June 12, 2025 • 10 mins
Willie talks with developer Rob Smyjunas to discuss the Blue Ash development project.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
My Billy cunning into Great American After one o'clock today
we have an expert from the Heritage Foundation about the
riots and more. But until then it's been quite a
matter of interest the past several months. There's a large
development proposed by Rob Junius of Vandercarr involving Blue Ash
Summit Park. Tonight's the big powwow, I think at seven o'clock,
(00:22):
and parking is going to be at a premium and
many concerned citizens are going to be there to voice
there I think opposition some their concern And unlike the
Hyde Park situation, this is completely different. And Rob, first
of all, welcome again to the Bill Cunningham Show. And
I'm holding in my hand here a missive a message
(00:43):
that you've just sent to the fathers and mothers of
the city of Blue Ass little tree that grew from Vandercarr.
So this is kind of breaking news in the summ
of you development. Tell me what your decision is as
of about twelve thirty five this afternoon.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Well, thank you the greatest. We have in looking at
the situation, we felt as though that it's in the
best interest of Blue Ash, its citizens and the administration
and council that we have a cool off period and
(01:18):
and rethink this this whole development, and uh we look
forward to possibly and get re engaging pretty soon. But
we're we're going to uh thwart this effort and uh
and you know, rethink it. It's a great development. We
(01:40):
we've gotten many many inquiries from other communities that would
actually wanting it, but our first choice was was Blue
Ash and on a great site in a in a
great community, and people were a small group of people
(02:03):
were very very loud.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
And of course the the shiny object gets most of
the media coverage and rob us but Junus as far
as what, Lizahead, can you tell us why you're pulling
up just a few hours before after're going through? I
would assume it's private property, privately owned. It's not owned
by the City of Blue Ashes, privately owned by you
and your group. What was the reason you're pulling it
(02:25):
is because it's not going to pass.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
It's not going to pass. We we we we know
that we may have three votes, we just don't have
that that that fourth vote. And in the interest of
of of council and and everybody's time, you know, it's
(02:48):
to to go into the evening. Uh, as you said, Raucus,
we felt as though that lets let the piece begin.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
At this point you're pulling it. There won't be a
powwow tonight about this. So what lies ahead over the
next few months. You had told me about a week
ago that you're considering putting another one thousand apartments in
that site, which is right now vacant land.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
There's nothing there at all.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
It's not the plan now, simply to put more apartments
and give up the idea of a magnet. By the way,
according to what you've told me previously, this would give
at least a million dollars more year to the Sycamore
Public schools. And when I have on the speaker of
the House next week, he's going to come, Matt Huffman's
going to be here to talk about cutting state contribution
to local school districts. This would give an additional at
(03:40):
least one million dollars Sycamore Public schools. There's a huge
tax income tax ingredient of the workers that would be
there in order to pay for police and fire. But
a small vocal minority is flapping their jaws. Can you
give me the three or four things that the city
of Blue Ash in the sense is giving up cause
(04:00):
of their opposition.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Well in a in a big way in national recognition,
uh Willie, we were going to be putting in uh
this this both complexes would have been uh totally camera
ready for the people, you know, if they wanted Fox
Sports and ESPN for some of the bigger u uh
(04:24):
sports activities in those in those both those venues. So
it would have gotten national experience for Blue Ash. Although
Blue Ash is one of the best places in the
country to live, but this exposure would have been visual
to the country. The other thing that's giving up is
a phenomenal youth sports uh complex that would have drawn
(04:49):
people from all over the country uh to Blue Ash.
Those people would have been spending money in a way
that has not been seen in the restaurant and in
the hospitality on weekends. That's a very very important thing
because you know, the center of sports uh in Blue
(05:11):
Ashes is in just in some ball fields. But this
would have brought a very height and awareness of Blue
Ash from across the country or the Midwest.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Could have come back in some other ideation later this
year or next, you know.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Right now, I'm not sure because of the fact that
there's there's been such allowed just a rebutt of it.
I think a lot of it is misinformation and misinformed.
(05:52):
Many Almost all the questions that have been uh all
the comments of of rebut have been a rest by
the administration in a calm and in a very detailed way.
But those those few keep on have they're on, they're
(06:13):
on the drums, and they're spreading a message that is
just causing angst among individuals. And it's I don't know.
We will see if we will bring it back, but
I I highly I highly doubt it. You know, the
my partner Maris which was formerly on al nyer uh,
(06:36):
they're excited to be uh uh pursuing forward on this
on this new plan. Their their focus is multifamily uh
and and this is something that they've discussed with me.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
All right, So you know, lie circle the globe before
truth can take its first step. The misinformation is incredible.
But nonetheless, you can take the same plans to some
other some other area around the tri state and they'd
be welcome and open arms. There's this small clique of
radicals in UH in Blue Ash that don't want to
(07:12):
advance and that they want to have a lot of
apartments and they by the way, the apartments are two
to five thousand dollars a month in rent, and this
would have been a completely different concept. Private, properly privately owned,
privately developed, and blue Ash would benefit. But you know,
you get the government we deserve. I sense in your
voice profound disappointment. You don't understand why this happened. Is
that fair to say?
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Yeah, I'm I think our whole development team is very,
very disappointed. Maris and us were very excited to bring
such a unique development that had never been On both sides,
the field house is never nobody's ever seen this kind
of thing, and nobody's ever seen this the development. We're
(07:57):
with the sports field and surrounded by restaurants and hotels
and apartments. So this is something that would have been
extremely unique and brought a lot of attention to Blue
Ash in a in a very good way, a positive way.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
Sure, And right now it's an empty field. All right, Well,
we'll see what happens down the road.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
And you know, I often say Rob Spagunas, and we
get the government we deserve. And if a small cadre
of radicals can spike this development for one hundred and
fifty million dollars. It says a lot about them and
the small group that are complaining. One of the worst
comments I heard was that, well, we want to know
in a couple of years who's going to run the
(08:39):
football field, who's going to be in charge of the
indoor stadium, who's going to be in charge. Well in
two years, I don't know, but it's private property and
it's going to be run correctly and the city of
Bush is going to benefit wonderfully both and especially in
these tough economic times, to tourism come in and spend
money hotels, a large tax and a large fee all
(09:03):
going the economic vitality would be incredible. But you know,
we get the government we deserve. And right now the
little tree that grew has some problems with some of
the limbs.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Well, i'd like to believe that that we can work
with counsel in some way, some fashion to to finish
out this development and and and hopefully in a way
that satisfies now the voices that have been so keenly
against what we're doing. And you know, it is what
(09:39):
it is.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
That's going to be difficult.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
All right, Rob, thanks for checking in, and so tonight's
meeting at seven o'clock is called off.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
You will not present whatsoever correct.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
That is correct sir, and and we we appreciate your
time and continue to be the greatest and wave that flag.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
God bless America.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
Rob smagenis, thank you very much, and God bless you,
and God bless America. Blue Ash needs new leadership, obviously,
because if you don't recognize the value of this, you
got to get it, get to hell out of public service,
all right, Rob, thank you very much, and you're a
great American.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
All right, let's continue your comments next five, one, three, seven, four, nine,
seven thousand. Bill Cunningham News Radio seven hundred WW
My Billy cunning into Great American After one o'clock today
we have an expert from the Heritage Foundation about the
riots and more. But until then it's been quite a
matter of interest the past several months. There's a large
development proposed by Rob Junius of Vandercarr involving Blue Ash
Summit Park. Tonight's the big powwow, I think at seven o'clock,
(00:22):
and parking is going to be at a premium and
many concerned citizens are going to be there to voice
there I think opposition some their concern And unlike the
Hyde Park situation, this is completely different. And Rob, first
of all, welcome again to the Bill Cunningham Show. And
I'm holding in my hand here a missive a message
(00:43):
that you've just sent to the fathers and mothers of
the city of Blue Ass little tree that grew from Vandercarr.
So this is kind of breaking news in the summ
of you development. Tell me what your decision is as
of about twelve thirty five this afternoon.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Well, thank you the greatest. We have in looking at
the situation, we felt as though that it's in the
best interest of Blue Ash, its citizens and the administration
and council that we have a cool off period and
(01:18):
and rethink this this whole development, and uh we look
forward to possibly and get re engaging pretty soon. But
we're we're going to uh thwart this effort and uh
and you know, rethink it. It's a great development. We
(01:40):
we've gotten many many inquiries from other communities that would
actually wanting it, but our first choice was was Blue
Ash and on a great site in a in a
great community, and people were a small group of people
(02:03):
were very very loud.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
And of course the the shiny object gets most of
the media coverage and rob us but Junus as far
as what, Lizahead, can you tell us why you're pulling
up just a few hours before after're going through? I
would assume it's private property, privately owned. It's not owned
by the City of Blue Ashes, privately owned by you
and your group. What was the reason you're pulling it
(02:25):
is because it's not going to pass.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
It's not going to pass. We we we we know
that we may have three votes, we just don't have
that that that fourth vote. And in the interest of
of of council and and everybody's time, you know, it's
(02:48):
to to go into the evening. Uh, as you said, Raucus,
we felt as though that lets let the piece begin.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
At this point you're pulling it. There won't be a
powwow tonight about this. So what lies ahead over the
next few months. You had told me about a week
ago that you're considering putting another one thousand apartments in
that site, which is right now vacant land.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
There's nothing there at all.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
It's not the plan now, simply to put more apartments
and give up the idea of a magnet. By the way,
according to what you've told me previously, this would give
at least a million dollars more year to the Sycamore
Public schools. And when I have on the speaker of
the House next week, he's going to come, Matt Huffman's
going to be here to talk about cutting state contribution
to local school districts. This would give an additional at
(03:40):
least one million dollars Sycamore Public schools. There's a huge
tax income tax ingredient of the workers that would be
there in order to pay for police and fire. But
a small vocal minority is flapping their jaws. Can you
give me the three or four things that the city
of Blue Ash in the sense is giving up cause
(04:00):
of their opposition.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Well in a in a big way in national recognition,
uh Willie, we were going to be putting in uh
this this both complexes would have been uh totally camera
ready for the people, you know, if they wanted Fox
Sports and ESPN for some of the bigger u uh
(04:24):
sports activities in those in those both those venues. So
it would have gotten national experience for Blue Ash. Although
Blue Ash is one of the best places in the
country to live, but this exposure would have been visual
to the country. The other thing that's giving up is
a phenomenal youth sports uh complex that would have drawn
(04:49):
people from all over the country uh to Blue Ash.
Those people would have been spending money in a way
that has not been seen in the restaurant and in
the hospitality on weekends. That's a very very important thing
because you know, the center of sports uh in Blue
(05:11):
Ashes is in just in some ball fields. But this
would have brought a very height and awareness of Blue
Ash from across the country or the Midwest.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Could have come back in some other ideation later this
year or next, you know.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Right now, I'm not sure because of the fact that
there's there's been such allowed just a rebutt of it.
I think a lot of it is misinformation and misinformed.
(05:52):
Many Almost all the questions that have been uh all
the comments of of rebut have been a rest by
the administration in a calm and in a very detailed way.
But those those few keep on have they're on, they're
(06:13):
on the drums, and they're spreading a message that is
just causing angst among individuals. And it's I don't know.
We will see if we will bring it back, but
I I highly I highly doubt it. You know, the
my partner Maris which was formerly on al nyer uh,
(06:36):
they're excited to be uh uh pursuing forward on this
on this new plan. Their their focus is multifamily uh
and and this is something that they've discussed with me.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
All right, So you know, lie circle the globe before
truth can take its first step. The misinformation is incredible.
But nonetheless, you can take the same plans to some
other some other area around the tri state and they'd
be welcome and open arms. There's this small clique of
radicals in UH in Blue Ash that don't want to
(07:12):
advance and that they want to have a lot of
apartments and they by the way, the apartments are two
to five thousand dollars a month in rent, and this
would have been a completely different concept. Private, properly privately owned,
privately developed, and blue Ash would benefit. But you know,
you get the government we deserve. I sense in your
voice profound disappointment. You don't understand why this happened. Is
that fair to say?
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Yeah, I'm I think our whole development team is very,
very disappointed. Maris and us were very excited to bring
such a unique development that had never been On both sides,
the field house is never nobody's ever seen this kind
of thing, and nobody's ever seen this the development. We're
(07:57):
with the sports field and surrounded by restaurants and hotels
and apartments. So this is something that would have been
extremely unique and brought a lot of attention to Blue
Ash in a in a very good way, a positive way.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
Sure, And right now it's an empty field. All right, Well,
we'll see what happens down the road.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
And you know, I often say Rob Spagunas, and we
get the government we deserve. And if a small cadre
of radicals can spike this development for one hundred and
fifty million dollars. It says a lot about them and
the small group that are complaining. One of the worst
comments I heard was that, well, we want to know
in a couple of years who's going to run the
(08:39):
football field, who's going to be in charge of the
indoor stadium, who's going to be in charge. Well in
two years, I don't know, but it's private property and
it's going to be run correctly and the city of
Bush is going to benefit wonderfully both and especially in
these tough economic times, to tourism come in and spend
money hotels, a large tax and a large fee all
(09:03):
going the economic vitality would be incredible. But you know,
we get the government we deserve. And right now the
little tree that grew has some problems with some of
the limbs.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Well, i'd like to believe that that we can work
with counsel in some way, some fashion to to finish
out this development and and and hopefully in a way
that satisfies now the voices that have been so keenly
against what we're doing. And you know, it is what
(09:39):
it is.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
That's going to be difficult.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
All right, Rob, thanks for checking in, and so tonight's
meeting at seven o'clock is called off.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
You will not present whatsoever correct.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
That is correct sir, and and we we appreciate your
time and continue to be the greatest and wave that flag.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
God bless America.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
Rob smagenis, thank you very much, and God bless you,
and God bless America. Blue Ash needs new leadership, obviously,
because if you don't recognize the value of this, you
got to get it, get to hell out of public service,
all right, Rob, thank you very much, and you're a
great American.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
All right, let's continue your comments next five, one, three, seven, four, nine,
seven thousand. Bill Cunningham News Radio seven hundred WW
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