Bryan could prove deal breaker developer claims

WAUSEON, Ohio - Negotiations between Charles Bryan, Jr. and Delta businessman Scott Sullivan to purchase the downtown Wauseon property where a restaurant project is stalled have reportedly hit a major roadblock, namely Charles Bryan, Jr.

Blueprints are drawn up and a contractor is standing by, but Bryan is reluctant to sell him the land, Sullivan told the Expositor, a FOX Toledo News media partner. And if he doesn't do it soon, Sullivan plans to locate his development elsewhere.

In an attempt to staunch rumors he said are swirling through the city, Sullivan said bluntly: "There is no deal. There is interest, but there is no deal. My offer is on the table. I'm just waiting for him to act on it or not."

He has spoken with city officials including Mayor Jerry Dehnbostel and Assistant Law Director Tom McWatters, who "made all kinds of overtures to help," Sullivan said. "(But) I'm getting close to the end of my rope. There's other places and things that we can do."

He said he has met with Bryan a couple of times, the latest about a month ago. He said a price for the land has been discussed, but Bryan is dragging his feet.

"It's dead in the water, as far as I'm concerned, as far as Charlie goes. I don't know what's holding his end up," Sullivan said.

He declined to disclose the price offered or other details of a purchase agreement, saying, "It's not ready to really be talked about in specifics."

He did say the development would be an expanded version of the former Sully's Grill in Delta. That Main Street restaurant closed in 2008 after being damaged when an aging building next door partially collapsed. The business was a joint venture between Sullivan and Delta school superintendent Robin Rayfield.

Sullivan hoped to rebuild and expand the restaurant in Delta, but said talks with village administrators reached a standstill. He said his interests now lie outside the village.

"I would like to do a restaurant somewhere, and I'm not specifically looking at Delta right now. I think I can service both Wauseon and surrounding communities," he said.

Unfortunately, he has no feeling about a successful project in Wauseon at this time, he added. "I think the city would like to see something done, but it's really out of my control. I would like to continue where (Bryan) left off. I would like to put my restaurant back up and have the best possible chance to succeed, and that's in Wauseon."

However, Sullivan said he's short on patience, and will look for a different location if a deal isn't struck before year's end.

"I told the city I'm concerned it's not going to happen," he said.

Bryan did not return calls for comment.

His attorney, Sarah McHugh, said Bryan hasn't sold due to "unresoved issues with the city that preclude him from inking a deal for the property." She declined to elaborate.

The city's position is that it hopes a purchase agreement is finalized soon to preserve state grant proceeds, McWatters said.

"We have had discussions with the Sullivan group, but we have not actually been involved in the negotiations and sale of the parcel. We haven't tried to assist in that process," he said.

He last spoke with Sullivan about a week ago, but "I have not seen any documents between the two, and I don't what the agreement is between the two," McWatters said. "We have expressed our willingness to facilitate ...but we have not been involved in the give and take of those parties."

Should an agreement be reached, State of Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) grant funding approved for Bryan's Wauseon Downtown Development Corporation project could be transferred to Sullivan's, he said.

But that would entail submitting the new developing team's plans to the ODOD for approval. New conditions of approval include a legally binding agreement between the city and the new developer to complete the project, and documentation proving the new development team has legal control of the project site.

"We're quite optimistic that if a new developing team purchases the property ...that the funding will still be available," he said.

It would also mean supplying the state with Bryan's purchase records of materials before the state withdrew its financial assistance to WDDC. The city paid vouchers on Bryan's behalf totaling approximately $143,000 before the project shut down and the state decided to withhold reimbursement pending Bryan's criminal case.

McWatters said the city has experienced some delay in receiving Bryan's records but wouldn't elaborate.

The city has been trying to act as a mediator between Sullivan and Bryan, but will offer no financial assistance, Dehnbostel said. He last spoke with Bryan about two weeks ago, and was told negotiations were progressing.

"We want to see the deal go through," he said. "I feel that what Sully offered is very reasonable."

 

(The Fulton County Expositor is a FOX Toledo News media partner)