WARREN — Mayor Doug Franklin said he has spoken at length with developer Mark Marvin on at least three separate occasions seeking to address his concerns about blight and other issues since Franklin received the November letter in which the owner of Downtown Development Group said he would make no new investments in the city.
Franklin also spoke with Marvin on Wednesday morning after the letter and a more recent e-mail was leaked to the media Tuesday.
When contacted by the Tribune Chronicle, Marvin referred a reporter to the letters for his explanation.
In the letter, Marvin noted that other investors were not being held to the same standards that DDG had made on its own since it began making an estimated $45 million in investments in the city. He also suggested the city has not been aggressive in addressing the problem of blight, especially in the downtown area.
Marvin owns the Robins Theatre and restaurants and other commercial property in the downtown area.
“I’ve spoken to Mark on at least three occasions — twice in person and once on the phone — since I received the first letter,” Franklin said. “I did not see the most recent e-mail, or I would have gotten back to him immediately.”
Franklin, along with other U.S. mayors, are in Washington, D.C., this week as part of a conference in which they are discussing various issues important to leaders of big and small communities. He is expected to be in Washington until Saturday.
“The administration and myself truly value the investments made by Mr. Marvin and the Downtown Development Group,” Franklin said. “It has been a catalyst to growth.”
Franklin said his administration wants to see more investments and he understands the frustrations the businessman has, but said that government works at a slower pace than a private business owner like Marvin.
“We’ve had these discussions,” Franklin said. “What we have agreed to is to open up better lines of communication.”
Addressing specific issues in the letter, Franklin noted the city cited the owner of the former Sears building shortly after bricks fell off its side into a parking area. However, its owner filed an injunction in court, which stopped the city’s efforts to force repair.
Franklin explained that other developments named in the letter have different circumstances than Marvin, so they may not be able to move to address concerns about their developments.
The work being done by Steve Coon is a tax credit finance project that was stopped two years ago because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is poised to receive another tax credit certification, so the work on the property can resume, Franklin said.
Regarding Dana Street and Auto Parkit, the closure is reviewed by city council every 90 days.
As the mayor of the city of Warren, Franklin said he must see to the concerns of all current developers in the city, while working to bring in new investors and developers.
“The more investments we bring in, the better it is for his investments,” Franklin said. “I’ve expressed that to him. I understand his passions. I have those same passions. We both want to see the city grow.”
Franklin said he hopes to work with Marvin on projects the city is now working to develop.
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