blinker12

Thanks for the photos MayDay -- beautiful. So who can shed light on the so-called College Town project that involves assembling and redeveloping the mid-rise commercial buildings on the south side of Euclid between Playhouse Square and Trinity? I heard reference to it last night.

That first building south of Wade Park was purchased by a woman who's turning it into live-work space for artists. That's why it's staying. Information available from Artspace Cleveland. MTS, I also heard that Park Place was originally built as market-rate housing, and that it was hot property when first completed. I think it's all Section 8 now?

But 8SOG, that's exactly the kind of thinking I'm talking about: Dismissing the idea of regulation out of hand because people won't like it. Sure people won't like it -- unless we begin to market the idea as something important to the region as a whole. Which it is, IMO. Also, I'd argue that we can't strengthen Cuyahoga's schools and business scene *without* creating policies that encourage development in already-developed areas, rather than on greenfields in Medina and Geauga. On a side note, this PD article is pretty lazy. It just rehashes every gloom and doom piece that's been written about the city in the past 50 years, without mentioning, for example, that the central city is becoming marginally more affluent even as it loses population, and that households are smaller today than they were 50 years ago. Population totals themselves are not the end-all-be-all of a region's health. (These points are probably already made in the other thread.)

We spend all this time moaning about the city and inner-ring suburbs losing population, when the solution couldn't be clearer: start regulating new development. Draw a growth boundary, or come up with a new approach. Why is this never seriously discussed in this region? Sure, Republicans control the state and they're not amenable to regulation. But that's starting to become a tired excuse. Let's band together and demand responsible development. Our regional economy and future depend on it. Can Voices and Choices help? Would a Democratic sweep of the state government help? I'm hoping so.

I was over there a week or two ago and it looked as if they'd made significant progress on some new houses.

Strap, you know I'm with you 100% -- I'm against any demo of classic brick buildings like this, especially in such a prime location. It's sad that we must choose our battles so much in this city, but such is reality. Just imagine how much better things would be if we could significantly invest in additional public transit. No more worrying about parking garages fronting on our premier urban park.

^^^Cool article from Toronto! Makes me optimistic about the ECP.

As far as the vacant buildings being a blight on the neighborhood, I'm not sure the VA will scare any fewer people off, ya know? The current campus is the terror of Brecksville (agreed it doesn't take much to scare Brecksvillians, but still). In my view, this whole plan is just another example of the poor and disabled being barred from the suburbs and concentrated in the city.

I think that's called Park Place. And yeah, it's hideous. How many apartment buildings are being demo'd? If I recall correctly, there are only a couple left south of Wade Park. (The one closest to WP, by the way, is being used as artist live-work space.) The best-preserved row is located north of Wade Park on East Boulevard, facing the park. If there were plans to so much as lay a finger on those, my knickers would be in a serious twist.

Nice job!

A bit of positive national press for the NEO. Strangely, the article makes it sound like a statewide thing, though the Fund is Cleveland-based, no? Be My Neighbor This philanthropic fund is encouraging business growth, but will it start a trend? Entrepreneur magazine - August 2006 By Jennifer Pellet Here's a novel concept: philanthropic organizations joining forces to transform a flagging regional economy by fostering entrepreneurship. Sound improbable? In Ohio, 80 entities formed Fund for Our Economic Future to do just that. The three-year initiative launched in 2004 has raised $35 million, which is earmarked in part for fostering entrepreneurship and business formation in sectors with strong growth potential. "Our goal is to shift the regional economy from traditional industries to promising areas such as advanced energy, nanotechnology and electronics," explains Bradley Whitehead, who oversees implementation of the fund's initiatives... http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/0,4621,328478,00.html

Cool find, and very much city-centric! Seems like a Tremont link should be on their list of neighborhoods, though...

I'm not sure I understand surfohio's post.

Mine shows the backs of buildings in the old Chinatown -- Rockwell Avenue between 21st and 24th streets. I shot them from the parking lot of Phoenix Coffee on Superior Avenue. The painted words say "Welcome to Chinatown."

:clap: Great news all around. I'm glad to hear they're already starting work, too. I'm starting to feel "planned" out!

Sickening. I remember when this was happening. It's stuff like this -- tearing down an architectural wonder for a parking lot -- that makes Ohio look so impossibly lame. Sadly, we show few signs of getting away from this parking-centric perspective anytime soon.

I'd rather see Trader in the WHD, possibly as part of Pesht, or in the bottom of one of the Avenue buildings. Reserve Square just isn't sexy enough for a Trader Joe's. :wink2:

I admire Zaremba's tenacity in reaching their pre-sale quota. Clearly, they want this project to break ground as much as we do. I am remaining optimistic that the incentive program offered below isn't a bad sign! Dear Friends, Do you know a friend, family member, or acquaintance that may be interested in The Avenue District? Zaremba is proud to offer you $500 for every person you refer to The Avenue District who in turn purchases a unit in Cleveland's newest Downtown neighborhood. In addition to your reward bonus, the person or persons you refer will receive $1000 in free custom options for their new Downtown dwelling. There is no limit to the amount of referral bonuses you may earn. To participate, simply download and complete the attached Zaremba Referral Form. The Avenue District brochures are available in our sales and information office inside The Galleria at Erieview Tower. It has never been easier to make $500. This is our way of thanking you for being a friend to The Avenue District and Zaremba. Sincerely, Don Picciano, Jr. Director of Sales and Marketing Zaremba.

Gee, I was over in Tremont yesterday and didn't see any sign of work starting on the Gospel Press. Anyone have more info?

I don't take them seriously. I just find them pointless. Maybe that's the rub. 8ShadesofGray started a Cleveland "firsts and greatests" thread to provide documentation for what can seem like empty claims about the city's achievements, which you promptly folded into this one. So no -- this thread isn't all a mockery. Someone tried to start a worthwhile (and, gasp, earnest) thread that was not about mindless boosterism, and you chose to trivialize it by adding it to what's apparently regarded as a joke thread. A strange decision, IMO.

Also, Wolstein is approaching the East Bank takings the old-fashioned way: he had City Council declare all properties in question "blighted." So economic development (which Norwood dealt with) is technically not the rationale behind these takes.

Yay Kim! :clap: My new favorite PD reporter.

Actually, that misconception is most commonly held by people who grew up here and never left rather than out-of-towners.

Fest in debt, yet Ingenuity attendance shows boost Wednesday, July 26 By Carolyn Jack Plain Dealer Arts Reporter Ingenuity’s four-day event this month has left the annual Cleveland art and technology festival in the red, its executive director said. James Levin estimated that the 2006 festival, which ran July 13-16 in downtown Cleveland, will end up about $150,000 in debt. The festival had increased its budget to about $1 million this year after a 2005 debut last September that cost about $760,000 and brought in slightly more than that. Though attendance increased, “We did not hit our targets with the earned revenue and spent more than we had planned,” he said. Additional events, sites, security and insurance were among the last-minute expenses that increased the budget, he said. The Ingenuity organization charged for tickets this year for the first time. In spite of larger crowds, less was made at the gate than could have been because first-night crowds following the opening parade into the festival site on lower Prospect Avenue weren’t asked to pay. Also, though the Friday, July 14, events started at noon, admission wasn’t charged until 2 p.m. Many discounts were offered, and children under 12 were admitted free, as were all Cleveland school district students. Some people also found their way in through businesses with entrances on Prospect and nearby streets not closed off. Levin said the festival would have needed about five more gates to completely control access. “I think we have to spend more money on security, and I’m seriously thinking of getting a professional ticketing company involved,” he said. Levin took the blame for the erratic admission situation, saying that planning needs to be more effective. But he hopes corporate sponsorship will increase enough next year to allow Ingenuity to return to free admission. To that end, and to reduce debt, Ingenuity soon will begin a funding drive, including a fall or early winter benefit event. Costs will be trimmed. And some larger creditors may be asked to forgive part of what’s owed in exchange for sponsorship privileges, he said. But the artists will be paid. “We can’t not pay artists. It’s bad karma,” said Levin, who founded Cleveland Public Theatre and directed it for 20 years before starting Ingenuity. Ingenuity did enjoy some good karma, despite downtown traffic problems and weather that may have kept some people away. Dick Clough, a Cleveland marketing professional and experienced festival organizer who helped Ingenuity find corporate sponsors, said he thought Ingenuity did well, considering obstacles such as streets closed for construction, a rainstorm one evening and intense heat. “I was pleased with the turnout,” Clough, said, noting attendance hit 95,000 to 100,000, up from 70,000 to 75,000 in 2005. He called that “a milestone” that should help Ingenuity keep its sponsors and attract national ones. He said he plans to approach technology-related corporations such as General Motors and Sony for 2007 sponsorships. Clough said this year’s sponsors seemed pleased with the exposure they received. That assessment was corroborated by Jared Chaney, chief communications officer for Medical Mutual of Ohio, an Ingenuity sponsor that got naming rights to the festival admissions gate nearest its offices at Prospect Avenue and East 9th Street. Chaney said members of his company seem “pretty excited” by Ingenuity: “The recognition we got for the [gate] close to the building here was good.” Clough hopes the festival will draw 150,000 to 200,000 people next year. The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland will continue to help with that. Twice the number of users clicked on the Ingenuity section of the bureau’s Web site compared to the previous year, said Tamera Brown, vice president of marketing. Audience growth will depend to some extent on factors that have yet to be decided, such as where downtown the festival will be. Though Levin acknowledged that moving the festival to a new location each year creates challenges for his staff, “the vision of the festival all along was to be a movable feast,” he said — one transforming underused or decaying parts of the city and promoting their redevelopment. Ingenuity was held on lower Euclid Avenue in 2005 and moved to lower Prospect Avenue this year to avoid the worst of the construction on the Euclid Corridor transportation project. The Playhouse Square and Cleveland State University area on Euclid between East 14th and East 22nd streets is under consideration for 2007. Levin said he foresees reining in his budget and restructuring the festival to have a free opening night; fewer, but more significant, featured events throughout the weekend; and an artists’ “open” with all kinds of smaller events, like the Fringe events that take place alongside Scotland’s Edinburgh Festival. The point of Ingenuity, he said, is to make it as “demanding and challenging and fresh” for the participants as for the public.

Who's the one spending so much time in Cleveland threads making "jokes"? I don't know what the rest of you have going, but frankly I just find this stuff tiresome.