Last week, Radius Hospitality of Canton reiterated its plan
for Atwood Resort & Conference Center,
which henceforth will be called Atwood Lake Resort and Golf Club.
By every measurement, Radius has an aggressive plan to turn
the resort – closed since 2010 – into a regional destination.
That plan includes renovation and expansion of the current
hotel and conference center, now with about 100 rooms and slated to grow to
about 300 rooms, renovation of the 18-hole golf course including the addition
of new holes, construction of a family water park and a skeet shooting range,
and other improvements.
Radius President Scott Yeager briefed about 150 community
members on the plans, noting that turning Atwood into a gambling venue isn’t on
the agenda. Apparently Yeager is conceding that revenue stream to Rock Gaming’s
Dan Gilbert.
Someone likened the Atwood plans to Myrtle Beach. How about
Disney World?
The resort ultimately will end up in Radius’ portfolio by
way of a five-year lease agreement, which means Radius will have about five
minutes to make any money from the improvements.
So, something is going on here and it obviously involves oil
and gas leases/royalties and what-have-you. Continue to color me skeptical
because it all seems to be too good to be true for a place that was losing its
owners $1 million a year before its doors were closed.
Let me reiterate that the fundamental mistake was made when
the decision was made back in the ’60s to build the resort on the hill rather
than at the water’s edge. I’ll concede, however, that it’s tough to see that
shell of itself on the Edge of Paradise, just kind of hanging there.
***
A couple of reminders that apparently not everyone has a
firm grasp on things…
–The Plain Dealer reminded readers recently that the odds
favored Cleveland’s
new casino, the Horseshoe Casino Cleveland, and not the gambler. Yes, that’s
right, gamblers. The odds favor the house. Always have. Did you think Las Vegas
was built on the backs of winners? Know when to fold ’em.
–According to ABC News, Fort Lee, N.J.,
Police Chief Thomas Ripoli said that jaywalkers distracted by their personal
technology had become so dangerous that officers had to get tough. Now, the
jaywalkers face $85 tickets, which the cops figure is a lot better for them
than becoming a traffic fatality.
“They’re not walking in the crosswalks,” the chief told ABC.
“They’re walking against the red light, and they’re being struck by vehicles. We
had three fatalities this year, and 23 people hurt, hit, [in] a three-month
period.”
***
I agree with Democratic strategist James Carville that the
Democrats, notably Barack Obama, have a lot of work ahead if they want to score
in the November elections.
Obama should take nothing for granted as we head toward the
conventions and the fired-up campaigns of September and October.
Obama isn’t getting much credit on the economy, if one takes
the polls seriously, although Americans do feel better about the future while
acknowledging that times remain tough. And he gets absolutely no credit from
the Fox News conservatives on the capture and killing of Osama bin Laden, which
is something of a mystery to me. I’m not sure what he needed to do differently.
Mitt Romney has to find some way to connect to the average
American. He hasn’t done that yet and perhaps he’s not capable. Calling
attention to his wife’s two Cadillacs doesn’t seem to be a great strategy.
I’m not calling this one yet. Give me another month or two.
Follow me on Facebook and Twitter (dfarrell_dover).
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