Help save a hobby shop!
04-16-2014, 04:05 AM
#1
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Help save a hobby shop!
http://www.change.org/petitions/texa...itionexas#news
Sign this campaign to keep a local hobby shop in Texas. As of this post, they only need 136 more signatures. I think we can provide them with that!
Sign this campaign to keep a local hobby shop in Texas. As of this post, they only need 136 more signatures. I think we can provide them with that!
Texas Land Condemnation To Take Hobby Facility From Children
Mike's Hobby Shop has been providing recreational hobby facilities for
children, scouts, young adults, and adult North Texans for over 26
years. Located on I-35 in Carrollton, Mike's Hobby Shop provides over 51,000
square feet of indoor and outdoor recreational facilities including 3
remote control (RC) car tracks, a Pinewood derby car track, a space for indoor electric aircraft and helicopter flying, as well as a retail store with sales and in-store service.
Due to the I-35 corridor expansion, however, The State of
Texas has begun proceedings to take half of the facility through the eminent domain process. The line that defines the portion of the property being sought by the state literally cuts through all 3 RC car tracks, rendering the entire facility useless in terms of its current operation.
By law, the State of Texas has the right to take a landowner's property.
Still, they must compensate the landowner fairly. Despite fair, honest,
good faith work by Mike's Hobby Shop owner Mike Darnell, the
state is insisting only purchasing half of his building, and is using real
estate comparables from other parts of the metroplex that come in at 30%
of the actual value of the land.
Faced with having to renovate and sell the remaining half of the building, and being offered a sub-market acquisition price by the state, Mike won't be able to afford to re-open the facility and will be permanently forced to close.
Mike's Hobby Shop has been providing recreational hobby facilities for
children, scouts, young adults, and adult North Texans for over 26
years. Located on I-35 in Carrollton, Mike's Hobby Shop provides over 51,000
square feet of indoor and outdoor recreational facilities including 3
remote control (RC) car tracks, a Pinewood derby car track, a space for indoor electric aircraft and helicopter flying, as well as a retail store with sales and in-store service.
Due to the I-35 corridor expansion, however, The State of
Texas has begun proceedings to take half of the facility through the eminent domain process. The line that defines the portion of the property being sought by the state literally cuts through all 3 RC car tracks, rendering the entire facility useless in terms of its current operation.
By law, the State of Texas has the right to take a landowner's property.
Still, they must compensate the landowner fairly. Despite fair, honest,
good faith work by Mike's Hobby Shop owner Mike Darnell, the
state is insisting only purchasing half of his building, and is using real
estate comparables from other parts of the metroplex that come in at 30%
of the actual value of the land.
Faced with having to renovate and sell the remaining half of the building, and being offered a sub-market acquisition price by the state, Mike won't be able to afford to re-open the facility and will be permanently forced to close.
04-16-2014, 05:49 AM
#2
The is an absolute shame. Every time I head down to the DFW area as stop at Mike's equals AT LEAST $500 out of my wallet. In addition, the staff is always friendly and helpful and will do everything they can to take care of whatever your needs are when you walk through the doors. Even though I only visit maybe once or twice a year they still treat me like I walk in there every weekend!!!!
It's an outrage that they can do something like this to an existing and thriving business.
I've signed the petition to help save Mike's
Ken
It's an outrage that they can do something like this to an existing and thriving business.
I've signed the petition to help save Mike's
Ken
04-16-2014, 06:42 AM
#3
So have I signed on. The "State" can do whatever it pleases, and Texas is gradually moving into that direction. Not long ago, there was a great state election about water rights. The state made it sound great to assist current water needs. In reality, IN MY OPINION, anyone with a working brain could see the camouflage. Of course it passed. Now I am still wondering just how much longer it will be before "they" arrive to place a lock on my water well so as to tax me on my own water usage. In addition with all these new highways being built, and one is very close to my country home, many real-properties are being condemned due to water items. In reality it is only so the "in-house-realtors" can obtain the properties for very little cost, to build their new shopping malls and additions at low costs. I am sure that a number of RC model facilities will also fall to this take-over of various land deals.
04-16-2014, 08:59 AM
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I'm in, not only because we need all the local hobby shops to remain in business that possibly can. but also because I was the victim of eminent domain about six years ago. It is a helpless feeeling. Especially in my case because all the grandiose plans they had for my property came to nothing. They bull dozed the house after they finally got me out, left a big hole in the ground and rubble lying around and now the property is head high in weeds. Absolutely nothing came of the politicians' unreasonable plans for expanding the airport that I lived next to.
04-16-2014, 01:14 PM
#9
Wow this is the first I have heard of this and I live here. I've known Mike for over 25 years. I buy a lot of stuff from him and have always tried to support my local hobby shop, LHS.
Signed.
Signed.
04-16-2014, 01:22 PM
#10
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While I sympathize with the locals down in Texas about a favorite hobby shop possibly closing, I fail to see what possible good my signature on a petition would do considering I live in Virginia.
I would think the only signatures that matter would have to have a local address.
I would think the only signatures that matter would have to have a local address.
04-16-2014, 03:39 PM
#13
I am not sure if out of town signatures count or not but it certainly can't hurt. Often times people do come in from out of town for events and do visit the hobby shops and this is a good one. It is not like the rymes with "bobby frown" hobby shop. This one carries A LOT of stuff.
04-16-2014, 05:52 PM
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I tried ...but CHANGE.ORG wouldn't open for me... my best advice would have to be is, get what you can get...shut'r down, go on gov't assistance and vote for Hillary in '16
Edit... the site opened and I signed...
Edit... the site opened and I signed...
Last edited by wahoo; 04-16-2014 at 05:59 PM.
04-17-2014, 02:06 AM
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http://www.change.org/petitions/texa...itionexas#news
Sign this campaign to keep a local hobby shop in Texas. As of this post, they only need 136 more signatures. I think we can provide them with that!
Sign this campaign to keep a local hobby shop in Texas. As of this post, they only need 136 more signatures. I think we can provide them with that!
that can be recovered here, like damage to the remainder, loss of business, etc. If the State is pushed, a business can get a lot more than the value of the land taken, in the case of a partial taking, like here. I have seen some cases where the business came out in very good shape. Of course, it is a great big drawn out hassle.
Walker
