Friday Blog Is Out

[Frim]

One major thing you'll have to remember is that it'll be a zoning issue. The Elio Store will be a place to order the car, talk to someone, take a test drive and pick up your new Elio. So that's pretty much like a dealer. I suspect that the best idea for many areas is to lease a building in the dealer row where all of the dealers are at. That way you are right in the area where people shopping for a car will be and you have a much better chance with no zoning issues.

That zoning issue will go away just as soon as I can get appointed to the zoning board.. The last time I got in trouble with the zoning board I asked them what their qualifications were. An Issue that could have been decided by the chairman suddenly required certified mailings to all parties within 1000 feet and public publication of intent for conditional use permit.

 

[RSchneider]

That zoning issue will go away just as soon as I can get appointed to the zoning board.. The last time I got in trouble with the zoning board I asked them what their qualifications were. An Issue that could have been decided by the chairman suddenly required certified mailings to all parties within 1000 feet and public publication of intent for conditional use permit.

In most areas "zoning" becomes an "opinion". Some times you can use it to your advantage. We had an old McCormick spice plant that shut down and was just sitting. So the people in the area wanted something done about it. A guy bought the property and planned to put in a Lowes and grocery store. So, all of the people around the place were upset and came up with every excuse as to why that's a bad idea (traffic, noise, lights). Since it was zoned industrial and not commercial, he wanted to change it and that's not what the people wanted. They wanted $1M homes on big pieces of land.

So after the guy got shut down, he came up with a better plan. A car auction and repair facility which requires no zoning change. So the zoning board wanted to change the law that industrial could not be used for car repair or sales (nobody want's a massive car auction and repair facility in their back yard). Thus 5 car dealers in the city just canned plans on expanding to other industrial areas that were run down. They were just going to close down and move out to another area outside the city. In the end, the Lowes and grocery store went up. City found out that even though the zoning changes the people wanted, made no sense (the spice plant and the massive building across the street had lots of traffic when they were both in operation and spice plants really stink) that having more tax revenue is a better thing plus old non income producing properties were going to going to start producing income.

 

[RSchneider]

Here's another one. A friend of mine bought an old barn (built in 1840) and an old house. The house was converted to a 3 tenant apartment and that was done in 1920. So, the land around him got bought by a developer and they built a boatload of homes. The people that were around that barn were upset because nothing had been done to it and it was an eyesore. The developer kept telling people that it was going to be demolished and not to worry. So the guy rented out the house and converted the barn into a really nice home. When he had to make the barn into a home, he needed variances and that was funny because every time he needed it, he needed to send out letters then have a new meeting at their township building. Every time he got the same 5 people that claimed that the developer told them that the barn was going to be torn down and that's what they wanted. His plan was pretty easy. I'll just leave it the way it is and become an eyesore. It's grandfathered in and can just sit. In the end everyone gave up and literally the home is beautiful and is worth more than what surrounds it.

As for that other house, the neighbors hate it but he uses it as income and since it became that way in 1920, it predates homes built in 2000.

 

[gottemfeathers]

In most areas "zoning" becomes an "opinion". Some times you can use it to your advantage. We had an old McCormick spice plant that shut down and was just sitting. So the people in the area wanted something done about it. A guy bought the property and planned to put in a Lowes and grocery store. So, all of the people around the place were upset and came up with every excuse as to why that's a bad idea (traffic, noise, lights). Since it was zoned industrial and not commercial, he wanted to change it and that's not what the people wanted. They wanted $1M homes on big pieces of land.

So after the guy got shut down, he came up with a better plan. A car auction and repair facility which requires no zoning change. So the zoning board wanted to change the law that industrial could not be used for car repair or sales (nobody want's a massive car auction and repair facility in their back yard). Thus 5 car dealers in the city just canned plans on expanding to other industrial areas that were run down. They were just going to close down and move out to another area outside the city. In the end, the Lowes and grocery store went up. City found out that even though the zoning changes the people wanted, made no sense (the spice plant and the massive building across the street had lots of traffic when they were both in operation and spice plants really stink) that having more tax revenue is a better thing plus old non income producing properties were going to going to start producing income.

I've seen something similar to this when someone wanted to put in a driving range on agricultural land. The neighbors fought it and the zoning board acquiesced to the neighbors desires. The land owner decided to put in a pig farm instead. All of a sudden the zoning change for the driving range got approved.

 

[hawg_ryder]

Ya know what Ronnie said... Scariest sentence is: "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help."

_hr

 

[Johnny Acree]

Will the Elio Have a Trailer Hitch?
August 10, 2018



Happy Friday Elio’ers! We all know that this is a busy time of year and there are simply not enough hours in the day to take full advantage of the summer. Between throwing and attending parties, outdoor concerts and sporting events, the summer always comes and goes in hyper speed. That being said, this week’s blog is short, sweet, and directly to the point. This week we are going to definitively answer one of the most popular questions that we receive: will the Elio come equipped with a trailer hitch?

Our vehicle is designed to do many things: provide savings for drivers at the gas pump, sail through the HOV lane, present a sensible option for solo commuters. The Elio is not, however, designed to replace an SUV or truck for trips to Home Depot. The first model of the Elio is not designed to pull a trailer, and, at this stage, we do not plan on offering a trailer hitch as an option. As we will not be offering a trailer hitch, we do not plan on offering Elio Motors trailers at this stage either.



If you’re concerned about additional storage space, fear not! Firstly, as you probably know, the back of the back seat folds forward for additional storage space- enough to fit a set of golf clubs. We plan on offering a wide variety of options through our option program, including several different types of roof racks. Again, the Elio is not a substitute for your resident gas guzzler, but we will get creative and offer several different ways to maximize storage space.

Before we leave you to your weekend activities, we want to thank everyone that sent in their thoughts on potential retail center locations. We received some truly insightful emails, and have saved them all, so if you participated, you may be hearing from us in the future for more information. Thank you also to all those that sent in offers of help- very much appreciated!

As always, thanks for your continued support and enjoy your weekend!

 

[RUCRAYZE]

"If you’re concerned about additional storage space, fear not! Firstly, as you probably know, the front seat folds forward for additional storage space- enough to fit a set of golf clubs."
FOTFLMFO!!!- well if the front seat will fold forward...........

 

[RUCRAYZE]

Let's be careful when using terms "showroom" and "dealership"
It has been kicked around that a dealership opens a heap of legal problems, as does showrooms
If they take a space in a mall it will be strictly to show off the car, the rent will not be affected as there will be no selling from that space.
I don't know for sure, but I think Tesla has used/uses the mall to show-off the product, no test drives and doesn't take orders at a mall.

The idea of saving on rent by going to a mall that's in trouble, will not attract many people. Elio once had a showing in a mall in Albany N.Y. in a distressed mall and it felt like there were many Elio folks as shoppers. Malls continue to face enormous financial pressures-

"BUSINESS
What in the World Is Causing the Retail Meltdown of 2017?
In the middle of an economic recovery, hundreds of shops and malls are shuttering. The reasons why go far beyond Amazon."

 

[Johnny Acree]

Did you contact EM about their typo? I did.
That way, they can do something about it.

I also corrected their post here as it was a copy and paste.

 

[KenK]

... I think Tesla has used/uses the mall to show-off the product, no test drives and doesn't take orders at a mall.

You are right about orders, you have to place those on-line, but you do arrange for test drives from the mall locations, at least here in Phoenix you do. I went with a friend on his test drive in 2015.