After 17 Months its over!
It’s been a long time, but its over now. Funny how a bunch of rocks and the property they rest on can, overwhelm you. When you are self employed everything is on the line. Emotionally, Creatively, and of course financially. 17 Months ago I was contacted by the city and informed that my studio was targeted for relocation to make way for a new viaduct construction. I would be contacted in several months with a plan, but not to worry I will be treated fairly. As I lie awake that night, I thought to myself; define “fairly”. I realized I was facing the full weight of a city legal department coming after me. This fight has taken it toll on me. I would tell myself that this is no big deal. It’s not a bad spot on an MRI. It’s only a building. Most of you know that part of me is in the brick and timbers. I still tried to laugh, but this kind of thing can wear one down. Last week we closed on a piece of property behind the studio for access. A painful and costly ordeal that reached new lows in corporate greed. About seven and a half cents per square inch for an old EPA Super Fund site (all clean now) in lower Price Hill.
Thank the Good Lord we only had to buy a quarter acre!! This should have put me at ease but there was so much mud slinging by attorneys in three states and dealing with corporate ownership out of the UK that the finality of this ordeal it is just starting to sink in. I want to thank my family for helping me smile and laugh. That handful of clients and supplers that had to deal with me after my attorney would call and tell me to sit down. My corporate and real estate legal team ARE amazing. My litigation team was always on board, although they we not needed I’m sure their reputation had a good deal with bringing all parties to the table. Also huge thanks to all the other River Imaging brands that were committed to the Ri business model, no matter what, where ever that building would end up. Last but not least, a big thank you to the Pinot brothers Grigio & Noir who always gave me good advise. The bottom line is Ri stays put in this great building. All I have to do now is to start designing new signage and parking. In closing Michel Kiedel is one of my great creatives that I love to work for and even a greater friend. I told him the other day that I needed to take a 30 day emotional shower. This has been equal to living in a portolet for 17 months. Sometimes you are in the blue water running for cover! Sometimes you are adding to the blue water. But at the end of the day you have been in a portolet for a very long time. You look like Poo. you smell like Poo, and you feel like Poo. So I’m going to take that 30 day emotional shower. I’m pretty sure I won’t look any better. I’m sure I will smell better. The goal is to feel better. I can hear the water now! Amen.
