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Mitchell's Ice Cream flagship store in Ohio City opens with a flourish, and a new flavor by Joe Crea, Northeast Ohio Media Group Follow on Twitter on April 28, 2014 at 5:00 PM, updated April 29, 2014 at 8:02 AM CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Talk about a kid in a candy store! If you take your sugary stuff ice cold and creamy, strolling past the freezer windows to make a selection at Mitchell's Ice Cream shop is agony of the sweetest kind. Bing Cherry Chocolate Chunk... Geauga Maple Walnut... Key Lime Pie... Tiramisu... Dark Roast Coffee... Lemon Black Raspberry Yogurt... Mint Cookies & Cream... Plus a new seasonal flavor, Rum Babka, offered in honor of last week's Dyngus Day celebration. On and on, they beckon. Mike Mitchell laughs when a visitor revels in the effect of a trip past his display cases. The temptations are like a Taser, repeatedly stopping you in your tracks. "What could be better than selling ice cream?" asks Mitchell, 37, his face cracked wide with a smile. He and his brother, Pete, 42, were taking me on a tour their latest store, the new flagship Mitchell Ice Cream shop they opened last week at 1867 West 25th St. in Ohio City. http://www.cleveland.com/dining/index.ssf/2014/04/mitchells_ice_cream_flagship_s.html

It's disturbing that RTA has been very passive regarding this project, since this is an urban roadway through an area with such a high percentage of transit-dependent residents -- the lone exception being Joe Calabrese's speaking out for a revamping of the E.105-Quincy OC connection that would have effectively cut off the Rapid Station... But ODOT has only really been pushed about serious OC transit inclusion by EPA and All Aboard Ohio, notably KJP's article regarding the Red Line/E. 79 station relocation to Buckeye-Woodland, that makes sense. -RTA hasn't been active in TOD discussion around OC stations - I haven't heard about, until this report, the fact that the OC will effectively cut off the still new E. 55 station will essentially from the Slavic Village houses (those that survive OC demolition) save the slim pedestrian bridge. Where's RTA on this? - RTA/Calabrese HAS spoken enthusiastically about running West Side buses along the OC in obvious competition with the existing Red Line... ... and I'm just scratching the surface. Chris Stocking lays it out very well. I just wish his report would get (would have gotten, it’s nearly 2 months old) more publicity because it is comprehensive, thorough and even historical... But with Terry Eggar co-helming the OC, obviously we’ll never see it in the PD… ditto Crain’s, since the corporate bigwigs are pushing this project hard… Damn shame.

^Thanks AJ93... Interesting that they've been slapping the silver siding on the back first instead of the front.

^I do love the renewed interest and activity (and residents) in PHS, that includes Zach Bruell's new Dynomite burger joint (Good Times ... get it? – perhaps younger UOers don’t, … anyway), which was depicted in May Day's recent photo thread, that apparently is packing 'em in. The chandelier is not my cup of tea, obviously. But if it makes PHS even more interesting, exciting and visible to people than it already is, so be it.

^Thanks for addressing my concerns, Jerry.

I don't have to see it in person (though I will in a week or 2). I think it's bizarre and definitely overkill for an already visually appealing corner -- it's already Cleveland's Great White Way with the tastefully restored neon of the theatres along with the sexy, rolling LED. Those bent light pillar thingies, or whatever they are, sprouting upward in the Euclid median are a tad gaudy, but I can live with them. Why we need this chandelier (to the tune of $16M) along with those huge framing arches at PHS's "entrances," is beyond me I also see, a la FEB, a huge "Playhouse Square" sign -- I'm guessing officials presume large numbers of people won't know where they are... ... don't get me wrong, I don't think the chandelier is the worst thing in the world as we have much bigger issues to tackle than this. But this is already a great, premier, showcase of a neighborhood, so my question is .... why?

^Great, thanks.

Well I'll be damned.

Looks like the opening will be some time this summer.

^Yes it is PoshSteve -- glad you took time to read it. It's the most comprehensive report on the OC I've seen -- he even quotes KJP's thoughtful All Aboard Ohio call to relocate the Red Line's E. 79 station to Buckeye & Woodland. This report's over a month old but, obviously, hasn't gotten a lot of pub -- I just happened to stumble across it searching for something else... I know the OC has been a major hot-button UO issue, and I'm sure because the author, Chris Stocking, raises a number of (legit imho) questions about the OC's planning process, some will feel he has an agenda ... but I don't get that. He states up front that as a medical person (of some kind) and a Larchmere resident, he knew little about the OC and took it upon himself to self-educate. I hope others read it as well because he raises some well thought out points without being divisive and attacking.

^Very good news. Q- is Alexandra related to the famed Russo bros? (Wikipedia didn't say, but I wouldn't be surprised) ... speaking of the Russos, their recent (mega-hit) film: "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" was an excellent film from the script to the acting to the editing. I merely expected good fighting, but it was an intelligent up-to-date movie, issue-wise ... And it made Cleveland really look great as a backdrop for some serious violence... I highly recommend it; kudos to our famous homeboys...

A call for the Opportunity Corridor to be reevaluated with more transparency and honesty Posted on Tuesday, March 18, 2014 by Chris Stocking I currently live on the east side of Cleveland, and having worked with patients on the east side for years, I have always wondered what it would take to help our struggling communities. I did home care throughout these neighborhoods for a number of years, and the effect of being surrounded by blight constantly grated on me: Why so much vacant space? What would help these neighborhoods? Why is no one investing in these communities? Last summer, as I continued to contemplate these questions in between dodging potholes on East 93rd and East 116th Streets, I heard on the radio that an unexpected source of funding had been found for the “Opportunity Corridor” from Ohio Turnpike funds. John Kasich, Ohio’s governor, was touting the benefits for the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals and how it would also “lend hope and economic development to battered neighborhoods.” Meanwhile, business leaders from the Greater Cleveland Partnership that lobbied for the corridor wanted specifics on when funding would be given so that construction could start as soon as possible. I wondered what exactly the corridor was all about, how it would effect residents of the east side, and why business leaders were hastily pushing for construction? Were the problems of Cleveland’s east side really as simple as building a new road? Also, why were business leaders lobbying for the project and more than residents or community development leaders? I never thought the answers would be complicated, but here I am, more than 6 months later, still reading about the issues behind the project. So, being a nearby resident of the Larchmere neighborhood and interacting with residents of these neighborhoods daily while doing home visits, I started to research the project. http://eatrighteous.org/opportunitycorridor/

^That was a good report. More critical Qs need to be asked... unfortunately, many of these questions weren't asked earlier and, as the report below notes, this was probably because the planning has been very hush-hush/out of the public view.

^I wonder if Dave Arnold could possibly added any more metaphors to his report.

Certainly not good for anyone East of Tower City, that's for sure... I sure wish RTA would come forth with a schedule to let the public know when these shutdowns are predicted to occur rather than these seemingly last minute, random announcements. I also wish somebody from RTA (Jerry? JetDog?) could explain why RTA has so many total shutdowns, esp on the East Side and why these ODOT moves can't be done at night to minimize these disruptions which are neither good for RTA riders nor downtown ... or other parts of the city.

Very nice tour. Cincinnati has an amazing wealth of old buildings, great architecture and a wealth of potential. Clifton, downtown and others have a number of nice walking districts. It definitely does have 'the wires' problem -- and I thought Cleveland had it bad. At least in some neighborhoods (ie Gordon Sq), Cleveland is starting to bury the wires. Obviously, Cincy needs to get busy on this.

Another weekend total shutdown for all East Side rail service b/c of Innerbelt work. ugh! http://www.riderta.com/service-alerts/all-rail-riders-shuttle-buses-replace-east-side-rail-service-0

^It's a major 1st step in financing these projects.

Which is why I used "quotation marks."

I support the Sin Tax -- most people react negatively to the 2nd word after decades of indoctrination by conservatives while ignoring the 1st word: sin... That is, it's voluntary. If you don’t like it, don’t “sin” – kick the drinking and smoking habits; your body as well as your wallet, will thank you for it… Plus, even for the casual drinker like me (I’ve never smoked), it’s only a penny on the dollar. Surely it won’t kill you, me or anybody else – like cigarettes surely will! As for the (old/tired) benefits vs. burdens: there’s always going to be argument about giving public money to wealthy team owners and what we, as a community, actually derive from it—this is especially true in a financially struggling blue-collar city like Cleveland. The initial project that was the genesis of the Sin Tax, Gateway, was great. We revived a dead/decaying area of prostitution, drugs and rubbish into a thriving area of downtown. New hotels and upscale apts are all over Gateway now in addition to the sports crowds. Built a premier tourist attraction modern baseball park (although the Indians’ worst-in-the-majors attendance is showing local fans don’t seem to care about it despite now having a championship manager and the first playoff team in 7 years) while also luring in the Cavs’ home arena from the Summit County hinterlands 25 miles away… Browns stadium, on the other hand, pisses people off (including me; a Browns lover and diehard sports fan). Our non-sin tax money built a hulking bowl, (foolishly) open-air stadium that’s used about 10-12 times each year while simultaneously burdening/blocking prime lakefront RE… (Gateway always will have the advantage over the Browns since both the Cavs and Indians have 41 and 81 home dates, respectively as opposed to the Browns’ 8, while the Q with its warm/cozy enclosure can host many other things, like NCAA basketball regionals, concerts … and even something called the Lake Erie Monsters. But here’s the point: we can argue for days, years if you want; sure you hate the concept of paying hard-earned taxpayer $$ for wealthy ownership and maybe your definition of civic “benefits” is different from mine. But the fact is, that’s Life in Big City America… If these owners don’t get what they want in being coddled by us here, they’re going to take their act to another city and get it, there … just like the late Art Modell and many others like him have done … And whether you’re an ardent sports fan our not, I think there is little disagreement as to how devastated we as a community were after Art pulled our beloved Brownies out of the city… And the ripple effect is still felt as the current team has been nothing but a frustrating bust since “the Browns” “returned.” But once again, this is a SIN TAX. If you don’t like it, put down the cigs and the booze and there will be no burden on your shoulders… so my advice: pass the damn thing!

Nice job Firenze. I can't believe they're moving this fast. Looks like this will be THE place to be when visiting/living downtown. ... as for the County Admin building, the early construction looked a lot worse than what it's turning out to be. The green's a little ... different, but the mirrored glass makes it all a bit more tolerable... Remember, it's public office building after all.

^Yeah, you're probably right. Hey, winning the war over the (let's be polite) highly misguided to get the streetcar built was heroic imho. I do think the subway thing will have to be addressed at some point, though, esp with the tunnels being kept intact. Walnut Street screams for a subway beneath it.

^ Context: this is from a West Coast landlord who may either be bitter that he didn't own the type of office building for a large enough scale company, didn't put in the time or effort to develop properties for such a company, or both. All the evidence tends to belie that assertion starting with Millennia’s Valley View-to-downtown planned office move highlighted in Michelle’s article. I'm just thrilled that the Garfield is joining the hot Euclid apartment corridor and can help connect and develop the not only the north-south axis discussed in the article, but also connect the nodes along Euclid between E. 4th and E. 9th.

We know that the Canal/Central Parkway lines curve toward a dead-end wall heading south toward an unbuilt tunnel under Walnut Street. I was in Cincy not to long ago and marveled what a tight, dense, beautiful and exciting street Walnut is (esp. on a warm Sat night) particularly in/around Fountain Sq. It’s a dead knockoff for a number of downtown streets in Boston, which of course is served by the outstanding T. In other words, the Cincinnati subway planners had it right 100 years ago. A stacked 2-track LRT tunnel could fit right under Walnut, stopping at Fountain Sq. with tracks rising to an elevated viaduct south of 4th Street where Walnut slopes down towards I-71 and the River – I would close Walnut to autos from 4th to 2nd because it would be too tight to accommodate them at the train incline. Trains could traverse the old and new tunnels and also connect with the bustling stadium area—then head south over the river to Covington and the airport. I know it would be expensive and, yes, there’d be a fight but, is this at all doable? What would it take, now that the streetcars are coming? Does this fact make such a project more or less possible/likely?

^Stop Big Choo-choo... Geez what lunacy. Again the Big Lie: trains will be zipping past property at 110 mph. Although I do admit: even though I like the Tri-Rail expansion proposal very much, I do believe that tracks should be elevated at a number of intersections, many of which are busy and at the center of commercial districts. Tunneling is very difficult and expensive due to the sandy soil in S. Florida.