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Leaders: Time to focus on GM plant reuse
> Do you think a new use will be found for the GM Moraine plant?
> Coverage of the plant's closing
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
MORAINE — General Motors Corp.'s announcement last week that it will close its Moraine assembly plant Dec. 23 was painful, local leaders agree.
But by no means was it a surprise, they add. GM indicated in June that it will close the plant by 2010. And as recently as late August, the automaker had rejected an Ohio government offer of $56 million in tax credits to keep the plant open.
"It's the end of an era in Dayton in terms of automobile manufacturing," said Deborah Feldman, Montgomery County administrator.
"We have to be realistic about this," said Montgomery County Commissioner Dan Foley. "We can't sugarcoat it."
While there are no silver linings, Feldman and Foley say the local Regional Task Force formed this summer to respond to the situation can now focus on preparing workers, as well as finding new uses for the plant. Both say workers should visit the Career Transition Center at 4257 Dryden Road as soon as possible. And both say redevelopment efforts for the plant should take on new urgency.
Moraine City Manager Dave Hicks said Monday he won't relent in fighting to keep the plant open, although he added that the odds are "certainly stacked against us now."
"The priorities are probably weighted to the reuse" of the GM plant, Hicks acknowledged.
For ideas along those lines, Hicks said he and Michael Davis, Moraine development director, have visited a former GM stamping plant in Comstock, Mich., which was redeveloped into smaller units — for manufacturing and offices.
Also, Hicks said he has spoken with Ohio House Speaker Jon Husted about legislation to spur reuse of the plant site.
The idea is to craft legislation that would provide incentives to buy existing buildings and use those for new purposes. Today in Ohio, there are incentives for building new structures, but there are no comparable incentives for existing buildings, Hicks said.
"It levels the playing field," Hicks said of the legislation he has in mind.
While the plant enjoyed full employment, Moraine saw about $3 million in annual income tax revenue from the facility, Hicks said. The plant lost a third shift in 2006 and a second shift last month. When it closes its doors, about 1,100 workers will lose jobs.
John Harlow, shop chairman for the union representing GM-Moraine workers, said in an e-mail to members Friday, Oct. 3, that the union is nearing a new contract with GM.
"We will be bringing the agreement forward so you may see what you are entitled to and the options that will also be afforded to you," Harlow wrote.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2390 or tgnau@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Comments
By JB
October 13, 2008 12:13 PM | Link to this
This is what you get when you kowtow to big corporations with tax subsidies in exchange for the promise of “jobs”. First you get the elevator - then you get the shaft. How many vacant buildings in the Miami Valley were owned by big corporations that promised “jobs”? Yet the political leadership continues with a subsidized “move here and we’ll sell you our souls “attraction” based approach to business. What ever use is found for it, one requirement should be that the business is locally, (preferably employee) owned so the money generated stays and circulates in the local economy and not shipped off to some out of state or offshore corporation.
By chef
October 7, 2008 8:17 PM | Link to this
Thanks to the devalued dollar ,Nafta,bad planning by GM selling Dinosaur guzzlers ,would signal the end of GM in Dayton.Many GM vehicles are already made in China,they can make and sell over there Bejing. The chinese will be doing business over here buying land &companies.And they will be small gas sipping cars and dayton workers will be more than happy to work there and take what pay they get and no health care. Thank both political parties for passing Nafta.Its not exactly a win,win is it?
By chef
October 7, 2008 8:16 PM | Link to this
Thanks to the devalued dollar ,Nafta,bad planning by GM selling Dinosaur guzzlers ,would signal the end of GM in Dayton.Many GM vehicles are already made in China,they can make and sell over there Bejing. The chinese will be doing business over here buying land &companies.And they will be small gas sipping cars and dayton workers will be more than happy to work there and take what pay they get and no health care. Thank both political parties for passing Nafta.Its not exactly a win,win is it?
By Craig
October 7, 2008 5:24 PM | Link to this
As a retiree of the truck plant I learned over the years a little known fact.Many thought the proximity to the I-75/70 corridor was the major reason the land was so valuable to GM when in fact it is water. All of the land GM owns in the area of the truck plant sits on top of a major water aquifer.This would prove to be quite an asset if GM ever wanted to build an engine forging or sheet metal stamping plant on the land surronding the assembly plant.GM is not going to sell the land.
By earl
October 7, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this
Think of all the hazardous waste that sits on that land? You think the old NCR complex of buildings was bad, wait to the EPA looks at that land. The way you see GM Moraine today will be the way you see it 5 years from now.
“We’ve Gotta Get out of This Place” — Animals 1965
By Scott
October 7, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this
Whens the funeral? RIP Dayton…One half can be a casino and the other can be a paydays…or it could be the Job center annex.
By tsf-troy
October 7, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this
Hey Just my Opinion, finally someone talking the right language on here. I’ll agree with you in prayer. Forget GM, God will provide.
By Tommy
October 7, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this
The county should try and buy the property from GM for a dollar, sell the current fair grounds, use the money from that sale and build a new fair grounds with a facility like the nutter center for concerts and things or seek a casino, both with bring jobs and involve the community for the better
By gitrdone
October 7, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this
Buy it from Gm for a dollar, sell the current fair grounds and use the money made from miami valley hospital to make a new fair grounds aith a facility like the nutter center or just make it a casino
By gitrdone
October 7, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this
Buy it from Gm for a dollar, sell the current fair grounds and use the money made from miami valley hospital to make a new fair grounds aith a facility like the nutter center or just make it a casino
By Just my Opinion
October 7, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this
It would be a blessing from God to reuse that building for something that would bring jobs to Dayton. Those of you who believe in the power of prayer, need to fight about this on your knees, and with the faith God has given you. All it takes is 2 or 3 people who truly believe God can do this to come together and trust him in it. Will be praying with you.
By Wordell
October 7, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this
Sell it to Chery Automotive of China. They will need manufacturing facilities in the U.S. after their cars start selling here in 2009/2010. Chairman Mao’s photo will be everywhere in the plant. Imagine former GM workers group excercising prior to work under Mao’s watchfull eye! Dogs and cats will be scarce in Moraine, be careful what you eat in the Company cafeteria. Thank Democrat control of “everything” for putting you in this condition. You needed to listen to Ross Perot. You didn’t.
By You Heard It Here
October 7, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this
They’re (GM) going to make it a UAW plant, retool the line where necessary and build small cars. Won’t help workers here, laid off UAW workers, anywhere, have first dibs on jobs. GM wanted the CWA/IUE Union out of there and they got it. I think the city and fed leaders know this and that’s why they have been so quiet lately.
By karon
October 7, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this
Passenger trains and streetcars are the 21st century of travel. These trains can be made at the GM plant and this would create thousands of new jobs. High speed passenger trains are the talk in Washington! These trains should be made in the United States NOT europe or asia!
By Dan
October 7, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this
I don’t think that reuse of the building will be an issue. I have heard from several insiders at Moraine, that a contract has already been issued to raze the plant. I personally feel that this will be a huge waste, but there is little that I can do about it. Unfortunately for the area, GM owns the building and property and they can do whatever they want with it.
By Rick
October 7, 2008 10:32 AM | Link to this
I lived in Kettering 1960-67 and saw the ABC News piece last night on the GM plant. Probably many of my Fairmont classmates worked there (tho’ it may have been a Frigidaire or Delco plant then). Look at the bio of Deeds who not only created factories for NCR, Delco and others…he re-purposed them to manufacture other products. That’s what Old Economy factories need to do now. In Pennsylvania, where I live now, the US Steel plant that was vacant for years now makes windmills!
By Mr. Gil
October 7, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this
Who cares? Those jobs are gone. It will sit there for years, unused or some of it will be used. What’s the future for Dayton? Not good, I suspect.
By Phil Man
October 7, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this
Just b/c it had auto manufacturing in it before, do you think everyone will say “let’s put more auto-manufacturing in it”. Who’s to say it will serve the needs of an electric car company? Once GM gets all their stuff out of there, it will just be a big empty building, like most of them in the US. What’s attractive about moving another auto-plant here? I don’t know, I’m not a city leader. I would guess they would have to deal with a lot of the old “gimme” union attitude if they put in a new plant
By yt27
October 7, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this
Turn the facility into an oil refinery.
By Ron
October 7, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this
Wake up and look to the future! Consider using the facilities and our local workforce to prepare for tomorrow’s needs TODAY! Find manufactures who want to start building electric cars, electric batteries, solar cell roofs, windmills to generate electric, water purification systems, air cleaning devices, enhanced traffic monitoring systems to control traffic flow through intersections, utility vehicles, Hazmat vehicles and equipment, military jeeps, tanks and boats, farming and heavy equipment!
By justin
October 7, 2008 9:04 AM | Link to this
the city along with dayton should have past legislation a couple years ago to require that companys cant just abandon these properties, they must pay to have the exsiting build demolished or find occupants of the building. instead local leaders are going to waste valuable time and resources and in the end the city of moraine will probably foot the bill for its demo, and in the meantime itll be an eyesore for the area just like the old harrison plant that caught fire last month.
By Doug
October 7, 2008 8:58 AM | Link to this
Who is buying the property? Will GM sell it, they might sit on it guys for awhile, I will be suprise if they sell it quick, they own alot of property in the area
By William
October 7, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this
I think we should approach manufacturers of small cars and sell the place dirt cheap. Creating the jobs must be worth it. Maybe it would be a good site for the new generation of electric cars….
By Conley
October 7, 2008 8:47 AM | Link to this
It would be wise to approach the new and upcoming makers of expermintal and new electric cars to come here, give them the tax write offs to locate here,a lot are located in Calf. the others from garages all over the US.
By Julie
October 7, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this
Turn it into a museum. Isn’t that what we do in Ohio for every old relic of a building?
By Grant
October 7, 2008 8:10 AM | Link to this
Turn the place into a China One. So “Hill” on the “Flattrack” can get everybody south of dayton their lunchs and dinners. Step your game up, “Hill”, You will be in the big leauges then.
By fellow mouth breather
October 7, 2008 8:03 AM | Link to this
That’ll do wonders for property values in the area. Great idea, jimbo!
By jimbo
October 7, 2008 7:26 AM | Link to this
Raze the factory and use the site for a nuclear plant.