Clevelumbus

Michigan has 6 million people in their southeast region; Toledo MSA is only 600,000... I hope there are some Michigan plates around... As far as not knowing 'Toledo' that is very subjective.. Many people living in certain cities know far less than outsiders might know about it and blah blah blah, not that I am saying you don't, but I honestly don't think that there is that much to 'know' that you can't find through facts or living in too much more influential metropolitain areas on either side of the city.. Anyway, I knew I was going to come off as sounding completely anti-gentrification, but the point that I was trying to make is that it is not the end all and be all as a solution... Of course I love what gentrification has done to areas in Columbus like Short North and Olde Towne East, but there is a fine line that must be treaded very carefully as to not make sure that the poor and established residents are not left behind or forced out. There are many things that can be done besides gentrification that can help out a poor community (usually involving non profit community groups or subisidies that should be provided).. As far as OTR, maybe gentrification is exactly what the area needs, and it has been occuring, especially when you look to the southeast side (cost of homes, ethnicity, ect.). But I still think that many of the poor in OTR are going to simply be forced over the hills out to the west... Sure, OTR may become another great Cincy neighborhood, and hopefully every underprivileged resident that was living there benefits directly from it, but I often think that is just a pipe dream and no real problems are being solved.. So again, I do like types of gentrification (especially the ones when no emminent domain is used), but sometimes it is done simply for developers and what not to make a buck.. I would like to discuss this more and get some other people takes...

Some comments.... Greater Detroit??? Tell me where in Livonia, Dearborn, Plymouth, Royal Oak, ect... are you going to find the most crime ridden areas in America. This is all really news to me... The segregation and crime occurs in the CITY of Detroit, the suburbs (GREATER Detroit) just help facilitate it... Please put down te pipe and get off of Monroe Street.. WRONG, what makes it so hard for disadvantaged groups to get out of the hood is when white yuppies move into neighborhoods and open their expensive coffee shops and fix up their homes (gentrification) and force the poor people that actually made up the community to pay higher property taxes and be forced out to some new 'ghetto', in a place where white people can't see it or have to deal with it (away from the downtown, and still far away from the suburbs). Gentrification may seem like a very good thing, but it also has just as many negative side effects that are usually harder for people to see. It is all about finding the right balance and making sure you treat the people who do live in a gentrifying neighborhood with some respect. Look at any recently gentrified neighborhood and you will find that the number of non-whites and families in poverty have decreased.. Not because the people living there got more money, it's because those people were forced out.. To where, who the hell knows??? While more wealthy folk move in and create better numbers for the census to count... Anway, I do not think that OTR is as bad as it may seem, it is highly publicized and that creates a dangerous aura.. Also, Detroit isn't as bad as is publicized either, I may not feel completely comfortable in some of the 'ghetto' areas of the city, after all I am as white as can be, but I certaintly don't feel like my life is going to be threatened in any way, or that my camera is going to get stolen!! That is just ridiculous..

Maybe all of the 'art' brought the actual value way down?? seems backwards but possible..

I'm gonna have to go with the typical sterotype and say the Browns win the Super Bowl next year... and the three years after that... :clap:

North Ridgeville has a main street. Avon has a main street. Avon -on the- Lake has an intersection. Lakewood has a main street. North Royalton has a main street. Rocky River has a main stree. Bay Village has an intersection. North Olmstead has a main street. Westlake has main street/ intersection combo. Fairview Park has a main street.

How about those Detroit Pistons, ColDayMan? Sorry I couldn't resist... BTW I'll be living in Yipsilanti this summer so if you ever want to venture up to Michigan let me know! Hopefully people won't be too hostile that I'm a Buckeye.