Comments: I have not been on Facebook in about three years. I can tell you right now it’s a scam. It will all come out at the right time. Please don’t believe what they tell you. The Facebook surveys can be tampered with. I sent an email to Josh Wilbur last night. Why not have three people who are against the project and three people who are for the project serve on a committee that picks a pollster. Then we can get to the bottom of this. But this administration and several on the City Council can’t be above board.
I can tell the readers of this forum. It’s kind of like what John Dean told Nixon. There is a cancer growing on the Madison Mayors Administration. Everyday we are finding out more and more how shady this deal is. Keep the faith!
Added: August 27, 2025 06:37:24 PM
Submitted by Name: Truth or rumor
Comments: Is it true Bob already has another developer?
Added: August 27, 2025 12:49:44 PM
Submitted by Name: uncle carl
Comments: MADISON LOFTS - COMING SOON
Added: August 27, 2025 02:00:08 PM
Submitted by Name: Can we vote on this?
Comments: What would it take to get the zoning issue on a ballot? Let the people vote on it. Apparently Bob thinks it's in the bag.
Added: August 27, 2025 01:06:57 PM
Submitted by Name: Rebar and Bowen
Comments: For anyone playing along at home, if you look at both project pages for Rebar and Bowen that they are identical and Bowen is now calling our project the Madison Lofts. I'll be at the meeting tonight to see how I can get involved further in stopping this.
Added: August 27, 2025 12:53:56 PM
Submitted by Name: Update
Comments: While Rebar is out and has been for a short while—-If you recall I posted several weeks back about the Founder, Mr. Bowen leaving and new president coming on board. That announcement followed a development company building a Facebook page on June 23d which coincidently is the very day the Governor fired every single member of the IEDC board. The name of the newly formed development company is Bowen Development. I can’t tell if Bowen was forced out or not; I can’t tell you why the internet and social media presence suddenly appears on and around the governors cleaning house. I can tell you with one like and one follower they are working hard to stay under the radar.
I can confirm that Bowen- the founder and immediate ex president of REBAR development- still has his fingers in Madison and although Rebar is definitely out - Bowen is still definitely in. The project is still going to move forward unless the public can stop it .
You still need to continue your work as individuals or whatever committee you are on. I am sure Richard Ice will update the Riverfront Defense Facebook page with contact information. The same process applies. Polite emails, calls, letters and messages asking Bowen Development to meet with citizens. If there’s no response quickly begin to tag Bowen Development and if still no response then Google reviews that explain why you are frustrated with the company. But please give the company an opportunity to respond to your concerns . Many would love to see a development a block north - so let’s give them a chance to work with the community- even if the mayor and city council don’t want to work with community.
And YES - Courtney knew but he withheld information from several of his board. The new hotel development is still in the works. However it’s the luxury apartments for wealthy persons that citizens object most to. Tjh
Added: August 27, 2025 10:57:24 AM
Submitted by Name: Truth or rumor
Comments: Is it true Bob already has another developer?
Added: August 27, 2025 11:52:32 AM
Submitted by Name: , From: Madison
Comments: Seems to be the application for Readi Grant needs to be looked at. If Rebar was named as developer, application had false information.
Added: August 27, 2025 11:36:01 AM
Submitted by Name: Steve From: Cincinnati
Comments: It also means once the district is approved the Fairfield Hotel expansion will move forward unchecked - without public input or local oversight.
Could someone please explain the details of this expansion?
Added: August 27, 2025 09:50:44 AM
Submitted by Name: update
Comments: Granny and everyone- Rebar is out but the owner and ex- president Mr. Bowen is still in. Several weeks ago I mentioned that Rebar had a change in ownership and leadership and that the company announced Mr. Bowen was retiring. I also mentioned there was one other unidentified developer listed on the grant.
I noticed around the time that the Governor fired everyone on IEDC's board that a Bowen Development site and a facebook page went up. Both the website and the facebook page have intentionally stayed under the radar. There is only one like on Bowens facebook page and their website ranking is incredibly low. I have no idea why a company would do that. In early August Rebar made an announcement about changes that had already taken place. In addition over July 4th local law enforcement and security informed me that Bowen was in town and meeting with the mayor back stage at the Roostertail Concert. I can't tell you what any of that means- maybe Bowen was concerned about being caught in dirty deals that Rebar had been doing with members of the IEDC board- maybe not. maybe Rebar is legit and Bowen is dirty. Maybe neither. But the June 23d date sticks out as a huge coincidence as do the new website and facebook page intentionally kept from direct public view. So aside from all the conspiracy theories, certain things are true:
The READI grant has always listed Rebar and "one other developer". The mayor likely knew Rebar was not going to be the developer at the time he completed the grant. Or perhaps there was hope Rebar and Bowen could work together. But now we know the "other developer" is Bowen. Public records request are in process for call, emails and documents with Bowen and Bowen Development. Until then watch Richard Ice and the Riverfront Defense face book page. Richard will likely post contact information to Bowen sometime this evening. I will send facebook page and website links to Jeff. As always the goal would be to ask Bowen to visit and hear from the community. If that doesn't work try tagging on facebook, calls, emails and letters. If that doesn't work then google reviews explaining to the public how Bowen Development fails to address community concerns and is caught in local schemes to hide and or falsify development plans and grants in order to receive public funds may be in order. But please give Mr. Bowen and his company every chance to address your concerns. It took Rebar 3 weeks to finally respond but they did so honestly. Again, there- is one developer left- Bowen.
Regarding the mayors mis/conduct Rebar is out and the mayor most likely knew the change was coming but Bowen hadn't "come out" yet. So, Bob completed the grant and listed Rebar as the developer. He may have simply falsified that information along with other information in the READI grant. BUT- Mr. Bowen still has his fingers in Madison and is working towards developing the luxury apartments on the Riverfront. Your tax dollars will still subsidize rent for rich persons and give 5-7 million to an out of town millionaire developer. i'll do my best to keep you updated but keep posting and sending Jeff questions. He'll tell me what you want. tjh
Name: Fred Shimfessel
From: madison
I have not been on Facebook in about three years. I can tell you right now it’s a scam. It will all come out at the right time. Please don’t believe what they tell you. The Facebook surveys can be tampered with. I sent an email to Josh Wilbur last night. Why not have three people who are against the project and three people who are for the project serve on a committee that picks a pollster. Then we can get to the bottom of this. But this administration and several on the City Council can’t be above board.
I can tell the readers of this forum. It’s kind of like what John Dean told Nixon. There is a cancer growing on the Madison Mayors Administration. Everyday we are finding out more and more how shady this deal is. Keep the faith!