8ShadesofGray

Thanks for all the input, guys. A couple final questions: If he did choose either Ohio City or Detroit-Shoreway, how much time would it add onto a morning commute to Rocky River, compared to if he locates in Edgewater? If he's in the North part of Detroit-Shoreway or the OC, wouldn't it make more sense to hop on the Shoreway (via Lake Ave. or W. 45th)? And finally, does anyone have any thoughts on Lakewood as an option? I'm not terribly familiar with the various neighborhoods of Lakewood, price points, etc. Thanks.

^ I agree. As I posted in my brief b*tching session above, I don't have a problem with this project per se, although I would like to see numbers, and I would like a more transparent process for what could result in a sizable sales tax hike without voter approval (as the commissioners can add, I believe, up to a half-cent more without voter consent). My main beef with the article is the editorial's choice to describe this project as the most "comprehensive and compelling" economic development strategy in the last several years. While they don't use the word "silver bullet", the piece does seem to indicate that Cleveland's best ED hope is to invest in a single, large-scale public investment, which I think belies the ROI offered by all sorts of more grassroots projects taking place across the city. This appears to be a great project, and I think it has a lot of promise, but I also think that recruiting venture capital to biotech start-ups, creating a dense product design district and positioning the city to be a hub for the manufacturing and design of green technology (just to name a few) are equally "comprehensive and compelling". They just oversold a great idea, IMO ... whether this oversell is indicative of some backroom nepotism, I don't know.

Hi all. I have a friend who will be moving from Akron to Cleveland in the next several months. He is pretty unfamiliar with Cleveland neighborhoods and would like some advice about where to locate. I've given him my standard advice but recognize that I definitely have "preferred" neighborhoods, so I thought I would get some perspectives from some other people on here, particularly those of you on the West Side. Here's some background: - He's an attorney currently practicing in Rocky River. One of the major reasons for the move is to cut his commute time; therefore, he's primarily interested in neighborhoods that would afford him a relatively easy commute to both Rocky River and to the courtrooms, etc. downtown. - He has a preference for an "urban" neighborhood. He wasn't too clear as to what he thinks "urban" is, but he does seem have a strong preference for the city proper or the inner-city suburbs. He currently lives in Akron's "gayborhood" (Highland Square, I think); I'm not too familiar with that area so can't really approximate housing stock, amenities, etc. for him, but I get the impression that density, access to arts and culture, environmental amenities, etc., rank much more importantly than schools, crime, etc. - He prefers to buy over renting and has a price range of up to $150,000. He has no preference for new construction v. rehab. He does not, however, want to be doing any structural rehab himself (i.e. he's willing to sand floors or paint, but he doesn't want to be doing anything requiring drywalling or anything comparable or more complex). Meanwhile, he's pretty averse to anything that would require dealing with a homeowner's association and also pretty averse to condos (a higher preference for single-family, two-family, townhouse and rowhouse). - He would welcome advice not only about neighborhoods but also about specific for-sale opportunities. To date, of all the things I've showed him, Battery Park has piqued his interest the most. Based on that, I recommended he also take a look at EcoVillage. I get the impression that he would be most favorable to Detroit Shoreway, Edgewater and Ohio City (in that order), but I would definitely welcome other perspectives. Any additional thoughts?

If Lounge Leo is what I think it is (incredibly narrow storefront with large glass windows, kinda red interior), it's about the cutest bar I've seen in Cleveland. It's really tiny, and the fact that the windows are not frosted or tinted means that you're literally staring at bar patrons as you walk by, and they're staring back. Can't wait to check it out.

I think it's a great concept that sounds like it would have a great economic return (although I'd like to see some specifics about the price tag). Comprehensive? Yes. The most compelling proposal for revitalizing Greater Cleveland? I think that's overstating its value, and it's also downplaying how important other strategies (such as targeted venture capital, wireless infrastructure, manufacturing alliances, regional no-poaching agreements, etc.) are for our long-term business environment. It would be a lot easier for me to embrace these plans if there wasn't such a silver bullet mentality among the upper stratas of the business community. If you oversell, I start questioning whether there's a reason you're having to oversell.

^ Particularly in a competitive market for book sales. With such a presence for online sales, and with the volume and orderly nature of a Border's, I think you really have to have a strong niche focus if you're going to survive as an independent bookseller. I actually like the bookstore on 25th, but it is pretty haphazard, and you really have to invest some time to find what you want. This might appeal to a certain type of buying pattern (sometimes people enjoy spending a full afternoon at a bookstore), but the store is cramped and spending a couple of hours in there would make me feel claustrophobic. So, if I want something specific, it's usually Border's, if I want something quirky, it's the new store in Tremont and if I just want to casually spend a couple of hours relaxing in a bookstore ambiance, it's my favorite, Loganberry. As Mayday pointed out, the proprietor has managed to create a store that is very easy to navigate but doesn't feel the least bit "sell-out" or corporate. Plus, they have a lot of great niche collections, including a tremendous collection of photography books and a pretty well-developed collection of Cleveland-focused books. It's a treat!

Haha ... umm, no. I just thought that you'd bring a little more Suzanne to this particular thread than Julia. No offense intended ... I'm actually more of an annoying, fussy, controlling Allison Sugarbaker, so beat that.

27 as of two days ago, with the body of a 15-year-old and the hairline of a 32-year-old. And I don't yet like the ring of "27". :cry:

Does anyone know what (if any) impact this will have on GCP and CVB's imminent move to the ground-level space in Higbee's?

^ Are you kidding? If Mayday smells a dating thread (even an orientation-friendly one), he'll swat it down with the fury of an early Delta Burke :-D

^ And granted, I'm a little rusty in the whole Keynesian multiplier department, but when looking at their respective economic impacts: - Trade shows would import dollars primarily from outside the region; sports complexes draw some outside patronage, but the majority of money comes from people who live in Northeast Ohio (that being said, stadiums might increase locals' propensity to consume locally, rather than spending their entertainment dollars outside the region (e.g. other sporting events, cable, etc.). - A medical mart could increase the visibility of local medical device production and increase sales of these items, thus increasing revenues gained from exporting products from the region. I can't think of anything of significance at sporting events that would have the same export effect. - Both currently require substantial public investments; if this requires increasing taxes, that can be a drag on the overall economic impact. My question here would be who would the $331 million in direct spending go to? Granted, some would be to service providers like caterers and transportation people, but what would go to Forest City, to Merchandise Mart and to Cuyahoga County? If the county realizes direct returns in addition to hopefully higher revenues from sales tax, bed tax, etc., I would think this would show a much faster return on investment than if the county was only realizing tax revenue (as could be the case with privately owned stadiums, depending on the initial agreement).

:clap: March 2, 2007 The Director of the National Park Service is pleased to send you the following announcements and actions on properties for the National Register of Historic Places ... OHIO, CUYAHOGA COUNTY, Superior Avenue Historic District, 1860-2553 Superior Ave., Cleveland, 07000072, LISTED, 2/21/07 By my count, and assuming that this only covers buildings fronting Superior, this includes about 25 properties. Anyone have any further information on what's being planned down here or thoughts on what the historic designation will do for increasing investments in rehab, etc.? http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/listings/20070302.HTM

Judging from the strategic planning component, it sounds like it will help them focus their recruitment efforts toward those businesses that are most likely to succeed along Lower Euclid, and to offer those potential tenants compelling numbers. Just a hunch, but I also wonder if this might have to do with testing concepts around the District of Design, e.g. what businesses would be most successful within the first phase of the design district from a direct sales perspective, what tangential businesses might be most successful in adjacent Euclid front space in the Finance District, etc. I just remember hearing that DCA was incorporating the District of Design into its strategic plan; I would have to believe they'll specifically be probing how both the DoD and the ECP might impact consumer demand in that stretch.

From cleveland.com, 03.29.07 Downtown groups order Euclid Ave. retail study Posted by Henry J. Gomez March 29, 2007 12:00PM Three downtown development groups have ordered a $100,000 study on retail feasibility along lower Euclid Avenue. Officials with the organizations said they see light at the end of the $200 million Euclid Corridor project, which has paralyzed business in the Gateway and Theater districts ... ... More at http://blog.cleveland.com/business/2007/03/downtown_groups_order_euclid_a.html

Thanks, Columbusite. You actually picked up some of my favorite cities I've ever visited ... Guelph, Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal; sadly, never made it to Quebec City. Ottawa's my all-time favorite (favourite) city. While it is a little spread out, I lived there for a summer without a car and was able to walk to work on the Hill and buy groceries and go to coffeeshops and clubs, etc. with quite a bit of ease. Their area around Parliament is quite a bit more built up than downtown Columbus, IMO, and they have an absolutely delightful market area that dwarfs the West Side Market about 5 times over. Feeling like a road trip is in order!

My friend and I agreed that it probably wasn't a wise idea to have people standing around drinking for two hours before a lecture. Also, it seems like Cleveland is getting pretty liberal about this "young" professional thing ... there seemed to be a lot of folks in their 40s and 50s. Glad to see these people interested in development and in young professional events, but this new platform is supposed to be less about networking and more about identifying a common agenda that will serve the needs of Cleveland's 20- and 30-something. Seems incongruous to have so many people NOT in that age group getting buzzed and eating all the appetizers (sorry ... I was starving last night). I, too, felt that the event reflected poorly on Cleveland's young people. I think it was Stark at one point who said something along the lines of "If you're talking up there in the back, you're going to miss some interesting news". To no avail, of course. A certain unnamed Urban Ohio forumer actually took the mic during Q & A to beseech people to shut up. A bizarre, bizarre night.

Just a warning and then I promise I'll shut up. If you do post a response, make sure to do so in the Comment section at the bottom of the form (not the questions section directly above). I wasn't paying attention and lost all the text from my responses to the first two questions.

Here's what I just wrote. It's pretty verbose, but feel free to adapt it if you want to do a quickie endorsement of the Scenic Railroad. My top priority project would be an extension of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad into downtown Cleveland. Currently, the railroad serves as a major attraction for visitors south of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and an ideal way to view many of the park's amenities, particularly for small children and the mobility-impaired. Extending this attraction to Cleveland will greatly increase visitation to what is already one of America's most frequently visited national parks. In addition, completion of this line will increase opportunities to visit the park by residents who do not have access to other forms of transportation. Providing a direct and affordable means to visit the park could connect economically disadvantaged individuals to perhaps the greatest amenity in their region and could expand their opportunities to learn about stewardship. Finally, extension of the rail line into Cleveland could serve as a national model of sustainability and of leaving a lighter environmental impact on the park itself; it would afford an opportunity to showcase remediation of industrial land into land that is open, enjoyable and healthy for the public. It could also illustrate that parklands can be preserved and bettered even in urban settings. This effort would dovetail well with community efforts to rebrand Cleveland, and Ohio as a whole, as a national leader in sustainable practices. This project would most certainly provide a margin of excellence by connecting more people to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and increasing awareness of national park stewardship. It would also certainly capture the imagination of the public, particularly children. Being able to ride a scenic train directly into one of the finest natural areas in the country would greatly impact Northeast Ohio's view of the park's value and foster a greater appreciation for its proximity. Cleveland's leadership has expressed strong interest in rebuilding its economy to focus more on sustainability; local foundations, as well as city, county and state government have all made substantial investments in sustainability-related economic development; currently, the community is exploring an offshore windfarm in Lake Erie, which would we be the first freshwater windfarm worldwide. These leaders would welcome opportunities to further increase attention toward our community's efforts and would almost certainly be willing to secure matching funds if the project were to move forward.

Signature projects and programs can include anything from restoring historic structures and landscapes,renovating museums and visitor centers, integrating emerging technologies, improving trails and recreational opportunities, to connecting more children with their national parks. These projects and programs will provide new levels of excellence and special opportunities beyond the high quality opportunities already made possible through federal funding. We will select the projects with your help through online comment and listening tours the NPS will hear how Americans envision their national parks in 2016 and beyond, how they would like to celebrate the centennial, and what signature projects and programs would be at the top of their list. Signature projects and programs also will: - continue the NPS legacy of leveraging philanthropic, partnership and government investments for the benefit of national parks and their visitors - Provide a margin of excellence - Capture the imagination of the public - Secure at least a dollar for dollar philanthropic match - Use current staffing, unless additional staffing is provided through endowed positions or partners - Be sustainable in design, material and location

I would urge all of you to weigh in on this by April 2nd at www.nps.gov/2016 and advocate a signature project in the CVNP. The form is a little cumbersome, but if you click on "Comment on document" (http://parkplanning.nps.gov/commentForm.cfm?parkID=442&projectID=17892&documentId=18372), it's a little clearer. I for one think extending the Scenic Railway to downtown Cleveland (and hopefully to Lake Erie) is probably our most compelling case for a signature project, but please post on whatever priority you have ... I have posted the criteria for a signature project below.

Valley park proposals blossom at session Scenic rail line to Cleveland, park institute among ideas By Bob Downin, staff writer Akron Beacon Journal March 27, 2007 BOSTON HEIGHTS - Extending the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad into downtown Cleveland could be among the projects funded under a new federal plan that could provide $3 billion over the next 10 years for national parks. There are also discussions on creating what would be called the Cuyahoga Valley Institute, similar to programs in Yellowstone and Yosemite parks that provide nature watching, outdoor adventure and history and cultural programs for adults and families, said John Debo, superintendent of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park ... ... More at http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/16980510.htm

Regarding Payne Sterling, there are a lot of houses in the $100,000 or less range. Again, these may require more rehab than you would prefer, and the market here is surprisingly tight ... there are very few for-sale signs in the neighborhood, and many that are sold are done so by owner, not realtor. Best of luck with your move, and as has been mentioned previously, I'd advise renting before purchasing. Cleveland is a city of distinct neighborhoods, and it would be a shame to purchase without finding the niche that best suits you; more pragmatically, it would be a shame to choose an area where real appreciation is unlikely to occur in the near future.

It's great to see Strickland advocating public funding for this type of investment. But this differs from what theguv is advocating, which would legally require utility providers in the state of Ohio to derive a certain amount of produced energy from renewable energy.

It was very popular at my college (in the exurbs of Indianapolis ... imagine it) back in the early 2000s. Personally, I think it's a pretty horrible game, but it's hilarious to watch people play it. When I saw it in Cleveland a couple years back, I knew our country was in trouble.

Thanks Musky. I was actually referring to the capital improvements plan ... couldn't remember if anything had been allocated to bike lanes along E. 55th particularly. But there has ... $25,000 in 2009 for bike lanes from Euclid and E. 55th to the Lakefront and 55th (which in turn will connect directly to the Lakefront Bikeway). Personally, that sweetens this site for me ... with bike traffic coming from the north and east/west, this has the potential to be a very high visibility center of bicycle activity that may also benefit branding-wise from its history as an important transportation center ... yet another opportunity for Cleveland to show how we are building off of our history to create a truly livable city. IMHO, that's a pretty high-return use of land.