Map Boy

Did anyone else go to the Casino panel at CSU March 10th? The two speakers were Mark Rosenstraub from CSU and Robin Boyle from Wayne State University in Detroit. Both came off as generally neutral, as far as the subject relates to Ohio and did a fair job of presenting the facts to the audience. Their objective was not to put forward an agenda, but to set the table. There were deficiencies in their presentation...namely, the effect that the casinos have had on personal debt, mental health, etc. However, they had lots of data on the economic impact that they have had on the City of Detroit, in particular, and on the economic effects that nearby casinos have on Ohio residents. I don't have all the stats, but something like $400 million Ohio dollars are spent at nearby casinos. In Detroit, based on a survey of 9,099 casino patrons at two casinos, 1,887 respondents (21%) were from outside of the tri-county area and over 600 were from Ohio. Of these, about 30% were from Cuyahoga County. Detroit's casinos haven't spurred significant economic development around their sites, but they have re-used existing buildings (all three) and the tax dollars and jobs are their most significant impacts. Casinos in Detroit are the city's sixth largest employer, and the second largest non-public employer (only Chrysler is larger). They also have an agreement to employ at least 51% local (Detroit) labor. Vendors and suppliers from the Detroit and Southeast Michigan area were responsible for 62% of the products consumed in the casinos. And the impact that casino tax input has on the local budget is quite significant, though I can't recall the figure. From the facts that were presented, I guess we can surmise that the speakers were probably pro-casino, but they were just presenting the facts as they knew them. You can bet (he, he) that other speakers could produce all the negative stats that opponents want to hear, so take this for what it's worth. There were probably about 200 or so people in attendance, which is nice to see, and I was happy to be one of them!

I just spent a few days in Cleveland and one of my persistent impressions of the city remains the same...we have a city with many great neighborhoods that are on the verge of becoming complete, yet are still functioning independently of each other. These places...Tremont, Ohio City, Detroit Shoreway, the Flats, Warehouse District, Gateway, CSU, Midtown, etc...have the potential to grow together to form one of the most exciting, complete, vibrant collections of inner-city neighborhoods in the country. On that note, I'm glad to hear about the new position at the Port Authority...especially with someone who has so much experience with City Hall and Neighborhood Progress Inc. I think we've all shared the sentiment that the "powers that be" in Cleveland are often working against each other. Having someone in this role with the necessary connections and relationship coming in will certaintly expedite the development process. I'm very optimistic about the project we're talking about here and with the Port Authority working as another group that wants to make this a reality, we've got a much greater chance of seeing it happen.

Was in town last week and got to see the wonderful Phillips Collection...man, I love our museum! There was a buzz in the air about the expansion and the place was hopping! Here's a quick photo...I'll post more later in the City Photos section.

True that, Peet's is better, but let's evaluate the equivalent at CSU...oh, wait, there isn't one! I just got back from my visit to CSU and my assumptions were correct about campus...it needs LOTS of work. Their master plan is great and ideally it will manifest itself over the next 10 years. Honestly, being a state university helps this cause. I don't know how many of your are keeping up with the U. of Cincinnati threads and development, but they've developed soooo much on and around their campus over the past 10 years. CSU will get there, I'm confident. We might not have a "streetcar" running through campus, but we'll have a much more significant "bus rapid transit" project running right in front of our Urban Affairs building. We'll post pictures of that in five years when it's done. And as a neighborhood of Downtown, PSU is well-designed with a nice mix of retail, housing, green space, and institutional space...CSU is not yet there, but I feel will be BETTER than PSU when it's finished! How's that for optimism??? In any case, they're my top two right now and here are my pictures from last week on campus...

Well, it's actually brewed in Boston and Cincinnati, but the Cincinnati brewery definitely doesn't get the cred it deserves! Where would the rest of the country be without us, eh Ohioans???

I'll take some pictures of CSU construction projects while I'm visiting campus this week! Updates on the way!

This is wonderful! With all the talk over the past couple years about how the arts aren't given a high enough priority in municipal spending in Ohio, this is a good way to show the politicians that art lovers are willing to put the money forward. Hopefully they won't be forgotten when they lobby for public funding in the future!

There's a pretty significant development/redevelopment project going on around East Boulevard called "Heritage Lane." http://www.city.cleveland.oh.us/mayor/press/2004/200408/08_19_2004.html Here are the key parts of it... "The Heritage Lane Historic Homes and Heritage Lane Townhomes combined, are a $18 million development project being made possible through $2.5 million in Housing Trust Funds and $2 million in Empowerment Zone Funds from the City of Cleveland. Additional funding is being made possible through National City Bank, Huntington Bank, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, and Village Capital Corporation. ... Located on the east side of East 105th Street, between Superior and Wade Park, the Heritage Lane Historic Homes range in size from 3,500-5,000 square feet, and include magnificently restored exteriors, full front porches, hardwood floors, vaulted ceilings, gourmet kitchens, 5-7 bedrooms, bedroom level laundry facilities, 2-3 bathrooms, all customized to buyer’s tastes. The starting price is $274,000. Located on the west side of East 105th Street, right across the street, the Heritage Lane Townhomes floor plans will range from 1,600 to 2,100 square feet and feature 1.5-2.5 baths, 2-3 bedrooms, live-work bonus room, second story deck, bay window, basement, private drive, and two-car garage. The starting price is $174,900. Both housing developments will feature below market financing. The Heritage Lane Historic Homes will also include 10-year tax abatement, while the Heritage Lane Townhomes will include 15-year tax abatement." and a site plan from Progressive Urban Real Estate:

Definitely! Eliot Nessssss...

What is the standing rule on that anyways?

Yes, Chili in Cincinnati and Pierogis in Cleveland...these are well-known...now what is THE BEST place to get a bowl of chili in Cinci and a pierogi in Cleve-o??? And what exactly is goetta? I lived in Cincinnati for 4 years and I don't know if I ever heard the term!

Since there are lots of out-of-towners posting on this site, why don't we all state what we think of as the signature food from our neck of the woods... Why does it deserve this reputation? and Where is the best place to get this particular specialty in your particular burg?

A great neighborhood with lots of room to grow (in my opinion). Correct me if I'm wrong, but there's new housing around here? And this isn't far from the Mill Creek Falls? The intersection of Broadway and 55th is pretty neat...a true streetcar neighborhood. I haven't been by in probably 6 years, but maybe on my next visit.

Thanks, X. I've seen this plan before, but now I've got a better idea of where this specific development is. I'll make up the rest of it in my head!

Obviously I'm exaggerating, but seriously, there's something in the air over there! Development 1: Affordable housing sought Thursday, March 03, 2005 By DAVID PLATA West Side Sun News It's one of the poorest neighborhoods in Cleveland, possibly about to get a spruce-up by way of a $4.9 million, 30-unit scattered housing development for low- and moderate-income people. The area lies between West 44th and West 73rd streets and Interstates 71 and 77, where the Joseph & Feiss Co. _ the clothing manufacturer that moved away in the mid-1980s, and whose former site is being redeveloped as upscale apartments and townhouses _[read on for more!] was once the largest employer in the neighborhood. Development 2: Redevelopment of Joseph & Feiss site moves forward From the Plain Press by Chuck Hoven The former Joseph & Feiss clothing factory on W. 53 rd and Walworth Avenue , just south of I-90, will be transformed into a 150-unit housing development according to plans revealed by a partnership of the City of Cleveland , developer Ameri-Con Homes and the Stockyard Redevelopment Organization. At a groundbreaking ceremony on June 9th [2004], the development partners revealed some details of their plans. The development is to include 96 new townhouses and 54 units of townhomes and lofts in restored buildings on the site. The $20 million project, named Asbury Towers after the water tower being preserved at the site, is to be phased in over a five-year period.

what's on West 9th and Johnson Court?

More details from the RTA at http://www.gcrta.org/pressreleaselist.asp?listingid=710 Sounds like a great deal for the RTA, Brookpark and Cleveland!

This just in... RTA OKs plan Rapid station. Construction starts in 2006 Thursday, March 03, 2005 By JAIME WILLIS The News Sun BROOK PARK _ Construction of the $16 million Brookpark Rapid Station will move forward now that the RTA Board of Trustees has approved a letter of intent. RTA staffers made the recommendation to the board to approve the letter after some two years of discussion, Jerry Masek, media relations manager for RTA, said. The OK came on Tuesday.... © 2005 Sun Newspapers. Used with permission.

Again, I'm out of town, have there been any drawings or proposals posted? Anyone got any pictures to share with me???

I like everything on that list, with the exception of the convention center. There was some post on another board recently about keeping our market position at the small-to-middle level of conventions and capitalizing on those clients and the other convention centers throughout the city (ie: CSU Convocation Center, Cleveland Clinic, IX Center). If we have the market demand to build all this new housing and commercial and infrastructure, why bother with a controversial development that could potentially cost the city/county/voters hundreds of millions of dollars when we could spend that money where the market is actually calling for it...on these developments and improvements that the city will be called on to make in order to push them forward. On today's news, I think it's great. And despite the fact that there's nothing on the drawing board just yet, the example of Crocker Park shows that this developer isn't afraid to through some money behind a project that he believes in, even if its risky. And he has serious beliefs in urban design and reinvigorating cities with mixed use development. Hooray for this!

boooooring! (i'm being facetious, of course. I'm sure engineering is a very exciting profession) but doesn't it seem like we can do both? get our curve radii, our spacing, our grades, and make for better, more functional urban spaces at the same time? I know, I'm preaching to the choir...

Very well spoken, KJP...how can they not listen to you? Do they want failure?

KJP, I searched and searched for info to back up my claims, but found nothing! What I did find was this: "Section 3035 of ISTEA authorized FTA to enter into a multiyear grant agreement for development of the Dual Hub Corridor, originally considered as a rail link between downtown and University Circle. In November 1995, the GCRTA Board of Trustees selected the ECIP (Euclid Corridor Improvement Project) as the locally preferred alternative (LPA) which included a busway and the rehabilitation and relocation of several existing rapid rail stations. In December 1995, the Northeast Ohio areawide coordinating agency (local metropolitan planning organization) adopted a resolution supporting the ECIP. In mid-1999, GCRTA reconfigured the scope of the ECIP to incorporate only the construction of a busway along Euclid Avenue. The rapid rail elements have been eliminated from the ECIP proposal for Section 5309 New Starts funding." So, this is pretty much what you told me...It's a good thing there are fact-checkers and experts out there to set the record straight! This kind of changes my ideas about NOACA too...maybe they do need a little shake-up! I know the price tag sounded huge, but there were several contemporary success stories to follow and our proposal, though its price tag was severely reduced, still received a "low" rating for cost effectiveness by the FTA's New Starts program in 2004. I guess we're lucky that it's going forward at all!

No, no, no! Wrong answer! You're in this town because you love it and you want to make it better! Trust me, when I was in Portland, I felt an air of futility because the market was so driven and determined already that no one needed to push it forward. Of course, this is a simplification, Portland needs visionaries who can guide development in the right direction, but it appears that there are so many out there, that development is going the right way. Cleveland needs you and loves you and we will see it flourish again!

seriously? i could've sworn there was a public vote on the Euclid proposal...