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City Council to OK money for Greater Cleveland Film Commission as regional economic driver Published: Oct. 30, 2023 By Courtney Astolfi, cleveland.com "CLEVELAND, Ohio – City Council is poised to approve $250,000 for the Greater Cleveland Film Commission, which is preparing for a busy 2024 after convincing state lawmakers to juice Ohio’s film industry with millions more in tax credits. City leaders see the money as a way to further economic opportunities for Clevelanders, by working on films directly, or providing other local services that film crews rely on. The commission sells Cleveland to studio executives as a location where they ought to film. The commission also coordinates work once Cleveland is chosen as a filming destination, by scouting locations, finding production offices, and other similar tasks. Cleveland taxpayers have supported the commission’s operations since 2009, and in that time, it’s helped create 6,000 jobs and driven over $1.2 billion in spending to the region, Economic Development Director Tom McNair said at a Monday meeting." https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2023/10/city-council-to-ok-money-for-greater-cleveland-film-commission-as-regional-economic-driver.html

Another neighborhood being considered for form-based zoning and neighborhood residents are unenthusiastic. Akron considers new zoning for Middlebury; residents worry about proposed Summa Health development Ideastream Public Media | By Anna Huntsman Published October 30, 2023 "The proposal from Summa Health and developer Fairmount Properties would convert properties owned by the health system near its campus in Akron’s Middlebury neighborhood into a mixed-use retail business district, which would include apartments, stores and a hotel. City council’s planning committee voted to take time on the proposed zoning code change after the public hearing, in which they heard from residents, hospital system officials and the project’s developer. ... The ordinance would change an area of East Market Street to form-based code, a form of zoning that focuses on the character and layout of a community instead of the use of the land itself. Those who support form-based code say it promotes walkability and accessibility." https://www.ideastream.org/government-politics/2023-10-30/akron-considers-new-zoning-for-middlebury-residents-worry-about-proposed-summa-health-development

CLEVELAND METROPARKS BREAKS GROUND ON GARFIELD POND PROGRAM CENTER Posted: October 30, 2023 https://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/news-press/2023/october-2023/cleveland-metroparks-breaks-ground-on-garfield-pon

Looks like the seaway has reopened. Canadian workers reach deal to end strike that shut down Great Lakes shipping artery By The Associated Press Published October 30, 2023 "MINNEAPOLIS — A deal was reached Sunday to end a week-long strike that had shut down a major shipping artery in the Great Lakes, halting the flow of grain and other goods from the U.S. and Canada. Around 360 workers in Ontario and Quebec with Unifor, Canada's largest private-sector union, walked out Oct. 22 in a dispute over wages with the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. Seaway Management said ships will start moving again when employees return to work at 7 a.m. Monday." https://www.ideastream.org/2023-10-30/canadian-workers-reach-deal-to-end-strike-that-shut-down-great-lakes-shipping-artery

That's going to be a busy day for me, I'm not going to be able to get away from work in the middle of the day.

Where would this go though? And how many ships would we be talking? I don't disagree that this would be a good diversification for the port, and CLE economy more generally, but we are currently in the process of reclaiming the lakefront for public use and I imagine Naval repair docks would have a pretty large footprint.

Conservancy for CVNP has been doing some good work for the park recently, good for them and CVNP to get some national recognition within park and conservancy community! National Park Friends Alliance meeting in Cleveland allows officials to show off CVNP Ideastream Public Media | By Abigail Bottar Published October 26, 2023 "The National Park Friends Alliance is meeting in Cleveland this week. Park officials are getting to show off Cuyahoga Valley National Park on a national stage. The nonprofit Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park is hosting more than 250 national park leaders from across the country. The four-day conference includes field trips to showcase the park and lessons about the history of CVNP, according to the Conservancy. Superintendent Lisa Petit started the lesson with the Cuyahoga River catching on fire in 1969." https://www.ideastream.org/environment-energy/2023-10-26/national-park-friends-alliance-meeting-in-cleveland-allows-officials-to-show-off-cvnp

Wasn't Lorain making a play at this?

Free the Falls Public Meeting - October 25th, 2023 Link below, meeting starts at the 22 minute mark. Speakers: (1) Lisa King – Summit Metro Parks Executive Director (2) Bill Zawiski – Ohio EPA Water Quality Supervisor (3) Dan Horrigan – Akron Mayor (4) Project Overview Video – 32:50 (5) Courtney Winter – US EPA Project Manager Nonfederal sponsors: Ohio EPA, City of Akron, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, FirstEnergy/Ohio Edison Company Cost Share Partners: Ohio Lake Erie Commission, Summit Metro Parks, City of Cuyahoga Falls, Summit County Dam pool length is 1.5 miles long with sediment 1 – 34 feet deep, estimated to be ~875k cubic yards Sediment includes PCBs, PAHs, Oil/Grease, and Metals but is not so contaminated to be classified as regulatory or hazardous Preparation of the Chuckery Area of Cascade Valley Metro Park will be prepared during the winter of 2023/2024 to receive dredged material Dredging is expected to begin in the spring of 2024 and conclude in 2025 using a clamshell bucket on a barge Sediment will be processed near the former power plant then pumped along the Highbridge Trail to the Chuckery Area where it will be capped with soil and planted with native plants Removal of the dam is planned to begin in 2026 (6) Heather Ullinger – City of Akron Project Manager & Engineer (7) Q&A – 1:11:00 https://www.youtube.com/live/vX-qRZKOcmo?si=wtDSJXpB3LlJvzEK&t=1328

Port of Cleveland urges U.S., Canada to help bring quick end to St. Lawrence Seaway strike Crain's Staff October 25th 2023 "The Port of Cleveland has sent letters to government officials in the U.S. and Canada urging them to help bring a quick resolution to a strike by hundreds of Canadian workers that has halted work along the St. Lawrence Seaway, a major maritime trade route between Montreal and the Great Lakes. “This shutdown is a matter of grave concern for us and numerous local businesses, given its substantial economic ramifications,” wrote Will Friedman, president and CEO of the port, in letters to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and to Canada’s ministersof labor and transportation. In the letter to Buttigieg, he added, “Immediate intervention is imperative to avert an escalating economic catastrophe.” The Seaway facilitates the movement of about 550,000 metric tons of cargo to and from the port." https://www.crainscleveland.com/politics-policy/port-cleveland-wants-governments-help-end-st-lawrence-seaway-strike

Cuyahoga River cleanup project gets $100 million in government, private funding Kim Palmer October 25th 2023 "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced an agreement to spend more than $100 million in federal, non-federal and private-industry money on the removal of contaminated sediments from the Cuyahoga River Gorge Dam and, ultimately, the dam itself. The plan to clean up nearly 875,000 cubic yards of such sediments from the waterway, announced Wednesday, Oct. 25, is a crucial step in the eventual removal of the Cuyahoga River from the list of 25 remaining U.S. Areas of Concern (AOCs) found across the Great Lakes basin. The Gorge Dam, which has been in place since 1912, is located along the river at a point between Cuyahoga Falls and Akron. The first stage of the project will address the contaminated sediments, and then the dam will be removed, returning a significant portion of the river to a free-flowing natural state." https://www.crainscleveland.com/politics-policy/cuyahoga-river-gorge-dam-removal-gets-100-million

The pump at the old Brecksville dam is now on and pumping water! https://www.instagram.com/p/Cy1pQwFPR3d/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

New design may give 45 West apartment project in Ohio City new life STAN BULLARD October 24, 2023 https://www.crainscleveland.com/real-estate/45-west-apartment-project-gets-new-design-new-life

An update on the Polsky Building project Akron's Polsky Building looks to boost downtown with $40 million redevelopment DAN SHINGLER October 25, 2023 https://www.crainscleveland.com/real-estate/akrons-polsky-building-plans-40-million-redevelopment

Breeze Airways adds another nonstop route from Akron-Canton Airport October 24, 2023 https://www.crainscleveland.com/transportation/breeze-airways-expands-new-route-akron-canton-airport

Its a bit interesting that planners are getting this far along when the results of the Rt2 traffic study and Burke land use study haven't been released yet. Not sure if they would have access to preliminary findings to guide their plan, but in the off chance they find the best land use for Burke is to remove the airport and build a large lakefront park I would think we would want to rethink the land use at North Coast Harbor for more development while maintaining waterfront public access. I would also think you would want a firm commitment on where the Browns plan to have their stadium--Haslam partnering with Bobby George to locate the Browns' sports book in Harry Buffalo seemed to signal that he's not committed to the lakefront development. Just seems like there are still a couple key pieces that are still up in the air that could really change the context of this development. Though I'm sure the planners are privy to more information than I am.

Hey folks, West Creek Conservancy is partnering with Great Lakes Brewing Company tomorrow as part of GLBC's Brewing Good Days. You can support West Creek simply by going to the Ohio City brewpub Wednesday, October 25 from 4p-7p and having some food and drinks. Great Lakes will donate 10% of each check to West Creek. If you're unfamiliar with West Creek's work, our highest profile work is just up W25th at Irishtown Bend, but we're involved throughout the Greater Cleveland region taking a watershed approach to land conservation. BREWING GOOD DAYS: WEST CREEK CONSERVANCY "Join us on Wednesday, October 25 from 4PM to 7PM to help us brew good in our community. 10% of each check will be donated to West Creek Conservancy, who seeks to enrich the lives of all people in Northeast Ohio by conserving natural habitats, restore the ecological value of our region’s lands and waters, and expand opportunities to connect people from all cultures to experience nature and discover our great outdoors. We hope you'll join us in supporting West Creek Conservancy, and stay tuned to our events page to learn about future Brewing Good Days."

Akron City Council considers new zoning code for Merriman Valley, Schumacher Area Ideastream Public Media By Abigail Bottar Published October 24, 2023 https://www.ideastream.org/government-politics/2023-10-24/akron-city-council-considers-new-zoning-code-for-merriman-valley-schumacher-area

I'm aware that the Chagrin is stocked with steelhead, but that is because ODNR is releasing 90k annually into the Chagrin River, along with the Vermilion, Rocky, Grand and Ashtabula rivers and Conneaut Creek. My point is that though we are lucky that ODNR has the fishery program it does, I would like to see more resources put into improving the water quality of rivers suitable to independently and naturally sustaining steelhead populations. According to the ODNR's Boater Access and Amenities map two dams remain on the Chagrin River, both down stream of the falls. Though the low head dam at Johnnycake Ridge Rd looks like its washed out and probably doesn't have a huge effect on the river any more. (Just a heads up, I recommend using the map on your desktop, it doesn't work for me on mobile). And my only point in mentioning the brook trout in the Chagrin was to point out that, at least up stream, the river is able to naturally support a trout population. My understanding, it wouldn't do any good to stock steelhead at a point on the river where they would not be able to access Lake Erie.

Yes. But given context, this conversation is currently focused on the North Coast Harbor section of the lakefront which is Rt2...

I understand the benefits of these programs, and we are lucky that ODNR operates the fishery program that it does, but I would like to see more resources put into creating self sustaining fisheries. Obviously removing the Gorge Dam will improve ecosystem of the river—from oxygenation levels, water temp, and pollutants. My understanding, though, is that the Cuyahoga, with it's silty riverbed, will never be a breading river for trout. The Rocky and Chagrin Rivers are better candidates for this but are not free flowing rivers with obsolete dams and fords intact. Last I checked with Cleveland Metroparks there is absolutely no plan to make either of these rivers free flowing (and I know the dams in Berea on the Rocky could not be removed). It's also worth noting that the last population of brook trout in Ohio is located in the headwaters of the Chagrin River. Over 1,000 trout released into the Cuyahoga River on Friday By: Maya Morita Posted Oct 20, 2023 "Twelve hundred trout were released into the Cuyahoga River at Water Works Park on Friday. ... Additionally, 30 of the fish are tagged, and trackers will be used to see how long they live. ... The tagged trout will also aid researchers in knowing how the health of the Cuyahoga River will be impacted by the removal of the Gorge Dam." https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/over-1-000-trout-released-into-the-cuyahoga-river-on-friday

I-90 diverts south east of here, this is Rt2.

Is this what you were thinking of? From @KJP's article Browns leaning toward new stadium

Pictures and videos are requested from those of us who can't make it!

Even privately financed there is an opportunity cost in land use; the more games a single stadium can be used for and fewer stadiums taking up land the better.