willyboy

Oh so we do agree! (although you haven't agreed with that when I posted it?)

Naming rights with only 40 employees in the building?

You want 2 story townhomes on PS?

Smith, I was going to comment on the building as I saw it last week. It looks amazing. Love the (your) nameplate. Did you replace the brick?

Bingo!

Very shocking indeed (He is a neighbor of mine, I'll have to see what I can find out). Also, Accent closed in Uptown...

This is getting out of control, and unfortunately makes you think twice when a group of black teenagers on bikes approaches if you are in an area without a lot of people around. This is becoming far too common. Same has been happening in Shaker lately. There has been an uptick in home break-ins over the summer, and lately some armed robberies, usually black kids on bikes with guns, and another at the rapid station at Lee (similar description). They were looking at possible connections to some in Cleveland Hts., but I worry that these thugs are just getting more brazen. FYI, the description has been the same in all of the cases, as much as I want it to be white kids (trying to shake my DC experiences, where my first 2 robberies were apparently due to not crossing the road when there was a group of black kids. We were called stupid white boys by the black cop the first time, and just told that we should have known better the second (it wasn't at all a bad part of town). The other incidences were even worse btw. I just thought this amounted to profiling, but I guess in a city where all of this type of crime is committed by blacks (mainly due to the lack of a white underclass), it is ok to make those assumptions..? Or as MTS would just call having street smarts or others knowing the stats might call common senses..? Thank god Shaker is a tight knit community, since the last thing we need is more abandonment and disinvestment in favor of far flung/safer neighborhoods.

There's probably some brownfield concern over there, which they wouldn't necessarily cite as a reason. The whole thing about residential demolitions is pure demagoguery. Owners will be delighted, residents likely to get help with relocation expenses and won't have trouble finding similar. Agreed. For at least the majority (nearly all) this will certainly be the case.

Or at least look at what more progressive neighboring states have done. Like several Pennsylvania cities have done with its "two tier approach". They also call it an "Upside-Down Property Tax", since it taxes land at a higher rate than buildings. "Taxing land more and buildings less takes the profit out of speculation, putting land users rather than land holders in the driver's seat. Unlike taxes on most anything else, taxes on site values reduce land prices. Good things flow from this remarkable fact, as these examples show." "Opting for the so-called 'two-rate' or 'split-rate' property tax, these cities are lowering taxes on buildings, thereby encouraging development, improvements and renovations, while raising the tax on land values, thus discouraging land speculation. The resulting infill development as indicated by increased building permits means downtown jobs, efficient use of urban infrastructure, an improved housing stock, and less urban sprawl." http://www.earthrights.net/docs/success.html http://webapps.icma.org/pm/9202/public/cover.cfm?author=walter%20rybeck&title=retooling%20property%20taxes

Thank you Zak!

Isnt there still height restrictions along the mall (group plan area)?

West Elm would be nice... Too bad Pier One moved in there.

The talk in the mall is that Michael Kors is going to be coming to the old Clarks space. Also Bakers, upstairs near the bank and Guess, is having a store closing sale. Im still hoping that one day soon, perhaps thru this hypothetical expansion, we get an Armani Exchange store in Cleveland. I hate having a quarter of the way across the country to visit one, and Im to the point now that I really dont care where in Cleveland they locate if they come here >_< In regards to Legacy, Granite City Brewery has signs up that they will be opening this year in the old bookstore space. I find it interesting that that shopping center is becoming so populated with restaurants Unfortunately the likely proposed expansion at Beachwood Place wil mainly be for outlots and other near entrance businesses that likely will not add much to the shopping experience of the mall.. So think even more restaurants and banks. You mention Legacy becoming more focused on restaurants, which seems to be the focus of every other square inch of the Cleveland area. Why is shopping and stores not working anywhere there?

Anyone remember the "Urban Forest" that graced the E 9th exit? Seven dead saplings, weeds, litter and a big sign. That was glorious. Yes it was. Likely the work of Parkworks when they used to plant and care about trees, as they have evolved and are now a part of LandStudio, they could care less about trees. Like I said this should result in many improvements to the gateway of downtown, and that can only help to improve the city's image.

Exactly. I dont really know what could have been done south of the interstate, and frankly there is plenty of possibilities/opportunities that could use some concentrating on north of the Interstate. So at least try to make it a nice gateway, and I think they are attempting to do that.

Funny and true, although I like much of what they are doing in Tremont with utilizing the underbridge areas and tying into the Towpath Trail. Also, when I was last through there I saw that they had salvaged old cobble stones from demolitions/old road beds(?) and were using them for interesting paving around the bridges and into the green spaces. Some of the Gateway stuff seems a bit contrived, like the art deco pylons that seem "pasted onto" the bridge. Otherwise I cant complain if they want to put money into a better gateway into the city and one the helps to utilize the very underutilized Rock and Roll theme that the city seems to consistently be missing the boat on.

Yes it was reported previously, and there is one in Highland Heights. I had forgotten that it wasnt a National Chain though. Hope it does well there. http://www.b2bcleveland.com/

It is funny how places such as Bricco that do well and are loved in other places dont do well in Cleveland... I dont know if this is a reflection of Clevelands sophistocated dining scene or what... I remember thinking this about McCormick & Schmick's when they closed at Beachwood Place, siting that the numbers at that location were not very good. Their locations are always packed in the DC area. Also I thought this line was funny.... "I think there's a shortage of true Italian dining in Cleveland". Having lived in many other places, I still cant get over how many Italian eateries there are in the Cleveland area and Northeast, Ohio. Maybe he is just thinking of something more specific in nature?

And those are some of the most important and vital ingredients that are necessary for increased transit use as well as an increase of the urban residential population (the very things that would help lead to increased residential in the UC area).. Those are the kinds of problems that Cleveland could use. Hopefully those things would more than balance any additional loss of population to the east side and inner suburbs/Heights. I did initially think of it as quite a gamble, but I now think it is more than worth it and necessary. When you look at the reality of these neighborhoods (and where there would be in xx yrs without this) as well as looking at Clevelands strengths and its best chances of turing things around/possibilities for future growth, as well as its best chances of replenishing its tax base, then I think this project is a necessary one. The possitives should definately outweigh any negatives.

That is happening as well, so dont make it an either or thing. Its not even close to being the same thing as what was happening 40 years ago where the building of interstates caused the destruction of vibrant and viable neighborhoods for the sake of speeding traffic via highways which led to the empting out of the city. Im not sure why people dont see the differences here..... Again, "The reality of the situation pretty much dictates that the current state of these areas do not support it remaining a residential area, at least not in its current or past form. Nor can the city afford to maintain it that way.

Well its also about opening up this desolate area to the expected spin off companies from Clevelands medical sector etc. The reality of the situation dictates that the current state of these areas do not support it remaining a residential area, at least not in its current or past form. Nor can the city afford to maintain it that way.

Wait a minute: $220 million for a 2-3/4 mile boulevard??? How about $220 million in transit improvements for the same area? Why do we seem to always default to more roads??? This in an area where up to 25% of residents do not own a motor vehicle. Notice also that this road parallels the RTA Red LIne. Now what do you suppose the effect on RTA's ridership will be? Hmmm... But the construction of the Opp. Corr. has nothing to do with the residents of the area and was never claimed to have been for their use. Nor, would its construction compete with the rapid transit that currently exists (the expected users of the corridor is not the same population that has the option of using the the rapid).

Yes that was the case as well. Although I thought it was a surgion from the Clinic.. Ill be next door this weekend and will find out!

Thank you Tedders, you hit that on the head by your descrition. Yes they wee certainly that "faux" Home Depot "fancy" door that had no place here. Thank goodness they are gone!

That may be best for the time being, at least until Ronayne can run. Jackson has finally gotten some of his most basic of mayoral sea legs which should carry the city through alright until that time. In the meantime the city should be able to count on Haslam as its spokesman and pep talker/cheerleader.