Luke_S

City picks consulting team to analyze economics of closing, redeveloping Burke Lakefront Airport Published: Apr. 24, 2023, 4:00 p.m By Steven Litt, cleveland.com "The administration announced Monday it is recommending a team led by Econsult Solutions of Philadelphia to perform a four-month, $115,000 study on the potential of repurposing Burke. Jeff Epstein, the city’s chief of integrated development, said Monday the administration will seek authority from City Council to proceed with the study, which could start as soon as May. ... The new study is a companion effort to a separate analysis of Burke launched by the city in 2021 that was expanded in 2022 to look at the aviation and regulatory implications of closing Burke. The city is preparing the analysis for inclusion in a document called an Airport Layout Plan, required by the Federal Aviation Administration." https://www.cleveland.com/news/2023/04/city-picks-consulting-team-to-analyze-economics-of-closing-redeveloping-burke-lakefront-airport.html

NOAA recommends nearly $2.3 million for Northeast Ohio water conservation, litter reduction programs Ideastream Public Media | By Zaria Johnson Published April 24, 2023 at 6:00 AM EDT "NOAA proposed $299,000 in funding for a trash clean up program that would also serve as job training opportunities for underrepresented students in the Cleveland area. Participants in the program would use new trash-cleaning robots to support water and beach cleanups, all while being exposed to robotics, technology and other STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) industries." "The administration also proposed $1.7 million in funding for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) for its Chagrin River Floodplain Land Conservation Project. With the funds, ODNR would acquire 105 acres along the river bank. The project will help conserve the floodplain, according to the news release, while also maintaining public access and recreation along the river from Willoughby to Lake Erie. NOAA recommended $300,000 to fund a partnership between the Wisconsin and Ohio Sea Grant programs to implement a single-use plastic reduction program in Cleveland. The program would model and expand education and outreach efforts used by the Plastic-Free MKE program in Milwaukee." https://www.ideastream.org/environment-energy/2023-04-24/noaa-recommends-nearly-2-3-million-for-northeast-ohio-water-conservation-litter-reduction-programs

From the article, it sounds like under. From the article: "The GSA is proposing a $40 million project, $20 million from Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds, to fill in the area and construct an outdoor plaza, along with a pathway that allows pedestrians better access to the east bank of the Cuyahoga River." "McGunigle said the idea to use funds slated for sustainable building to complete the original plan for a plaza — which at one point was to be leased to a developer who planned to build a 26-floor residential and commercial tower — came after a feasibility study examining how to deal with drainage and peeling paint on the metal infrastructure over Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority tracks."

My sister lives in Richfield and is saying she has heard rumors that IKEA will be locating there. Not sure where she's heard that, but has anyone else heard anything similar? UPDATE: She heard it on the Richfield Facebook page and the Mayor chimed in to shut the rumors down.

Cleveland Magazine is out with their 34 Best Restaurants of 2023

East Fourth Street expects to receive approval for city’s first permanent outdoor drinking area Updated: Apr. 20, 2023, 7:09 p.m.| Published: Apr. 20, 2023, 4:03 p.m. By Megan Sims, cleveland.com https://www.cleveland.com/realestate-news/2023/04/east-fourth-street-expects-to-receive-approval-for-citys-first-permanent-outdoor-drinking-area.html

There's a lights-out campaign in cities during migratory periods so birds aren't disoriented by city lights and end up flying into buildings. https://www.audubon.org/lights-out-program

More camping options coming to CVNP! Upscale camping coming soon to Cuyahoga Valley National Park at new Valley Overlook campground and cabins Updated: Apr. 20, 2023, 6:58 a.m. | Published: Apr. 20, 2023, 6:01 a.m. By Susan Glaser, cleveland.com https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2023/04/upscale-camping-coming-to-cuyahoga-valley-national-park-at-new-valley-overlook-campground-and-cabins.html

Would like to know how this is going to affect the original plans outlined in the $30M budgeted proposal. Will some items be cut from the plan or will the overall scope be reduced while still implementing everything originally intended?

The same day Crain's ran an article about excess demand for apartments in downtown Cleveland they had an article on the continued population decline in Akron. With what will functionally be the Mayoral election in a few weeks two candidates, Greer and Malik, a proposing revisiting zoning in Akron to allow for more multi-family and mixed use developments and both seem to be strong proponents of infill development as opposed to continuing to develop on the outskirts of the city. I would assume the proposed and controversial White Pond development would fall into the same bucket for Greer. (More info on Mayoral candidates here, if interested). Akron has a huge infill opportunity looming with the redevelopment of the former Innerbelt land. If done right, we could create a new, dense and dynamic neighborhood. Not suggesting that would be enough to turnaround the fortunes of Akron, but it could, hopefully, at lease stabilize the city. Link below for the full Crain's article. https://www.crainscleveland.com/akron-news/population-loss-continues-challenge-akron

Akron breaks ground on Lock 3 renovations Akron breaks ground on Lock 3 renovations https://www.ideastream.org/community/2023-04-06/akron-breaks-ground-on-lock-3-renovations

Its based on a study conducted by the Downtown Cleveland Alliance. You can find the report here. Crain's did a write up on the article here.

Former Boddie Recording studio considered for landmark status in Cleveland By Kabir Bhatia "The former site of a groundbreaking Cleveland recording studio could be headed toward landmark status. The Boddie Recording Company was the city’s first Black-owned studio, operating from the 1950s through the 1990s. The Landmarks Commission voted Thursday to approve landmark status for the company's former headquarters, a house at 12202 Union Avenue in the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood. Boddie recorded rock, gospel, soul and R&B acts, including the O'Jays at Leo’s Casino. Cleveland Planning Director Joyce Pan Huang said many aspiring musicians felt “the road to stardom went through Cleveland” and would patronize Boddie due to the company’s low recording rates and in-house pressing plant." https://www.ideastream.org/arts-culture/2023-04-14/former-boddie-recording-studio-considered-for-landmark-status-in-cleveland

Doesn't this spending facilitate removing future expenses from the City's budget through the creation and handing over management of the Market to a non-profit entity? So, sure, there are other projects and initiatives that wont be able to be funded right now, but in the future those projects and initiatives wont have to compete with funding needs of the Westside Market. And as far as using ARPA funds for this, it makes quite a bit of sense to use this one-time infusion of cash for a one-off expense that, again, also removes future liabilities.

A bit of history on efforts to bring a domed stadium to Cleveland and one local architect who thinks he can deliver. This Westlake Architect Thinks a Dome Stadium Would Be Perfect for the Cleveland Browns: As the Browns turn their focus toward revamping Cleveland Browns Stadium, Robert Corna thinks a roofed arena makes sense for Cleveland. Plus, we dig in to the history of dome proposals in Cleveland. By Vince Guerrieri "A 2022 report indicated that the Haslams were considering a domed stadium, potentially in a different location than the lakefront site that has been the Browns’ home since the team’s founding in 1946. Costs to rebuild FirstEnergy Stadium to the point where it could accommodate a dome — retractable or not — would approach the costs of a new stadium entirely. But Robert Corna thinks a dome can be done — and he could be the guy to do it. The Westlake architect has been pitching domed stadiums for the better part of the past 40 years. His latest idea is what he calls the Megatron (pictured above), a glass superstructure around FirstEnergy Stadium, with a retractable roof." https://clevelandmagazine.com/in-the-cle/this-westlake-architect-thinks-a-dome-stadium-would-be-perfect-for-the-cleveland-browns

Akron's GOJO reportedly to be sold at auction Dan Shingler | April 13th 2023 11:04 AM "GOJO Industries of Akron is for sale, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. Citing anonymous sources described as “people familiar with the matter,” the paper reported Thursday, April 13, that the privately held maker of Purell hand sanitizer has hired JP Morgan to run an auction to sell it. The Journal reported the company is valued at around $3 billion, based on its estimated annual sales of about $1 billion, and is attracting interest from big consumer-product companies. Some competitors that might be interested, including Cincinnati-based Procter & Gamble, jumped into the hand sanitizer business during the COVID-19 pandemic, as GOJO expanded rapidly to meet surging demand." https://www.crainscleveland.com/manufacturing/purell-maker-gojo-reportedly-be-sold

This is more than a good start and very exciting for the Market. Once the updates the the market are completed and it's stabilized a bit I would like to see them extend beyond the market a bit. Put a speed table crosswalk on W25 to integrate programing at Market Square Park across the street. Isn't the Cleveland Bazaar already held there? Could be a good spot for a farmers market in the summer, winter/holiday market in the winter. The park could maybe use a refresh/redesign too.

There's a lot in this proposed spending of the last large tranche of ARPA funds, I'm glad to see were leveraging some of it for long-term programs. - $160M ARPA Allocation Proposal I included an outline of spending below, there is more detail in the press release linked above. But included in this $160M is $20M for waterfront activation that will go, in part, towards; (1) "down payments in the Beulah Park-Euclid Beach Connector, the CHEERS Early Implementation Phase, and the Euclid Creek Greenway Phase 2 North to increase access and improve public space on the East Side Lakefront", (2) "investments in the design, activation, and development of the North Coast Connector, near-term installations from the North Coast Lakefront Master Plan, and the creation of the Waterfront Development Authority to support equitable development of the Lakefront", and (3) "funds to improve public spaces along the Cuyahoga Riverfront, including a downpayment for Bedrock Public Infrastructure and stabilization of Irishtown Bend for the future park." Mayor Justin M. Bibb proposes more than $160 million in ARPA allocations focused on long-term investments and economic revival THIS DOCKET OF ARPA PROPOSALS INCLUDES: FUNDS FOR CLEVELAND’S FUTURE - Site Assembly and Development Trust: $50M - Cleveland Neighborhood Safety Fund: $10M - Back to Basics Capital Fund: $20M NEIGHBORHOOD INVESTMENTS – TRANSFORMATIVE PROJECTS FOR CLEVELAND’S ASSETS - Waterfront Activation: $20M (East Side Lakefront, Downtown Lakefront, & Riverfront) - Southeast Side Investments: $15M (Commercial Corridors, Housing Rehab and Repair, & Catalytic Redevelopment) - West Side Market: $15M FINANCIAL TOOLS FOR RESIDENTS: - Down Payment Assistance: $10M CITY COUNCIL INITIATIVES: - Catalytic Neighborhood Investments: $35M - Utility Assistance: $1M - Age Friendly Home Repair: $1.1M - Medical Debt Relief: $1.9M - Cleveland Tenants Organization: $1M

Wish Representative Sykes would have brought a few of her colleagues along for the ride to show off CVSR & CVNP to a larger audience, but still nice to get some federal attention. Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad provides congresswoman a chance to learn about rail infrastructure By Zaria Johnson "Congresswoman Emilia Strong Sykes took a ride on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad Monday to build on her understanding of Ohio’s rail infrastructure. Her visit is part of a larger effort on rail safety, Strong Sykes said, following the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine in February and the introduction of the bipartisan Reducing Accidents in Locomotives (RAIL) Act in March. ... Although she didn’t expect rail to be a focus for her when she took office in January, Strong Sykes said research and engagement with the CVSR and Ohio’s other railroads revealed intersections between other key issues, like the economy and climate change." https://www.ideastream.org/term/events/2023-04-11/cuyahoga-valley-scenic-railroad-provides-congresswoman-a-chance-to-learn-about-rail-infrastructure

It's a fake account, LaRose denied it on his main account. He's been running for months now, though...

Anyone know exactly where Cranz Farm is? The article doesn't give a good description other than it is near Hale Farm & Village. They are considering including tent camping though, which is desperately needed in CVNP. Western Reserve Historical Society Begins Renovations on Cranz Farm Inn and Event Center: When the Cranz family settled in the Cuyahoga Valley from Germany, they likely never imagined their home would still be standing 156 years later. By Becky Boban "Buried within the foggy Cuyahoga Valley hills, the Edward Cranz Farm has sat unaltered since 1867. Its 10 acres entertain a mid-19th century chicken coop, smokehouse and toolshed. When the farm changed hands for the first time in the 1970s, its new owner built a pole barn. It was the most action the property had seen in more than a century. ... In June, the Western Reserve Historical Society received a $250,000 appropriation from the state of Ohio’s capital budget to reincarnate the farm — including the chicken coop, smokehouse and toolshed — into a charming overnight venue. WRHS president and CEO Kelly Falcone-Hall hasn’t nixed tent camping or yurts on the property in the far future, either. ... “The biggest challenge architecturally is that it’s a home, and it was a residence for a single family. We’re envisioning carving the interior up so five or six different families could stay there,” Falcone-Hall says, citing private restroom facilities and a kitchen area." https://clevelandmagazine.com/in-the-cle/articles/western-reserve-historical-society-begins-renovations-on-cranz-farm-inn-and-event-center UPDATE: I believe it is this property - https://www.nps.gov/cuva/learn/historyculture/hammond-cranz-farm.htm

U.S. Soccer Foundation donates mini-pitch fields to Cleveland rec centers in Central and Jefferson BY LEE CHILCOTE "Two city-owned recreation centers in Cleveland will soon be home to mini-pitch soccer fields thanks to a donation from the U.S. Soccer Foundation. Cleveland City Council approved the donation at its regular council meeting on Monday, April 3. The fields, which are expected to be open by mid-summer, will be installed at the Lonnie Burten Recreation Center in Central and the Halloran Recreation Center in Jefferson. The mini-pitch fields are modular outdoor soccer courts that were developed by the U.S. Soccer Foundation and Musco Lighting. According to the soccer foundation’s website, the mini-pitches “provide an innovative solution for communities where space is at a premium. These small, customized, hard-court surfaces are perfectly suited for organized soccer and pick-up games. Complete with lighting, fencing, goals, benches, and more, mini-pitches provide a quality playing surface for kids and adults.” Presumably, the fields will also prove perfect for Cleveland’s chilly, wet climate, where outdoor fields can sometimes be muddy and soaked in the fall and spring months. The mini-pitches may also be attractive to kids and adults who like to play on a smaller indoor-style court. Finally, the lighting and fencing could make them attractive for nighttime games." https://thelandcle.org/stories/u-s-soccer-foundation-donates-mini-pitch-fields-to-cleveland-rec-centers-in-central-and-cudell/

It may not have a large universities, but it does have a fair number of universities-- Vanderbilt, Belmont, Tennessee State, Fisk, Lipscomb... Nashville is also the capital of their state... And from having lived in Nashville for a time in 2016, talking to locals the city saw a lot more tourism interest after the show Nashville premiered in 2012.

Would that spur not continue to around W25 like this map shows? I know this would be redundant of the current red line and not continue north along the lake, but would the double tracks from around W25 to the West Blvd station be beneficial if we increase the routes/frequency on the westside?

I think the waterfront line should at least operate to the flats on a regular basis. Running beyond that seems unnecessary unless there is a special event.