints to the City have finally gotten the strip mall to make some of the needed repairs.
Part of the reason is that the Mosque wants to add another adjoining unit to the 2 they already use, that unit is right at the area now being worked on. The strip mall seems to have finally been told to get it fixed or no certificate of occupancy for the Mosque expansion.
5/29/15
TERM LIMITS IS NOW BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 1st FOR APPROVAL TO PUT THE QUESTION TO THE VOTERS IN NOVEMBER.
Title of Item: Consideration of a RESOLUTION to call a Special Call Election for November 3, 2015 to include a ballot measure for term limits of elected officials.
Agenda Comments: Councilmember Welsh seeks approval to limit terms of elected officials to two terms for Mayor and two terms for City Council with a measure on the ballot. The Cobb Board of Elections & Registration requires a resolution calling a Special Election to have a measure placed on the ballot. As this is an election year it will be included in the regular election costs. Upon approval, language for the ballot question will be prepared by legal for approval at a later meeting.
CITY OF KENNESAW
GEORGIA
RESOLUTION NO. 2015- ___, 2015
RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE COBB COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND REGISTRATION TO CONDUCT THE CITY’S SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD NOVEMBER 3, 2015
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENNESAW, COBB COUNTY, GEORGIA, AS FOLLOWS:
WHEREAS, the City of Kennesaw shall have a Special Election on November 3, 2015 to consider term limits of two consecutive terms (eight consecutive years) for the office of Mayor and of two consecutive terms (eight consecutive years) for the office of the City Council ; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with the City of Kennesaw Code of Ordinances §42-2, the Council shall appoint the Cobb County Board of Elections and Registration to perform all duties as superintendent of elections; and
WHEREAS, the City of Kennesaw shall have the language for the Ballot question be provided by the City Attorney; and
WHEREAS, Cobb County Board of Elections and Registration will publish the required advertising of the Special Election with the Call of Election notice.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the City Council of the City of Kennesaw set the Special Election for November 3, 2015.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED this hereby authorizes the Mayor to sign and execute contract agreement with Cobb County Board of Elections and Registration for said election services.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Kennesaw City Council on this day of May, 2015.
ATTEST CITY OF KENNESAW
Debra Taylor, City Clerk Mark Mathews, Mayor
5/20/15
WHO WOULD HAVE WON IN THE LAST COUNCIL RACE
L. Church, Kennesaw City Councilman, at arraignment
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5/19/15
KENNESAW COUNCIL MEETING of 5/18/15
Here is the MDJ report on the 5/18/15 Council meeting. I note that filling in for the City Attorney was his brother and law firm partner Mr. Fred Bentley. This is the same Fred Bentley who handled the mayor's $1,100,000 bankruptcy of a few years ago.
Both Fred Bentley and his City Attorney brother are deep in the pockets of the mayor and you might recall that when our ethically challenged mayor was upset over my publishing of his comments on the Castle Lake MHP matter, it was the City Attorney Randall Bentley who he got to craft his $1,500 'Cease and Desist' letter to me, a letter that was never served but still cost the City to prepare.
Whichever Bentley does the research doesn't matter, it is a given that they will report back just what the mayor tells them to report. Both the mayor, Councilman Church and Killingsworth are in favor of keeping benefits, all 3 have been feeding at the public trough for many years and want the free ride to continue.
It is far past time for the Bentley family to exit stage right from participation in Kennesaw legal matters. I have said for years that it is time to get new legal representation.
Kennesaw City Council asks its attorney to study health care, pension benefits
May 18, 2015 10:39 PM | 1069 views
Kennesaw Councilman Tim Killingsworth
The council voted 3-2 in favor of paying the city attorney to research the matter, with Leonard Church and Tim Killingsworth voting no.
“Due to the fact that this is fundamentally against what I stand for, I cannot vote in favor of this,” Killingsworth said before the vote.
Killingsworth said he didn’t believe taxpayer dollars should be used in an effort to eliminate the pension and benefits he and his colleagues on the City Council receive because he believes officials should get such benefits.
“I can’t see using taxpayer funds for something I fundamentally disagree with,” Killingsworth said.
Councilwoman Cris Eaton-Welsh expects the city attorney to report back to the council at its May 27 meeting.
“I see the attorney being able to quickly and expeditiously research this and not using much of the taxpayers’ money,” Eaton-Welsh said.
City Attorney Randall Bentley’s brother and law firm partner, Fred Bentley Jr., filled in for him at Monday’s meeting.
Fred Bentley said he will review the documents that provide the health insurance benefits and pension plan coverage for elected officials to make sure the City Council will be able to change them with a vote.
“I’ll look at what are the enabling documents that set it up, and depending on how they read will affect the benefits for different people. For instance, we’ll see if some people have a vested right to keep their benefits,” Fred Bentley said.
The council agreed at its May 13 meeting to delay a vote on eliminating health care and pension benefits until its attorney updates the council on a plan for how the policy change would occur.
Councilman Jim Sebastian said he supports obtaining the legal opinion because he doesn’t agree part-time elected officials are offered health care benefits, but part-time city employees aren’t offered the same.
“This is a part-time position,” Sebastian said. “When other part-time employees don’t get benefits, I don’t think it’s right.”
Councilwoman Debra Williams echoed Sebastian, saying she ran on the promise of eliminating benefits for elected officials.
“The city attorney is going to look into the pros and cons of the benefits and how (eliminating benefits) would work,” Williams said. “I don’t believe elected officials should get pensions and benefits.”
The proposal was first brought before the council April 30 by Eaton-Welsh, the head of the council’s benefits committee.
Over the last seven years, the city has paid $492,000 to cover health insurance for elected officials who opted into coverage and pension payments for every elected official, according to documents Eaton-Welsh presented to the council.
While elected officials in Kennesaw are paid a $12,000 stipend for their part-time positions, Eaton-Welsh said it costs the city an average of $15,000 per elected official for health insurance coverage and $2,600 per elected official for pension benefits.
The city is estimated to spend $31,000 in fiscal 2015 on funding health insurance for elected officials and $15,900 on pension coverage for elected officials, according to documents presented to the council.
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5/15/15
SO YOU WANNA BE MAYOR? OR MAYBE A COUNCIL MEMBER?
Put in your papers for the post of your choice Monday through Wednesday, August 24, 25, 26, 2015 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
MINUTES OF MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF KENNESAW
Council Chambers
Monday, February 16, 2015 6:30 p.m.
Approval of RESOLUTION NO. 2015-10, 2015 authorizing the 2015 General Election qualifying dates for Mayor, Council Posts 1 and 2 and authorizing the Mayor to sign and execute the contract with Cobb County Board of Elections and Registration to conduct the City's General Election held November 3, 2015.
The City shall have a General Election on November 3, 2015 for Mayor, Council Posts 1 and 2 elected at large. In accordance with O.C.G.A. Code 21-2-132 and Kennesaw Charter, Article V, Section 5.02 the qualifying period will be Monday through Wednesday, August 24, 25, 26, 2015 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed for lunch from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
Qualifying fees are 3% of the gross salary of said office and are set at $576 for Mayor and $360 for Council as approved by Resolution No. 2015-01. The City Clerk recommends approval of the Resolution setting the qualifying dates for the 2015 General Election and to authorize the contract with Cobb County Board of Elections and Registration.
Funding Line: FY 2015-2016 budget, estimate $20,000.
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4/16/15
MATT RIEDEMANN, Former City Councilman
You might recall the November 2013 Kennesaw City Council election where Matt Riedemann ran for 're-election' after serving six controversial months as a Mathews apointee to the seat of a deceased Councilman Bill Thrash.
Riedemann had a considerable problem with bad debts and an earlier 1/26/02 Discharge in bankruptcy.
His second go around with American Express, just prior to the election was not much reported and I understand that the MDJ was threatened with a suit if additional critical info was published. The long running 2nd Amexp suit has been slowly working its way to a conclusion and on 2/25/15 Amex Attorney Zwicker & Asso, a debt collection firm, filed with the Cobb Superior Court asking for a Writ of Fieri Facais be issued.
The court issued a FIFA* on 2/27/15 for Real Estate with the amount noted as $107,377.34. Details on the Riedemann issue and other election items can be found at: http://riedemanninformation.blogspot.com/, http://kennesawelection.blogspot.com/
also http://kennesawcomments.blogspot.com/
Property owned in Cobb includes: house at 4111 KENTMERE MAIN NW, KENNESAW, Appraised value: $267,940, Airplane FMV $50,000, Boat FMV $217,940.
* Fieri Facias -- A writ commanding the sheriff to levy and sell as much of a debtor's property as is necessary to satisfy a creditor's claim.
Levy -- to seize or attach property by judicial order and convert into dollars to satisfy a debt.
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4/13/15
WSBTV Atlanta Channel 2 and Castle Lake MHP
Interviews were done today with Castle Lake residents (including Cindy Bickford) for Atlanta's channel 2.
This is a Cox Media station and those who regularly follow the CLMHP issue will recall that the Atlanta Journal Constitution has had 2 recent articles on the park. The AJC is also the major print arm of Cox Media empire.
It is about time that they got involved in the issue. I have mass emailed them and other publications (including the Vancouver Sun Newspaper) for over a year trying to get some publicity for the park issue.
WSBTV normally gets enough material for 4 airings on an issue, so we have the already aired segment this evening, and probably there will be another at 11 p.m. and at least 2 more airings of slightly different footage tomorrow. They have an extensive file of stories they carried, usually with transcripts and this can be found at: http://www.wsbtv.com/ so if you miss the actual showing you can probably find it on the referenced site.
It would be nice if they can pin down some of the elusive City of Kennesaw elected officials and ask some pointed questions of them as to why they are letting Jeff Fuqua and the Vancouver, Canada slumlords at 'The Ergas Group' run roughshod over 1,500 low income people in this Kennesaw trailer park.
Additional information on this can be found at: http://castlelakemhp.blogspot.com and http://mayormathews.blogspot.com
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4/12/15
WHAT SOME OF US THINK:
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AT ISSUE: CASTLE LAKE MOBILE HOME PARK
Kennesaw residents displaced?
Partial redevelopment of 52 acres good for some, but not for everyone.
The partial redevelopment of the Castle Lake Mobile Home Park in Kennesaw has a tangled tale of residents, property owners and developers. The Kennesaw City Council recently approved a plan by Fuqua Acquisitions, LLC for redeveloping 52 acres of the park at 1650 Cobb Parkway at Barrett Parkway.
In February 2014, this acreage was annexed by Kennesaw for a $150 million development. A retail site of 305,000 square feet, with Whole Foods as the anchor, and 180 apartments for ages 55 and older are planned but not for Section 8 and not for multi-family.
During the relocation period beginning later this month, Fuqua will offer relocation assistance to 118 homeowners as they move their mobile homes with individual negotiations.
However, some residents of the mobile home park have voiced their concerns to city officials.
Kennesaw Mayor Mark Mathews said these residents “cannot be displaced from their homes automatically.” Castle Lake residents said they don’t have the financial means to move in the manner proposed.
Owners of several trailers spoke to the AJC and said they were offered $8,000 to walk away from their trailers. They have also been offered moving expenses.
But one said it’s complicated: “We have to move out, store our stuff and get a hotel, at our expense, and then turn in our receipts.
“If I had that kind of money, we wouldn’t be living here in the first place.”
The mayor said the residents were caught “in limbo” between the owners of the mobile home park and the developers, which haven’t finalized the sale or its plans with the city.
Once the deal is closed — it could be a few weeks — residents will have two months to pack up and leave. What do you think? Is all fair in the name of progress? Share your opinion by email at communitynews@ajc.com .
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4/11/15
SUFFA DAWAT CENTER IS NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS
I understand that the new Mosque is now open for business with the Grand Opening about 2 weeks ago with a City Councilman in attendance.
I did drive by Friday 4/10/15 and noted the parking lot was pretty much full. Today I happened by with my camera and there were only 2 vehicles in the lot.
I see that there is no sinage yet as to the identity of the occupant. Only some flowers outside and what looks like realtor locks on the 2 doors. Presumably the attendees have the code to open the lock box and get the door keys.
4/10/15
I have received a email reply to my earlier inquiry to the Planning and Zoning Administrator Mr Simmons regarding a letter from Fuqua to CLMHP residents which mis-stated the involvment of the City of Kennesaw.
Mr Simmons reply, and the new and revised outgoing to CLMHP residents are below.
Bill Harris
Citizen Journalist
From: dsimmons@kennesaw-ga.gov
To: USA30152@aol.com
CC: JDrobney@kennesaw-ga.gov
Sent: 4/10/2015 9:58:46 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time
Subj: RE: City Gives Permission for Castle Lake Sale
Good morning Mr. Harris,Thank you for submitting the information to the City of Kennesaw.The City of Kennesaw Community Development staff quickly addressed this issue this morning with Fuqua Development.Fuqua Development apologized for the error and amended the content of the notices immediately and informed city staff that a follow up notice will be sent out. (Please see attached ).Respectfully,Darryl SimmonsCity of KennesawPlanning and Zoning Administrator
HERE IS THE NEW AND REVISED LETTER:
April 10, 2015
Homeowner
Castle Lake Mobile Home Park
Kennesaw, Georgia
Good afternoon,
We would like to apologize for the language used in recent notices distributed to a select group of homes on Wednesday, April 8th. On April 1, 2015, the city of Kennesaw approved the proposed master site plan for the future development at Barrett Parkway. The city is not involved with or responsible in any way for the sale of the Castle Lake property to Fuqua Development.
At this point, Fuqua Developments intends to close on the property in mid to late May. An update announcing the final sale date and following 60 day period will be sent within the next 4-6 weeks.
According to our records you have not yet secured a contingency offer for your home. Please contact us at 678-438-6275 as soon as possible to do so. We will have multiple representatives from our relocation team monitoring this line and available to meet you at your home.
We apologize for any confusion that this may have caused. Thank you and please contact us with any questions regarding your relocation plan.
Sincerely,
Sincerely,
Fuqua Development
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WORKING TO MOVE UP, TOLD TO MOVE OUT
The developer’s lawyer, in spinning the planned $150 million complex in Kennesaw, said the city is “addressing an often overlooked demographic” – aging Baby Boomers. But there’s another demographic being overlooked: Trailer park residents. About 110 families in the Castle Lake mobile home park at the busy intersection of Barrett and Cobb parkways will have to become mobile for real.
Working to move up, told to move out
The developer's lawyer, in spinning the planned $150 million complex in Kennesaw, said the city is "addressing an often overlooked demographic" -- aging Baby Boomers.
That Boomers have ever been overlooked is arguable. The aging Boomers in this case, well-heeled ones, will enjoy a resort-style pool, a yoga studio, a grand dining room and an adjoiningWhole Foods because, well, these aren't your grandfather's geezers. (Full disclosure, I'd qualify for the 55-and-over complex.)
Trailer people are used to being a punchline. Their existence often comes with a tale of woe and hard living. But the people I met at Castle Lake are a collection of hard-working folks trying to pull out of a life-altering spin of bad luck or trying to live frugally while forging a future.
Fuqua's lawyer told city officials that most of the residents have accepted a relocation package. He added that the developer's team is working "to resolve minor matters" to get the rest of the residents on their way.
These, mind you, are people who purchased oblong metal boxes with meager savings to keep their possessions dry when it rains. There is nothing "minor" about getting run off from where one has lived for years, about moving such structures, about changing schools.
When I walked in to the Kennesaw City Council meeting last week, Mayor Mark Mathews was addressing dozens of Castle Lake residents who showed up.
"My understanding is that anyone paying double rent is doing it by choice," he said.
Strange. Many people choose to pay double rent -- for lake homes, vacation cottages, even ski chalets. But I always assumed trailer residents preferred to be one-rent folks.
They are. It turns out several residents believed the trailer park sale was imminent, so they rushed to sign a contract to relocate to another mobile home park. The problem was that they still had not worked out a deal with Fuqua to move their trailers. Hence, double rent. Fuqua's people told the mayor they'd work that out.
Often there's a disconnect between sturdy-house people and those living in mobile homes. Mostly, those in Castle Lake want to avoid paying apartment rents, so they bought mobile homes to save money in hopes of some day getting a run of good luck.
A good proportion of residents are Hispanic. Many are confused or intimidated. One such lady, who spoke to the City Council, walks to work and was the third owner on the trailer's title. (They're like car titles, not deeds for homes, and things can get real complicated real quick.)
The stories about the path to Castle Lake vary: There's the mechanic who moved to Atlanta but couldn't sell his Arizona home. A young Hispanic couple saving money for a real house. A retired woman. A divorced husband whose wife got the $400,000 home.
Cindy and Kevin Bickford owned a home and a roofing business. Then came the Great Recession, a foreclosure, a business dissolution, and here they are at Castle Lake with their two high school kids, one of whom is in ROTC.
"We bounced around and needed a cheaper way of living," said Bickford.
So, last May they bought a comfortable double-wide that could pass for a regular home. They scraped together $7,000 for a down payment for the $15,000 structure but say they were never alerted by the trailer park managers that a sale of the park was in the offing. By then, the proposed Fuqua complex had been discussed for months. (A spokesman for the Canadian company that owns the park said newcomers are told there's a possibility a sale might happen.)
I spoke with the owners of four trailers, each of whom had been offered $8,000 to walk away from the trailer. They have also been offered moving expenses.
But Bickford said that doesn't work: "We have to move out, store our stuff and get a hotel, at our expense, and then turn in our receipts. If I had that kind of money, we wouldn't be living here in the first place.
"We're not here standing by the mailbox with our hands out waiting for welfare checks. We're hard-working people."
The mayor said the residents were caught "in limbo" between the Canadian owners and Fuqua, which hasn't finalized the sale or its plans with the city. Kennesaw leaders last week approved the site plan, including a provision they requested that there be no Section 8 apartments. I suppose that makes sense, Section 8 people would probably have a hard time affording Whole Foods.
Jeff Fuqua, principal partner of the company bearing his name, said he has eyed this property for years, but the recession got in the way. So did the layer of rock in the ground. (Hello dynamite!)
Fuqua has been involved in dozens of developments throughout metro Atlanta, including 12 now in the works. He likes to think he has been fair when residents had to get moved out. Trailers make things tricky, he admits. There's the ownership of units and the problems with moving older structures and the fuzzy titles and so on. He said his company will buy people's trailers or move them.
"We're very confident we're going well above the norm" in what's legally required to help those who must leave, he said, adding that the proverbial "handful of vocal people" are behind much of the ruckus.
Once the deal is closed -- it could be a few weeks -- residents will have two months to pack up their trailers and hard-luck stories and get moving. Maybe they'll find better luck down the road.
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4/2/15
What are the plans for the Castle Lake MHP property?
According to the 4/1/15 presentation to the mayor and council by Garvis Sams, representing Fuqua this is the current plan:
"Fuqua Development . . . is scheduled to close on the land at the end of April and begin construction June 2016. The development is expected to open the summer of 2017."
The proposed closing date of 'the end of April' is the 7th date floated by Fuqua. Sooner or later one is bound to be correct, whether this one is 'it' or another will be proposed later remains to be seen.
Several things are apparent:
1) The mayor and Council members Welsh and Killingsworth are firmly in the bag for the Fuqua/Ergas cabal. All 3 are expected to be out of office after the coming November election later this year. Hopefully their replacements will have more common sense than this current crop of officials.
2) As long as last June Jeff Fuqua was disputing my frequent contention that he and the Ergas Group of Vancouver B.C., the real owner of the property, were in league to clear out as many tenants and trailer owners as possible before any sale took place. This might save Fuqua Development from being responsible for any relocation packages for those who have already entered into agreements and moved away.
3) The City (mayor/Council) have said several times that before any permits to start construction on the site are issued that a relocation package must be in effect for the low income tenants of the park. With a combination of glowing comments from the 3 above referenced officials and the continued underhanded treatment of park residents by the park, it seems obvious that the City will not move effectively to safeguard the interests of those park residents who are now Kennesaw residents.
The City leadership, such as it is, has acted as an adjunct to Fuqua Development and have repeatedly ignored and in effect sanctioned the underhanded antics of 'Atlanta's Most Controversial Developer' (Fuqua) and a Canadian slumlord (Ergas)
The Development Commission and City Council have been provided with copies of the 23 page civil suit filed in February by 12 current and former park residents about the treatment they have received while tenants at this down market trailer park. The various allegations should have been a wake up call to these City bodies but it seems they have turned a blind eye to what is and has been going on at this park.
It is clear that there is little hope that the City of Kennesaw, under the current administration, will be of any use in safeguarding the interests of the low income residents, retirees and Hispanic residents of Castle Lake.
This is not Kennesaw's finest moment and the City should be ashamed of their treatment of those 1,500 Kennesaw citizens.
=================================================
Misc: A good subtitle for this would be "City again sells out low income residents of trailer park"
Kennesaw City Council approves new plan for 52-acre development
by Hilary Butschek April 02, 2015 04:00 AM
The City Council voted 5-0 Wednesday to approve a new site plan for a development set for a 52-acre section of what is now a trailer park in Kennesaw.
The revised site plan for the $150 million development on the corner of Barrett and Cobb Parkway includes a commercial area and a residential area for seniors ages 55 and up, said Garvis Sams, who represents the developer.
The council voted to approve a plan for 305,000 square feet of retail shopping and 180 senior living apartments where a portion of the Castle Lake Mobile Home Park now stands, Sams said.
Mayor Mark Mathews said the approval is a step forward in getting construction started on a development that was originally approved in February 2014. The new site plan differs from the originally approved plan, which provided for 20 townhomes and 450,000 square feet.
Full article is at: http://castlelakemhp.blogspot.com/
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March 24, 2015
To:
___ Kennesaw Planning Commission
___ Kennesaw City Council
Dear Sirs:
The long running matter of the property called Castle Lake MHP remains in front of you.
Attached for your information is a 23 page copy of a Civil Suit now active in Cobb County Superior Court which I wish to bring to your attention. It bears on the character and actions of both Jeff Fuqua of Fuqua Development and the Ergas Group operating in Georgia under various LLC's as listed in this recent court filing.
The City of Kennesaw made a major error in rushing to approve applications of the initial 52 acres, both by annexing it into Kennesaw and rezoning the property.
The purchase of the CLMHP by Fuqua has been repeatedly put off and I believe that it will continue to be delayed until the Canadian slumlords can clear most of the current tenants and trailer owners from that portion of the park now in Kennesaw.
I believe that there is a common scheme between Ergas and Fuqua to remove as many occupants as possible from the 52 acres before any sale actually takes place, I further believe and have seen documents to this effect, that there is no worth while 'Relocation' package available to any of those Kennesaw citizens of that park.
The City of Kennesaw has not acted in a reasonable and responsible way to protect those 1,500 low income occupants of this park from being preyed upon by "Atlanta's Most Controversial Developer" (Fuqua) and the Canadian slumlords (Ergas).
No further consideration to any zoning changes or additional annexation should be given by the City until and unless both Fuqua and Ergas have been required to implement a sound and reasonable relocation package as overseen by independent realty professionals (and I do NOT mean 'Yes Communities' who are in the hip pockets of both Ergas and Fuqua).
Bill Harris
Kennesaw Resident
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3/22/15
ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE PUFF PIECE OF JANUARY 2015
The ABC is the local paper for reporting on what is suppose to be going on in the local Atlanta area business community. What they really do is take the press releases of various businesses and trim and fluff them to make it appear that they are actually 'reporting' on something.
Here is an exert from a longer article about our good pal Jeff Fuqua, you remember him don't you? He is the guy who is working hand in glove with the Vancouver Canada slum lords, the Ergas family, that are even now cheating and ripping off 1,500 low income retirees, Hispanics and others who rent or own at the down market Castle Lake Mobile Home Park, in Kennesaw, Ga.
Here is one blurb from the ABC article titled:
Prolific developer Fuqua plans a busy 2015
"In March, Fuqua Development looks to break ground on a 52-acre mixed-use project at at Cobb and Barrett parkways in Kennesaw. The development would include 202,000 square feet of retail, anchored by Whole Foods, and around 330 residential units." *
Well March has come and is now departing and there is not only no 52 acre mixed-use project on that property, nor is there any reasonable prospect of one being there in the near or mid future.
Even Whole Foods has washed their hands of the dirty and underhanded tactics used by the Canadian Ergas family to root out and displace tenants and trailer owners at this junky trailer park.
The cheating and rip offs at this trailer park are so bad that a dozen current and former tenants have joined in a suit and are asking that it be made into a class action. Whether or not it will be so certified it won't matter to those filing as they will have their day in court to expose the threats, inflated billings and revenge evictions carried out by the Castle Lakemanagement and owners.
The property was once up for sale but the closing date has been put back 7 times at least and now with the civil suit filed last month **, the property is not one which any developer would want to be associated with.
The property is and will remain a slum for many years to come while the civil suit winds its way through the courts.
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* See ABC article at:
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/print-edition/2015/01/09/prolific-developer-fuqua-plans-a-busy-2015.html?page=all
or info on the park at: http://castlelakemhp.blogspot.com/
** CIVIL ACTION FILE NO. 15-1-1129
CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT
COUNT I: MONEY HAD AND RECEIVED (UNJUST ENRICHMENT)
COUNT II: BREACH OF CONTRACT
COUNT III: THEFT BY DECEPTION (AS TO THE WATER OVERCHARGES CLASS ONLY)
COUNT IV: THEFT BY TAKING (AS TO THE ILLEGAL FINES CLASS ONLY)
COUNT V: VIOLATION OF THE GEORGIA RICO ACT, § 16-14-4, ET SEQ.
COUNT VI: FRAUD (AS TO THE WATER OVERCHARGES CLASS ONLY
COUNT VII: CIVIL CONSPIRACY
COUNT VIII: PUNITIVE DAMAGES
COUNT IX: LITIGATION COSTS
I. PARTIES AND JURISDICTION
1. Plaintiffs are residents of the State of Georgia and are current or former tenants of Castle Lake Mobile Home Park.
2. Defendant Castle Lake Homes Corp. is a Georgia corporation with its principal office located at 1520-1185 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 4E6. Said Defendant may be served with process through its Registered Agent, Gloria Beauchene, at 1252 Gray Squirrel Crossing, Marietta, Georgia 30062.
3. Defendant Masal Partners Ltd. L.P. is a Georgia limited partnership with its principal office located at P.O. Box 91583, West Vancouver, British Columbia V7V 3P3. Said Defendant may be served with process through its Registered Agent, Gloria Beauchene, at 1252 Gray Squirrel Crossing, Marietta, Georgia 30062.
4. Defendant Amak Partners, L.P. is a Georgia limited partnership with its principal office located at P.O. Box 86158, North Vancouver, British Columbia V7L 4J8. Said Defendant may be served with process through its Registered Agent, Gloria Beauchene, at 1252 Gray Squirrel Crossing, Marietta, Georgia 30062.
5. Collectively, Defendants are the owners, operators and managers of a 300-plus lot mobile home park in Kennesaw, Georgia, known as Castle Lake Mobile Home Park (“CLMHP”).
A few of the many allegations in this suit involve illegal fines and fradulent water charges and the suit says in part:
"Defendants collectively agreed and conspired to commit the tortious acts, acted in concert to commit the tortious acts and the Defendants are jointly and severally liable for the acts described herein. . . Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 16-14-6(c), Plaintiffs are entitled to recover treble damages, punitive damages, and attorney’s fees and litigation costs from Defendants for the damages caused by Defendants’ pattern of racketeering activity."
The entire case is available on the Cobb County Superior Court Internet site:
TERM LIMITS FOR MAYOR AND COUNCIL
I see that the MDJ is reporting on a proposal for term limits for their maor and council.
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CLASS ACTION SUIT - Castle Lake
Canadian Slum Lords, The Ergas Group, et al, run by the wealthy Jewish Vancouver B.C. Ergas family, are now subject to what will be a long and expensive lesson in the operation of the American Judicial system.
The various plaintiffs are asking the Superior Court to certify the action as a 'Class Action' for those current and past residents and owners who have been preyed on by the ruthless bottom feeding owners of a down market Kennesaw, Georgia trailer park. Below is a brief Summary of the case filed last month in Cobb Superior Court. The entire 9 Count filing text runs 21 pages and 4,700 words and is to long to reproduce in full on this site. Regular readers of the blog site: http://castlelakemhp.blogspot.com/ will recall that this 53 acer property was intended to be sold to Fuqua Development, headed by Jeff Fuqua, known in the local press as 'Atlanta's Most Controversial Developer'.
Fuqua and Ergas had initial success in hoodwinking the City of Kennesaw Mayor and City Council into granting both favorable zoning changes and taking into the City of Kennesaw, 2/3 rds of the downmarket Castle Lake trailer park. Now the years of the Ergas family preying on low income famlies, retirees and Hispanic tenants is coming to an end and their shabby trailer park is soon to be gathering citations for the many violations that have piled up over years of neglect.
As to the long delayed sale of those 53 acres to Fuqua - don't hold your breath, rumors are that the sale was 'off' even before the suit was filed. Now the chance that Fuqua or ANY developer will want to buy the property are virtually nil and the Ergas family is left with a much larger tax bill now that the property is rated as commercial rather than what they had when it was just a trailer park.
On Oct 9th 2014 the Castle Lake Home Corp paid the county $185,540 in taxes, an increase of $146,479 from the $39,061 paid last year in property taxes.
A lot more info on Castle Lake is found at: http://castlelakemhp.blogspot.com/
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3/6/15
New Dates for the Hearings on CLMHP
LAND USE NOTICE
Application: Revised PVC Master Plan Variances
Application has been made to the City of Kennesaw
Purpose PVC Zoning to include Multi-Family Senior
Date of Public Meeting: 3/23/15 7 PM
Date of Public Meeting: 4/1/15 6 PM
CLMHP LAND USE VARIANCE
APPLICATION
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Publication at:
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2/4/15
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KENNESAW CITY MANAGER COMES TO WORK DAY AFTER FIRING
MDJ ARTICLE - by Hilary Butschek February 04, 2015
KENNESAW — After voting to fire Kennesaw City Manager Steve Kennedy at a meeting Monday night, a few City Council members said they were surprised and confused on why he showed up to work the next day.
The City Council voted 4-1, with Tim Killingsworth opposed, to not renew Kennedy’s contract with the city. His contract ended Dec. 31, but the council delayed a month before making a decision Monday.
Since the end of 2014, Kennedy has been working for the city without a contract, which includes using a city vehicle to drive between City Hall and his home in Cartersville and having access to all city documents and records.
The details of the end of Kennedy’s contract, such as whether he will be paid a severance fee, continue to receive city benefits or when his last day on the job is, have not been decided by the council, said Randall Bentley, city attorney.
Those missing details are causing confusion between Mayor Mark Mathews and City Council members as to when and how Kennedy should depart.
Councilwoman Debra Williams said she was shocked to hear that Kennedy returned to work on Tuesday.
“In my honest opinion, the mayor is interpreting the contract as he wishes,” Williams said. “He has disregarded the vote of the majority council, he has disregarded the vote of the people who put the council members in there to have to make these decisions, and it’s more about winning than serving the city.”
Mathews said Tuesday even though Kennedy’s contract ended Dec. 31, the former city manager’s last day has not been decided.
Kennedy came to work Tuesday and called a staff meeting, inviting the council to the meeting because: “He is working on a transition plan with his key staff,” Mathews said.
Mathews said the city hopes to put up a job posting for the position soon, and he doesn’t know how long the search for a replacement will take.
Councilwoman Cris Eaton-Welsh said none of the council members talked about how to end Kennedy’s contract because no one knew how the council would vote Monday night. Then, after the vote, Kennedy’s outdated contract was left up to interpretation.
“My interpretation of the contract was that it ended on Dec. 31, so he was actually running without a contract. So, my expectation was that he would be terminated immediately (after the vote Monday night). The mayor has a different interpretation,” Welsh said.
Bentley said Kennedy, who has been the city manager since 2004, went to work Tuesday to wrap up his duties.
“He was winding up and basically coming in to talk to his staff, … (and) from the standpoint of packing and getting all his stuff,” Bentley said.
Bentley said he is “working through” ending Kennedy’s contract right now.
Mathews said the final details of Kennedy’s separation with the city will be finalized by the city council at a special meeting Feb. 11.
“There will be a special called meeting next Wednesday to consider a separation agreement currently being drafted by the city attorney,” Mathews said.
Kennedy’s firing stirred up criticism from former city councilman Jeff Duckett, an ally of the mayor, Monday night after the vote.
Duckett wrote on Facebook: “Kennesaw City Council is a disgrace. Not approving the City Managers (sic) contract after all he has done over the last 10 years is a total and absolute lack of leadership on the Councils (sic) part. His job is to bring policies, ordinances, etc. to council for approval or disapproval. They have approved or disapproved, so what is done is in the hands of Council. … What a joke to be called a City Council. A group of so called leaders that have just destroyed this man and this City.”
Williams said the decision to end Kennedy’s contract was a difficult one, and the discussion surrounding his work with the city has gotten too personal.
“Did we want this to play out like this? Absolutely not,” Williams said. “I have no animosity toward Mr. Kennedy at all. This is a business decision. When people let it get personal, these are the things that happen. They’re fighting for all the wrong reasons.”
Eileen Alberstadt of Kennesaw, a retired senior legal assistant, said the confusion about Kennedy’s contract is unacceptable.
“(Kennedy’s contract) ended Dec. 31, 2014, and Mark Mathews, the mayor, is just ignoring everything,” Alberstadt said. “To me, coming from a legal background, it’s very unethical. It’s like he’s lost his mind or something. I don’t know what’s happening, but he should follow the rules. There’s rules of the city. Personally, I feel that Mr. Kennedy showing up at work today after his contract was not renewed was a slap in the face and very disrespectful to these elected officials.”
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Misc:
Both the mayor and Council member Killingsworth will run in Nov in an attempt to retain their offices. Jeff Duckett will run for the position opening when Mrs Welch departs. Bruce Jenkins will run for something, Mayor or a Council seat.
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2/3/15
Kennesaw city manager’s contract not renewed
Marietta Daily Journal: by Hilary Butschek February 02, 2015 04:00 AM
After being described by one council member as someone who is out of touch with the community, with a leadership style that generates controversies, the Kennesaw City Council decided not to renew the contract of City Manager Steve Kennedy on Monday.
The 4-1 vote, with Councilman Tim Killingsworth opposed, was taken without discussion after a month-long public dispute over the contract renewal.
Immediately following the vote, Mayor Mark Mathews looked around at the council members and commented, “Wow,” before announcing the final vote as “4-1, opposed.” Mathews previous told the MDJ Kennedy was a “fantastic” city manager.
Then, Kennedy, who sits at the dais alongside the council members during meetings, left the room and a door slammed behind him. Kennedy did not return for the rest of the meeting.
Before moving on to the next matter of business, Killingsworth asked the mayor and City Council to go into executive session “to respectively discuss the impact of what just happened.”
The council members left the room for a 20-minute executive session, but said nothing of the matter they when returned before the public.
The council has been delaying the vote on whether to renew Kennedy’s contract since its Jan. 5 meeting when Councilwoman Cris Eaton-Welsh announced she had reservations about the job he was doing.
Kennedy, who was being paid a salary of $116,085, has been Kennesaw’s city manager since 2004. The renewal would have extended his contract until the end of 2015. Kennedy’s contract expires this month, according to Pam Davis, city spokewoman.
It’s unknown as this point what steps the council will take to fill the position and whether it will hire from within or conduct a national search.
Ann Pratt, a Kennesaw resident, said she didn’t have any negative feelings against Kennedy and always thought he was “a nice person.”
“I’ve just heard things (from other residents) that he didn’t let the city know about things ahead of time and he wasn’t doing things he was supposed to,” Pratt said.
Paul Chastain, resident and president of the Kennesaw Museum Foundation, criticized the council’s decision not to renew Kennedy’s contract during a public comment period at the end of the meeting Monday.
“Mr. Kennedy, who you’ve just fired, is a good, strong man. He has worked exceptionally well with the business community. … He’s always seen the big picture,” Chastain said.
The decision wasn’t warranted, Chastain said. “You people are a bunch of imperfect people trying to make somebody else perfect, and honey, it’ll never work because we are imperfect and you put somebody up and try to make them perfect it will not go. The burden’s on your shoulders, not ours. You will reap what you sow,” Chastain said to the council.
At the end of the meeting, Killingsworth expressed his disapproval of the final vote.
“I truly believe that we have made a mistake tonight, and I want to go on record saying that. However, I do want to look every one of you in the face and tell you that I do respect the opinion of this council, and I will stand behind you whether I like it or not. That’s democracy,” Killingsworth said.
Councilwoman Debra Williams said at the end of the meeting she believes she made the best decision she could with the information she had.
“The votes we make here often are not always understood by everyone and I don’t expect everyone to understand them. I took a vote not to cast a vote in fear, favor or reward, and I haven’t done that since I’ve been here. … This was not an easy decision for me. … I can say today that the decision I made, I made in peace. That’s why I know it’s right,” Williams said.
Welsh was the first to speak out against Kennedy. She made a statement to the council and the public at the Jan. 5 meeting explaining why she did not support Kennedy’s “out of touch” leadership.
Yet Welsh said the decision to vote against renewing Kennedy’s contract was a difficult one for her.
“He’s a good man, and I’m grateful for what he’s done for the city to this point. But, I just didn’t feel he was the leader we needed to keep carrying us forward,” Welsh said after the vote.
Welsh’s comments at the Jan. 5 meeting included criticism for the way Kennedy allowed a resident’s application to use a retail space as a mosque. The mosque controversy generated national headlines for the city.
Last week, former councilman Bruce Jenkins said written complaints he made about Kennedy while in office were missing from the city manager’s personnel file. Welsh echoed those complaints.
Jenkins, who was on the Kennesaw council from 2006-13, said he has a copy of a letter he wrote and presented to the mayor and council in 2006 that detailed his concerns Kennedy made a decision to hire a new emergency services company for the city without enough input from the council. That letter is not included in Kennedy’s personnel file, Jenkins said.
“I made these notations and presented them (when I was on the council),” Jenkins said. “Subsequently, I have discovered that these documents are not in his personnel file. They were presented at the time to the mayor and the council,” Jenkins said. “You have to be aware that there is not a given policy as of right now for Mr. Kennedy or Ms. (Debra) Taylor, who is the city clerk, as of right now in regards to their personnel files so it’s vague at the very least on how these documents are placed or removed and who has the power to do that.”
Mathews said before the Monday meeting he does not think any documents were removed from Kennedy’s personnel file, but refused to offer any further comment on the city manager or the claims of Jenkins and Welsh.
Kennedy would not comment Monday night. Jenkins said Monday before the vote that he did not want Kennedy to remain city manager.
“I think it’s time for a leadership change,” Jenkins said. “There are too many obstacles for me to have confidence in (Kennedy’s) leadership.”
In an undated letter addressed to the mayor and council written by Jenkins on city letterhead, obtained by the MDJ, Jenkins criticized Kennedy for not getting adequate input from council members about whether to hire a new emergency services company.
Jenkins said Kennedy terminated business with 911 Dispatch by calling the company on the phone after a 14-year contract. Jenkins thought the phone call was unprofessional and said the meeting with 911 Dispatch should have been done in person.
Jenkins includes his concern with Kennedy’s performance overall at the end of the letter: “I am concerned with this specific action by Mr. Kennedy and it creates in me, as a council member, a lack of confidence in Mr. Kennedy’s effective leadership and care for our business in our city. … I respectfully request this letter be attached to his file for annual review,” Jenkins wrote.
Jenkins said his biggest disappointment in Kennedy while on the council was the city manager was never able to produce a budget for the city that would allow the city to reduce its millage rate.
“My biggest concern was that we never seemed to be able to establish a balanced budget or a budget that was able to reduce the millage rate,” Jenkins said. “(The city’s expenses) seemed to match whatever the revenue was for that year. … We have one of the highest millage rates in the county; why couldn’t we find ways to reduce the millage rate?”
Jenkins said, as a citizen and a former council member, he doesn’t trust Kennedy’s leadership.
“(The council members) were relying on staff and (Kennedy) to help us make decisions and give us correct information,” Jenkins said.
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MDJ Feb 3, 2015
On 7/19/14 I got a totally bogus traffic ticket for supposedly running a red light at Chastain and Cobb Pky.
That was total crap and I went to Kennesaw's Micky Mouse traffic court.
First time was 4 1/2 hours of sitting on my rear and and not even getting to put in a plea. All I got was an appointment to see the officers traffic camera which I viewed 3 times and it clearly showed that I was well into the intersection THEN the light went to red. As I said the ticket was total crap.
I demanded a jury trial and over the course of 5+ months I made 6 court appearances on what was a worthless ticket written by N. Steketee, Badge 0345. I had a good 12 hours and six trips to Kennesaw and Marietta Courts involved. The officer never spent one minute in court.
My insistance on a jury trial, despite offers for a plea involving 'no points' and I ended up getting the ticket 'Nolle Prosequi', ie: Dismissed on 1/22/15. I had told both the City and County prosecutors to 'watch the CD', perhaps someone finally took a look and found that the ticket was bogus.
Kennesaw PD is running a ticket trap and I hope my complaints to the AAA will get the City flagged as running a ticket mill for unwary drivers.
The whole process is jury rigged to get people to simply enter a guilty plea and pay a fine. I could have paid $125 and avoided 6 useless trips to court and 12 hours of my time wasted, but I said that Hell would freeze over before I would pay one cent for something that I did not do.
The KPD is good only for blocking off streets for the Pigs and Peaches nonsense and writing phony traffic citations.
Time for Kennesaw to do away with the KPD and use Cobb County Police!
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1/31/15
Remember a guy named Riedemann? 
He was a Kennesaw City Councilman for 6 months when our ethically challenged mayor (small m for mayor) appointed him to finish the term of deceased Councilman Bill Thrash.
This appointment caused a lot of controversy as it aced out the widow who only wanted to serve the final 6 months of her late husbands term.
Reidemann ran for as he termed it 're-election', that alone should tell you a bit about his character as he was never elected by anyone but the mayor.
He ran and lost by 400 votes to his opponent. Got totally beat down by the voters in an election that sent all 3 of the Council seeking another term into the unemployeed councilman line.
As you may know Riedemann had a very sketchy financial past, including bankruptcy and it is amply demonstrated by his accepting illegal campaign contributions from William J. Harper and not filing his Personal Financial Disclosure Statement for 2012.
Now finally the 2015 chickens have come home to roost on my 2013 complaint about this to the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission as shown below.
Hopefully we have seen the last of Mr. Riedemann in any Kennesaw office.
Riedemann agreed to:
Pay a $400 civil penalty for the violations,
Pay $125 in late fees for failing to file his 2012 Disclosure statement,
Pay the above $525 in civil penalties and late fees within 30 days,
Refund to William J. Harper $500 in excess campaign contrubutions within 30 days,
File his 2012 Personal Financial Disclosure Statement within 30 days,
Agrees to not commit further violations.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2014
Campaign Finance Comm v. Riedemann
Nov. 18 Update FYI:
You might recall the November 2013 Kennesaw City Council election where Matt Riedemann ran for 're-election' after serving six controversial months as a Mathews apointee to the seat of a deceased Councilman Bill Thrash.
The below letters are not about the original allegations, the letter is about his lack of filing the required 2012 Personal Financial Disclosure Statement.
The matter comes up 12/10/14 at 10 a.m. for a hearing to consider an agreed Consent Order. The meeting is open to the public. Ya'all come now!
We await additional information on the original Oct. 2013 complaint.
Details on the Riedemann issue and other election items can be found at: http://kennesawelection.blogspot.com/ alsohttp://kennesawcomments.blogspot.com/
You might recall the November 2013 Kennesaw City Council election where Matt Riedemann ran for 're-election' after serving six controversial months as a Mathews apointee to the seat of a deceased Councilman Bill Thrash.
The below letters are not about the original allegations, the letter is about his lack of filing the required 2012 Personal Financial Disclosure Statement.
The matter comes up 12/10/14 at 10 a.m. for a hearing to consider an agreed Consent Order. The meeting is open to the public. Ya'all come now!
We await additional information on the original Oct. 2013 complaint.
Details on the Riedemann issue and other election items can be found at: http://kennesawelection.blogspot.com/ alsohttp://kennesawcomments.blogspot.com/
1/25/15
WHAT COURSE OF ACTION REMAINS ON THE COUNCILMAN CHURCH ISSUE?
If the reader is not 'up on' the issue there are articles below which will provide you with suitable information.
There is general agreement after the Grand Jury Indictment that Mr. Church should NOT remain as a Kennesaw Council member.
There are several alternatives to remove him. The only 'easy' one is for him to resign his office. Unfortunately this has not been done and there seems to be no indication from him that he will do this.
What is left is a recall by City voters or a suspension by the Governor. As I understand it the latter would only get him suspended and not removed without a Felony conviction.
Both the above methods are difficult, time consuming and just messy.
Perhaps someone with organizational skills could put together some Citizen protests at Council or Workshop meetings to let Mr. Church and the other elected City officials know that Kennesaw residents not only want but DEMAND that Mr. Church resign his Council post.
Will this work? No way to know but enough publicity might push him into doing the right thing.
If he is cleared of the pending Felony charges then he can run again for a Council position, until he is cleared he should step down.
