8ShadesofGray

All I recall along these lines is the typology that Cleveland recently used to determine how to concentrate its community development dollars. The rationale that came out of this analysis was that the city's dollars would be best used in transitional, emerging, etc. neighborhoods, rather than those that were most distressed and those that were most stable. Some dollars are being spread citywide (I think neighborhoods across the city are eligible for "Model Block" funds), but the majority of funds will go to those neighborhoods that are successfully building on their amenities but who are not strong enough yet to rely exclusively on private investment. As the city's sole neighborhood to earn the "Choice Neighborhood" typology, I think it's unlikely that they will be getting a substantial portion of the funds the city doles out. That being said, the city accounts for only a portion of the funds available to neighborhoods. Still, I think OB will be relying heavily on private investments at this point. Anyone have any news on the housing developments that were slated for that area? I seem to recall housing development on either side of the bridge by the zoo, as well as one adjacent to a church (name escapes me).

I don't know about the sticker, but I love to blow that photo into a big wall poster. That's priceless ... I love the expression on his stupid mug.

My updated account: Of 71 total apps to date (11 new applications, 8 existing apps withdrawn), there's 34 from Cleveland (47.9%), followed by Akron (6 apps, 8.5%), Cincinnati (5, 7.0%) and Columbus, Dayton, Hamilton and Youngstown (3 each, 4.2%). So Cleveland picked up a larger share of the apps, with 3 new proposals and 1 withdrawal, and Akron overtook Cincinnati by adding 2 new apps (while Cincinnati had 3 new apps but also had 4 withdrawn apps). Meanwhile, Columbus made it on the list finally by adding three new apps and withdrawing 1. As of right now, Northeast Ohio accounts for 62% of total apps. I promise, I'm not trying to play "my region's better than your region" ... I'm just honestly a little surprised to see a) such a relatively small # of apps being submitted from outside NEO (although a number of posters have already explained well why this may be the case) and b) that the NEO "share" of apps is actually increasing, whereas I anticipated we'd see a larger # of projects from outside the region once we moved away from the initial filing date. I should note, however, that the 3 C's have each submitted 3 new apps since the previous update (although it looks like one of Columbus's apps is a duplicate). So this might just be a reflection that cities outside of Northeast Ohio have less prior experience with these types of tax credits and are therefore more likely to make mistakes/miscalculations that might cause their proposals to be withdrawn. Any thoughts?

The first of three public art pieces has been placed in the Superior Ave. Historic District (roughly E. 23rdish). It is a large pavillion that looks really cool ... very industrial. The remaining two will be installed over the next few months and will be lit after a public dedication (I'm told they'll have a cool glow to them. One will be in front of Phoenix Coffee and the other in front of Tower Press. All three pay tribute to the industrial heritage of the neighborhood, and all three are permanent installations. I'll try to snag a picture of the first piece sometime soon.

Should hear something soon ... sounds like today was the deadline. Community Briefs Port Authority, Kassouf to meet (Cleveland) Plain Dealer August 4, 2007 The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority is scheduled to meet next week with the last land owner facing eminent domain on the Flats East Bank. Businessman James Kassouf controls the last of 12 parcels that the port and developer Scott Wolstein need to acquire for Wolstein's proposed $230 million-plus redevelopment. The port and Wolstein settled an eminent-domain lawsuit with most property owners in mid-June. Cuyahoga County Probate Judge John E. Corrigan gave the port and Kassouf until Wednesday to settle or face the possibility of reopening the eminent-domain court battle over the two-acre parking lot that Kassouf operates north of Front Street ... ... More at http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1186216622124870.xml&coll=2

^Nice!

You might also consider Nature's Bin on the border of Lakewood and Rocky River. Limited selection, but lots of good foods. And unlike the others mentioned, they're a nonprofit who seek to provide employment to hard-to-employ individuals. Trader Joe's is great for convenience ... many of their foods are pre-prepared. They're also pretty cheap when it comes to organic shopping. Whole Foods is gigantic and have a very wide selection, but their prices are high and the store lacks a certain personality for me. Wild Oats is alright ... they have a decent selection and their grains, healthy snacks, etc. section is quite good.

Promoters of design district to pitch idea in Sweden Tuesday, August 14, 2007 Tom Breckenridge Plain Dealer Reporter Two college honchos prospecting for companies to join their proposed design district will take the hunt to the land of Saab cars and Ikea stores this week. Edward "Ned" Hill and Daniel Cuffaro will embark on an 11-day swing through Sweden, eager to land companies and products that would lend an international flair to the Cleveland District of Design ... ... More at http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/11870823938310.xml&coll=2

Although there has been a good deal of discussion about the area immediately adjacent to the bridge ... capitalizing on existing loft conversions (e.g. Federal Knitting Mills), there have been a number of proposed improvements in the blocks immediately following W. 25th along Detroit Ave.

Very nice. You should make sure it's 200 words or less (and abridge if not) and submit it as a letter to the editor. Even if Feagler won't respond to these letters, it would be nice if the public got to read such sentiments, and hopefully, the PD will take note of a market niche who dislikes the paper's general tone and style.

I sent a letter to Feagler after one of his columns particularly irked me a couple of weeks ago. I did mention his lack of investment in the city proper and talked about how city vitality could only be achieved if people like him were willing to live, shop and invest in Cleveland. A very abridged version appeared in the letters to the editor (I was really surprised by how many people read those ... I had a number of people tell me that they saw it!). Feagler didn't reply.

I am the proud owner of "Cleveland: The Wait Until Next Year City." These guys are great. I've been thinking of doing a Cleveland t-shirt art show in my gallery; if I do, I would definitely want these guys involved.

I think another interesting issue here is the fact that gay populations are often associated with gentrification of urban neighborhoods. In addition to the tension that can occur from economic divisions in the neighborhood, there can also be some additional tension caused by moral divisions in the neighborhood ...not only are these in-migrants increasing the potential for economic disruption of the neighborhoood, but they also sometimes challenge the social mores of neighborhood residents. Something tells me that no matter how much I worked to overcome the noticeable awkwardness between me and my Appalachian neighbors, they would not be too cool with me as a gay man. It's really interesting to me how many challenges are tangential components of the gentrification issue. I definitely want to check out Flag Wars too!

^ Absolutely. If communities aren't strategic about how they address potential gentrification, then this is exactly what would happen. That's the nature of my comments. First, how do we overcome our image as harbingers of displacement (rightly or wrongly assigned images)? And, second, how do we target the resources that come from an influx of higher-income individuals in ways that benefit the existing residential population and decrease the likelihood that they'll be displaced? For instance, can we target city resources (paint programs, low-interest rehab loans, etc.) into these neighborhoods so that low-income homeowners will maximize the increase in their property values? Can we increase low-income renters' abilities to purchase either their existing space or other spaces in the neighborhood (through mechanisms like lease-own agreements, limited equity co-ops, etc.) so that they are not priced out of rental units? Can we have open-dialogue planning processes so that neighborhood amenities are accessible and meaningful to residents of all incomes, rather than the transition to a dog park that was mentioned above? Can we target social services (literacy programs, financial education programs, etc.) toward these neighborhoods on the front end of gentrification so that the economic well-being of low-income residents approves alongside gentrification? Can we encourage in-migrants to be active members in their communities (e.g. sharing their often stronger educational backgrounds through tutoring or mentoring efforts with neighborhood children)? Some of these ideas are a little more far-fetched or involved than others ... and some are more likely than others to prevent displacement. My point is that, yes, left to its own devices, gentrification will likely displace residents, but it doesn't have to be a zero-sum game if we plan appropriately. I would love to hear examples of neighborhoods where such initiatives have taken place. I deal a lot with artists seeking space and they often face the double-edged sword of gentrification. Community development organizations often recruit the hell out of them to move into a neighborhood, as they often are viewed as "early adopters" in a neighborhood and a signal to residents, funders, etc. that the neighborhood is poised for revitalization. But artists typically choose such neighborhoods for their low rents and overlooked amenities. But ultimately, they fall victim to the same displacement that other low-income residents face ... unless they've purchased their property, they move on to the next neighborhood. As such, even though many are low-income themselves, they often face a lot of distrust from other low-income residents.

^ Good observations, MayDay. I think I'm from a very similar background. But I doubt my neighbors would guess that I was a rural farm boy whose family once declared bankruptcy by looking at me. And while the onus may not be on the more affluent segment of the community, we also do need to recognize that in many cases the less affluent residents have typically been in urban neighborhoods for a much longer period of time and have existing social networks. We have to work to overcome the image that we're interlopers and that our arrival is not an indicator that they'll be priced out of their community.

This is an interesting and much-needed thread. Thanks KOOW. An interesting question is how those of us who are white, economically secure (and sometimes gay) build meaningful relationships with residents from different backgrounds? Even for those of us who are very conscious of class and racial histories of a neighborhood, cross-class communication can be difficult when existing residents express mistrust (probably rightly so) of new residents moving into their neighborhoods. Then there's the many in-migrants who really don't have any concerns about gentrification and could care less about neigbhorhood diversity and heritage who set a reputation for all of us. This, coupled with differences in education, political views, careers and life experiences that often present based on income can make meaningful interaction very difficult. Another question I often wonder about is whether gentrification trends can be steered in such a way as to actively improve the lives of existing low-income residents. One way is to preserve low-income housing in perpetuity so these individuals can avail themselves of improvements in local public amenities and infrastructure that typically follow people of money into city neighborhoods, but as has been pointed out, these amenities rarely are built with low-income residents in mind. Do you guys have other examples of how gentrification trends have been steered toward benefiting low-income residents? Are there programs that target workforce development, education opportunities, etc. toward such neighborhoods? Or programs that increase low-income residents ability to purchase property in the neighborhood? Shot over four years, "Flag Wars" is a poignant 90-minute account of economic competition between two historically oppressed groups, seen through the politics and pain of gentrification. The setting could be any city with a once stable working and middle class black community, now aging and economically depressed, in danger of losing control of their neighborhoods as wealthier home buyers gentrify block by block. In this case, the neighborhood is in Columbus, Ohio and the home buyers are largely white and gay. The resulting conflicts are a case study of differences in perception. Where realtors and buyers see run-down homes, black residents see evidence of institutional racism that steered resources away from this community ... ... More at www.pbs.org/pov/pov2003/flagwars/

Did anyone notice in one of the accompanying graphics that the dedicated bike lanes are only from Adelbert to E. 22nd? I guess I hadn't caught this before. I think it's a real shame to terminate the lanes so early, as it misses opportunities to connect the vast majority of downtown workers to easy bicycle access to work and the vast majority of downtown residents to easy bicycle access home. Granted, people could keep biking down Euclid in the absence of a dedicated lane, but I would imagine this would be pretty hairy with the decrease in auto lanes; they could also transfer over to a lower-traffic east-west corridor, but E. 22nd is not exactly the most bicycle-friendly place to do so. Glad they're investing in the lanes, but it seems rather disconnected not to have them adjacent throughout the entire project.

^^ From what I've seen, H&M's in Northeast Ohio have all been shrinking their men's sections drastically. But if you should find yourself in NYC (or even better, London), load up on cheap duds at H&M or Topman ... in both these cities, they have GIGANTIC men's sections for H & M. I've also seen adequate H&M men's sections in Chicago and Boston. For big city trips, you might also try Zara, particularly when the seasons change. That's another cost-savings strategy. Watch for the changing of the seasons and buy for next year. Right now, for instance, you can get killer prices on summer lines, as stores move over to their fall lines (so if you like baby blue shirts, khakis and linen, you've hit paydirt!). And because you favor a classic look, the clothes aren't likely to look dated when you get around to wearing them.

As far as classic meets trendy, I would give Express for Men a go. Express dress shirts are great. They feel great and they're tailored well. They offer a great variety in different solid colors, which works well for that classic look. Some people also swear by Banana Republic, but I have not had tremendous luck there, as it seems (at least for me) that their clothes are wrinkle and stain prone, probably because they favor light fabrics. My all-time favorite is Calvin Klein, which definitely has a trendy but classic look, clean lines and a slim silhouette. There is a Calvin Klein outlet at Aurora Farms, so you don't have to break your wallet for these clothes. I only own one french-cuff shirt, which not surprisingly is a Calvin Klein. Be forewarned that tailoring can be a little pricey, particularly to have a suit or a coat tailored in and sleeves taken in due to the degree of work involved; pants are far cheaper to get adjusted (at least in my experience), so if you find a suit jacket that fits and pants that are too long, that's far better than the reverse. Department stores are a good starting point but be discerning and think about color combinations. As far as price goes, you can cover up a tight budget by mixing cheap duds with more expensive high-visibility items. I would invest in at least one high-end suit, but then you can mix it with cheaper, solid color shirts and simple, classic ties (which you can also get fairly cheap), and no one will know the difference. Invest in one pair of very nice dress shoes ... and don't wear them! I buy a bunch of Payless shoes for everyday dress-up and then have one nicer pair that I only wear for important meetings. And when I say only for important meetings, I mean I carry them to work and don't walk around in them so that I can avoid wear and wrinkles, as well as salt in the winter.

^ Agreed. I don't think I'm the only transplant who's ever said this, but the only major thing that would make me want to leave Cleveland would be the attitude expressed by so many natives (not all ... sorry that I made sweeping generalizations earlier in this thread). The energy it takes to constantly dissuade people from thinking this is a crime-riddled cesspool of despair is pretty high. Not to mention, what ends up happening is what's happening in this thread ... the dedicated civic cheerleaders start becoming complainers themselves ... instead of b*tching about crime, weather, lack of retail, education, etc., we bit*h about the bitc*ers.

I remember seeing plans from St. Clair Superior that showed St. Clair being narrowed in much the same style as E. 12th ... diagonal parking, widened sidewalks and bike lanes. And I know that there is money in the city's 5-year authorization plan that allocates funds specifically for the bike lanes from E. 55th to I believe E. 13th. But I don't think I've seen anything that would extend this trend past the Avenue District.

I'm fairly certain that they're hoping to renovate Brown's Market over by Lucky's into some kind of organic grocery (in addition to the outdoor farmer's market across the street). Can't remember where I heard that first, but I heard it confirmed by a very reliable source who made it sound like it was fairly definite. Anyone else recall this?

The other problem with this assessment is that it assumes that all of the capped property is slated for high-rises. While the plan shows the potential for redevelopment, this could be interspersed with other public uses, such as parks and bicycle connectors. A huge portion of the Big Dig in Boston is reconnecting neighborhoods through parks ... I would think we could do the same here, with wisely appointed development parcels in the mix and with an eye toward mixed use that would likely lead to more developments on either side of the trench. Schwarz definitely has a point, but I don't think her arguments entirely refute the concept of a cap. I wish they'd cap the area between Payne and St. Clair while they're at it ... oh, and not knock down two functioning artist live/work buildings either :(

As hard a time as I sometimes give Forest City, I don't think we should begrudge them being conservative or in steering investment toward cities where they think it would be more lucrative. They do, afterall, have a positive economic impact on the city of Cleveland, regardless of whether they lead projects here or not. But it does seem contrary that they would be considering a massive development in Pittsburgh and even more so that they would be doing an open analysis of the best use for the property. It seems like in Cleveland, they have sat on their downtown holdings, claiming that development would only be viable in conjunction with a convention center or a casino, while in the similarly sluggish economy of Pittsburgh, they are considering a far greater range of opportunities even when the casino opportunity didn't pan out. Granted, this could be a product of the fact that in Pittsburgh, they're redeveloping an existing holding, while in Cleveland, they're sitting on vacant parcels that don't depreciate in the same way if not cared for. I just can't imagine, though, that Pittsburgh's downtown market is markedly more robust than Cleveland's.

No demand for development on Cleveland's proposed Inner Belt cap: Terry Schwarz Wednesday, August 08, 2007 Terry Schwarz The proposal to cap the Inner Belt between the Cleveland State Uni versity and Cuyahoga Community College campuses is extremely improbable and potentially counterproductive. The cost of capping the Inner Belt as described in the Quadrangle Plan would be exorbitant ... ... More at http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/othercolumns/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1186563366133040.xml&coll=2