8ShadesofGray

Cleveland crime targeted by black activist's campout Thursday, July 12, 2007Jesse Tinsley Plain Dealer Reporter A tent set up in a dusty gravel lot in the middle of one of Cleveland's most crime- and drug-infested neighborhoods is a temporary home for community activist Art McKoy. McKoy, leader of Black on Black Crime Inc., moved into the tent Monday to see for himself the reported horrors of daily life in the St. Clair-Superior neighborhood east of East 71st Street. Nights have been sleepless with occasional gunfire, screeching car tires and young people gathered all night on the porches and lawns of abandoned homes ... ... More at http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1184229239289001.xml&coll=2

^^ But the fact is that the napping executive is likely doing it out of pleasure, while the homeless person is likely doing it out of necessity. Even when such a law is applied equally (and I still think that people would be profiled in application of this policy), its intent is aimed at one particular group of citizens and its result is a disproportionate burden on the same group. It's not discrimination de jure, but it may be discrimination de facto. I guess just have to agree to disagree about whether this is an effective policy. My intent is not to change anyone's mind about whether it's a good idea. It may have a tremendously positive effect for that area. And, since I don't live downtown and don't experience the spillover effects of it on a nightly basis, it's easy for me to take this position. My only intent is to offer a reminder that it's easy for us to treat the homeless as this undesirable mass, but these policies have very real consequences on individuals' well-being. I think it's perfectly reasonable to consider policies like this, but in the absence of community-wide strategies for addressing some of the underlying issues leading people to the streets, I don't think this is going to have much of an impact, other than shifting the homeless two blocks in any direction.

Nothing about this particular policy ... But coupled with the mall prohibition and assuming that these types of exclusions were to continue to occur in other nodes downtown, it could ultimately create a situation where "undesirables" are having geographic barriers prescribed on them. Granted, you're right that if these policies are enforced against everyone equally, no violation is really occurring. But my guess is that if a legitimate event were to take place or run later than 10 p.m. on Public Square (the easiest example being the annual Orchestra concert), my guess is that they would be afforded an exception to the rule. And then what we're really saying is that one group of citizens' use of public space is preferable to another's use of the same space. And maybe that's the case ... maybe we as a community are okay with that. But without a doubt, that's a regulation not of all citizens of Cleveland but only those who are economically and socially unfortunate enough to be sleeping outside in a high-visibility public space.

Has anyone seen the endowment study GCAC did? Couldn't find it on their website. Any Columbus arts administrators on Urban Ohio?

I don't think a tent city is ridiculous. Obviously, affordable housing or shelter would be preferable. But until the overcrowding at the men's shelter is addressed, individuals with housing should have places to sleep without the threat of being menaced by kids, as has been reported a number of times lately both locally and nationally. Not looking for any special considerations for these individuals, but they also haven't foresaken their rights as citizens simply because they don't have a permanent mailing address or a job.

^^ Fair enough. I'm not trying to launch a threadwide guilt trip ... I'm saying that even aside from the humanitarian angle (which, IMO, we shouldn't lose site of when we're talking about living, breathing people), I don't know that policies like this are really all that efficient. I guess my question is, where should these people congregate or sleep in a city that has a shortage of temporary housing and no immediate indications that they're going to step up their supportive housing efforts. Sure, Public Square should be a public area and shouldn't make people fearful. But the Mall's already off limits. People don't want them over by the Jake. I'm guessing that people would object to them sleeping in the Warehouse District or on E. 4th Street. I'm sure as the Avenue District approaches actuality we don't want them congregating in areas adjacent to those developments. If we forbid them on Public Square, they won't disappear. So my question is, what is our long-term solution to where the homeless sleep that both honors their personal well-being and safety and maximizes our positive image among residents and tourists?

^^ Hope it didn't sound like I was attacking you; just was trying to cut off what I sensed might be turning into a "Gee, wouldn't Cleveland's downtown be great if we could bus all the homeless out" conversation. IMHO, thinking along these lines is pretty impractical and comes off sounding reactionary ... which is not how I want my city to be perceived. But emoticons do help.

Alright, I can understand why everyone is concerned about this and its aesthetic impact on our city, but I would like to remind people that a) we are talking about human beings here, b) while some of these individuals are aggressive panhandlers, others are just normal individuals who happen to be at an economic disadvantage and c) preventing individuals from sleeping or congregating or receiving food assistance in one particular area does little to address the underlying systemic issues of poverty not only in our city but throughout the country (and neither does sending homeless people to Akron). I wish we would spend one-tenth the time thinking about innovative ways to address poverty as we do thinking about innovative ways to move poverty three blocks down the street.

Don't really know how I feel about this whole thing, but I do think it'll be kind of difficult to enforce a "no gathering" rule, given its role as a central bus corridor. I think it'll be really difficult to ascertain whether people are waiting for a bus or "gathering" for a non-transportation purpose, particularly as many of the late night bus routes run so infrequently and so crowds tend to build up before the buses arrive.

Curfew would ban late gatherings on Public Square Posted by Susan Vinella (Cleveland) Plain Dealer July 11, 2007 09:28AM No more camping out or hanging out on Public Square past 10 p.m. if Cleveland City Council passes a new law to limit activity on the Square after hours. A law to prohibit people gathering or sleeping on Public Square between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. will be introduced at today's council meeting. Councilman Joe Cimperman, who represents downtown, said the law is intended to improve safety by banning homeless people from sleeping on the square and keeping kids from hanging out there late at night ... ... More at http://blog.cleveland.com/plaindealer/2007/07/curfew_would_ban_late_gatherin.html

I think the tax will have a huge impact on the local arts and culture scene. It's anticipated that it will result in $20 million in funding annually over the next 10 years, and the local foundations have expressed commitment to preserve their current funding of arts and culture nonprofits, and funds from the Ohio Arts Council have diminished since an all-time high in 2000 but are fairly consistent. So that means that we have a chance to really invest in the arts and culture sector. I believe the majority of funding will go to General Operating Support for arts and culture nonprofits, but Cuyahoga Arts and Culture is also exploring a Project Fund (for organizations that aren't awarded general operating support but are doing arts and culture projects, whether they're an arts and culture organization or not), as well as an Artist Support Fund. The first round of General Operating Support funding will take place this fall; it has not been publicly announced when Project or Artist Support would go into effect. But my org. isn't handling that stuff, so the best way to get up-to-date info is to visit www.cuyahogaartsandculture.org. Meetings of the Cuyahoga Arts and Culture board are also public, so you also have an opportunity to weigh in on this stuff as they're crafting the programs.

Shameless plug (sorry Mayday for getting off topic, but you set me up for this one :-D). For artists who are interested in learning how to make a living from their work, Cleveland has a great business training program called the Artist as an Entrepreneur Institute (http://www.cpacbiz.org/business/ent.shtml). To date, more than 350 artists have completed the 24-hour course, and the program has drawn participants from Denver, Pittsburgh, San Diego and even a delegation from the Kyrgyz Republic. And now the program is being replicated in Ft. Lauderdale. I can understand reluctance to accept the concept of supporting the arts publicly, but I will say communities that assist artists with obtaining business training, networking, health insurance, market development, home and business space, and yes, grants, will be the best poised to draw and retain creative workers ... particularly as cities across the nation are doing these very things. So how much you choose to invest in this type of support infrastructure is directly related to what kind of priority your community places on arts and culture in the long-term.

^ Yeah, I can see how that would be the case. For the purposes of the study, "Northeast Ohio" was defined as the 13-county service region of the Greater Cleveland Convention and Visitors Bureau (Ashtabula, Columbiana, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Trumbull and Wayne).

^ Uh oh ... now we're talking who has the best arts scene in the state? I'm not inclined to launch a Cleveland/Columbus comparison, but I will say that I think all three Cs have a pretty strong arts scene and that we're underestimating Cleveland's grassroots arts and culture scene. It's not all Cleveland Orchestras and Cleveland Museums of Art up here ... there are a lot of cool, emerging organizations up here, without a doubt. These community-based organizations have had a profound effect on neighborhoods like Tremont and Little Italy and are poised to do so in Detroit-Shoreway and Asiatown. And now neighborhoods throughout Cleveland are trying to build exactly the grassroots arts scenes you guys are talking about - I've had conversations with Westown, Collinwood and Old Brooklyn, who are all thinking about how to generate this kind of scene based on their own unique amenities. And I would definitely caution selling major institutions short. Sure, grassroots organizations are great for supporting vibrant neighborhoods and drawing in the Creative Class, but major organizations have the pull to be real economic engines for a community. A recent research report my organization did showed that 12 larger arts and culture orgs in Cleveland (including the Cleveland Museum of Art, Playhouse Square and the Rock Hall but not the Orchestra) brought in $13.8 million from outside Northeast Ohio between 2001 and 2006, including $1.4 million from Sandusky, $772,000 from Columbus, $553,000 from Pittsburgh, $378,000 from NYC, $357,000 from Detroit and $316,000 from Chicago. Don't underestimate what the big boys do for generating economic activity for your community.

The Greater Cleveland Film Commission recently updated their website and are definitely still pushing the existing Convention Center as a free production facility (see http://www.clevelandfilm.com/). The Film Commission is currently going through some transitions, as Chris Carmody is stepping down from the helm. That being said, I think both the Commission and the Mayor's Office are still interested in seeing this as a potential use.

According to Americans for the Arts' 2005 Creative Communities report (http://www.americansforthearts.org/pdf/information_resources/research_information/services/creative_industries/county_report.pdf), among the 50 most populated counties: # of arts businesses Franklin County ranks 41st; Cuyahoga, ranks 29 # of arts businesses per 1,000 residents Franklin, 31; Cuyahoga, 33 % increase in arts businesses, 2004-2005 Franklin, 20; Cuyahoga, 15 # of arts employees Franklin, 30; Cuyahoga, 22 # of arts employees per 1,000 residents Franklin, 22; Cuyahoga, 24 Percentage increase in arts employees, 2004-2005 Franklin, 7; Cuyahoga, 6 A study my organization did showed that, in 2004 and among the 50 largest counties, Franklin County was nationally competitive in Print Publishing (with the 7th highest concentration of employees compared to the other 49 counties) and Radio and Television Broadcasting (15th). Meanwhile, Cuyahoga County was nationally competitive in Performing Arts and Sports Promoters (4th), Print Publishing (5th), Museums, Historical and Nature Sites (11th) and Performing Arts Companies (13th). Neither was nationally competitive in terms of concentration of independent artists (Franklin ranked 25th and Cuyahoga ranked 33rd). Hamilton County arts-related businesses were not reviewed in either study, as the county does not rank among the 50 most populated nationwide.

Hagan and Lawson Jones are up for reelection in Fall 2008, Dimora is not until Fall 2010.

I guess I'm just confused as to why the commissioners would seek approval for demolition for a building that doesn't need to be demolished for 2, 3, maybe even 4 years, unless they have the intent to demolish it sooner rather than later. Does the asbestos remediation take longer than I anticipate? Or is this kind of timeline for Planning Commission approvals normal for a project of this size? Granted, this is certainly not my area of expertise, but this seems excessively early to be "finalizing" plans for demolition, particularly given the quiet and small but still considerable concerns about whether demolition is the right course.

Interesting article, but jeez ... Did anyone catch the announcement that the government center project could be delayed until 2010? In the event that there is a delay, how early would demolition a) have to occur and b) be likely to occur? Regardless of what you think of the tower, I think most of us would be inclined to agree that we don't need a vacant lot waiting around 2 or 3 years for even excavation to begin on the site. Complex possibilities for county site Mix could set condos, retail amid government center Saturday, July 07, 2007 Henry J. Gomez and Joan Mazzolini (Cleveland) Plain Dealer Reporters A prominent local developer and downtown boosters are floating mixed-use options that would piggyback on Cuyahoga County's planned government center at East Ninth Street and Euclid Avenue. Condominiums and retail and office space are the possibilities that John Ferchill, a specialist in historic-rehabilitation, is suggesting for the Cleveland Trust rotunda and 1010 Euclid Ave ... ... More at http://www.cleveland.com/business/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/business-2/118379749211940.xml&coll=2&thispage=1

Someone got shot at the Baby Grand ... ugh ... about half a block from my house. I know a lot of people think of the mid-east side as a bastion for crime, but this is the first shooting I can remember hearing about in Asiatown since I moved in. All in all, that is a crazy number of shootings for one night.

I think I know the area you're talking about. I drove up E. 40th from Woodland a couple weeks back and was really pleasantly surprised by the stock on the east side of the street ... I think it was in the Central to Cedar block. Very nice.

My understanding is that it did. It was a Cleveland Housing Network project, and I believe they have pulled back on many of their newer projects, as they work to clear the surplus of units they already have on the market. To be honest, I think this project would be of greater significance for that site; while Florian was designed with feng shui principles in mind, the exteriors of the units themselves looked like fairly bland townhomes, in my opinion. Meanwhile, these units would be a product that's pretty unique for our region.

Yeah, from what I've heard, the structures would be a little more substantial than the one pictured above, to accommodate Cleveland winters. But the idea's the same: simple living spaces, with a minimalist aesthetic, at a low price-point. I've been told that they're working to develop initial basic schematics and then will be putting together a small group to guide the project. And while I've received no confirmation of this (total speculation on my part), I am inclined to believe that the "vacant lot ready for development" is the site of the ill-fated Florian Townhomes: a decent-sized lot that was initially supposed to be home to 24 feng shui-oriented housing units, set between E. 45th and E. 47th and between St. Clair and Superior.

The Asiatown website is up and running (http://www.asiatowncleveland.com/), although it doesn't look like anything is on there yet. At least you can see the new Asiatown logo, which incorporates all 12 of the Asian Zodiac animals. I've gotta give props to St. Clair Superior for their "out-of-the-community-development-box" branding efforts. In the past year, they've installed new banners along the St. Clair and Superior corridors; continued their "Year of the" public art project, with a greatly expanded Year of the Pig; launched a discussion about modern "box" homes to be marketed to first time buyers; planned an Asiatown Scavenger Hunt; launched an industrial retention initiative; created a design competition for salvaged materials from demolished homes; and launched (sorta) the Asiatown website. All in all, I think they're doing a good job of positioning not only Asiatown but the entire nabe ... although it does seem like almost all of their efforts are focused on the area to the area west of E. 55th.

Ugh. That is a horrible, horrible editorial. It's really strange to me that the discussion now seems to presuppose that consolidated county government has to be on this site. 1) Is it necessary to have county government in one complex, and if so what are the benefits of that arrangement? I think there probably are a lot but they're rarely discussed. 2) If the building is so counter to the needs outlined by the County Commissioners, then why is this site still ideal? Given the proximity of surface parking lots and other vacant buildings, what is the "rational" (as described in the editorial above) reason for choosing this parcel over other parcels in high-visibility locations downtown? But here's my biggest question and the least rhetorical one ... when would demolition occur? My understanding is that county commissioners are floating the idea of supporting the administrative center from the residuals of the proposed sales tax increase, after expenses for the Convention Center / Medical Mart are finalized. If this is the case, is there potential for a nightmare scenario: the tower is demolished, the commissioners institute a sales tax increase, a petition successfully lands the hike on a ballot, voters vote down the sales tax increase and the commissioners are left with a vacant lot and no easily identifiable revenue streams for new construction. Is this a possibility? And if so, why are commissioners rushing to demolish if they have not finalized financing of the building proposed for the site?