willyboy

I have shared the same concern Paul, thats why I was saying that the city needed to start the planning group announced a couple weeks ago before the actual plans for the Convention center were being done. Ideally, I also think they should be planning an option of expanding the C.C., maybe over the tracks (which the current plan wouldnt really allow), but also to incorporate this transportation center in a way that doesnt come across as an after-thought, and take into consideration some of the ideas from the design competition from a few months back.

Well Ohio City should be ready for one (in the business district). They had trouble there when they initially tried due to many absentee building owners and "slum" building owners that certainly couldnt be sold on the benefits of being assessed additional $$$, when they were not willing to spend anything on their buildings. They also had a great deal of resistance from the WSM. But now I think it could be pieced together to pass there.

And I guess since you claimed to not be an expert on the matter, Im sharing what I have learned from studying and working with BID's around the country for 15+ yrs. BID's have almost always been successful where established, but there's sometimes better ways to achieve a similar goal (especially in an area like Tremont). Im trying to show where these types of mechanisms havent had success in establishing (and where other methods that could be used)... but do study away in the meantime (just hopefully in that meantime, the business establishments will come together to hire some security)...

Yes there is another round of stimulus related grants available. I really hope the Cleveland area is prepared to be jumping on some of these: TIGER II Grants Pre-applications due July 16, 2010 Protect Essential Highways, Highway Bridge Approaches, and Public Works Applications accepted on continuing basis Economic Development Administration (EDA) American Recovery Program Applications accepted on continuing basis and processed as received Bikes Belong Grant Applications reviewed quarterly

There is really no difference between the two. Its just the preference for what they want to call it, and usually now they are just called BID's in the U.S. (Im really surprised downtown is using the term SID). Not saying it cant be done there, and I dont recall the exact makeup of that street (wouldnt likely work for a larger area there due to the mixed income levels), and it would be unusual to incorporate single family homes in an area that isnt a definate and defined district (tend to be highly gentrified areas if so). Tremont West should be able to get an intern from CSU to look into further.

I guess Im not really sure what the difference is. What makes downtown not a BID (yes residential buildings)? But, its still a business district. We were encouraged a long time ago not to call them SID's (mainly due to other definitions). Its one thing to incorporate an apartment building but quite another to incorporate single family homes. Hasnt been done much.

Huntington Building news (should this go somewhere else): Huntington Building in downtown Cleveland sold to Florida's Optima International Optima is considering putting a hotel in a portion of the 21-story building, which would embellish its mixed-use nature as it already features retail space on its lower levels. Retaining it primarily as an office building is an option, Mr. Schochet said, “but we'll have to see how that plays out.” Asked about potential residential uses for the building, Mr. Schochet said, “I don't think so.” http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20100623/FREE/100629946

Likely in Tremont it would be a best bet for the establishments to go in-together on hiring some security to have a presence on the street. I dont see how a BID would really work there with the scattering of establishments.

Good to know about Pickwick. Velvet Dog always had free sushi and other stuff for happy hour, but apparently they have stopped doing that! As far as Melt, so Cleveland Hts is now bad too, and it hasn't taken anybody away from Lakewoods :x..... (and hes getting even more exposure!) Theres a new Gastropub near 117th and Detroit in Lakewood, looks yummy! http://www.proggastrolounge.com/

That is really impressive Avogadro. That just proves what a tight knit community it is. We saw similar action after Grumpy's burned and the accident happened with the Sokolowski's son. It certainly is comforting when something happens that could just as well scare people out of a neighborhood that they are coming together instead, and do everything to not allow it to happen again.

EC, Mayday posted it on the previous page. Post #843.

I think it was this that I saw. Tremont pedestrian and bicycle linkages from NOACA (study). Abbey road starts at about page 49-52 http://www.noaca.org/tremont.pdf

Joyce, Do you know how long that German looking bakery has been there (forgot the name)?

In some plans I saw somewhere they had a redone Abbey Rd bridge. I think it was for some "Tremont connection plan though, so not sure if it would be done in conjunction with the inner-belt.

She said it was in front of a live studio audience..? I watched it twice and thought the writing was a bit cheesy and predictable (surprising given Frasier writer and Sean Hayes), but I did enjoy it all the same with its Cleveland-ness.

So the area is named after your family..?

I hate to say this but "tentative" is a long way for "signed and leased", but I bet those same tenants in Memphis and NYC are in CLE. MMPI is ruthless when it comes to leasing. 4 Stories? That's it? Why not build for expansion? By the way its Nashville, not Memphis......

Today will certainly be the test with Strasburg pitching.

Many? Please tell me what establishments mirror or are similar to those that were in the Flats? I didnt realize there was any debate about the shifting of the types of establishments compared to what it used to be and what it has more-so become (diversified). Read any article about the Warehouse District and it alludes to that (including the most recent of the new place thats going in "The Warehouse District has gotten more casual and places appeal more to kids," says Zovkic. "Arnold and I are looking to attract a more mature, sophisticated crowd trying to get away from the crowds."). Or talk to anybody that has known the Warehouse District from the beginning (and has found new grown up areas/dont want to be around drunken teenagers) and yeah there were quit a number of places that would have been flats places that came in, such as Bar flyy, Tramp etc. (to pick up on the market of young beer drinkers looking for chicks), as the WHD at the same time became less exclusive as other areas of the city became more exclusive (restaurants and clubs). Many that lived there that didnt like the newer less grown up atmosphere have moved out. Talking to many of the business owners over the years in the WHD, the majority have said that they have been hurt by the new "entertainment districts" in Cleveland, and have had to shift their marketing towards a younger crowd (cheap drinks) which is basically the former flats market. The good thing is that some have also closed, and it has remained pretty diverse. I dont know that anybody was saying that the WHD is the same and will suffer the same fate, but I think for a while people were concerned that the establishments would eventually become nothing but ones that cater to that crowd, thus making living there less desireable etc.......

Its just about the types of places. The cheap/cheesy/rowdy college drinking type of place which characterized the flats. The Warehouse District was the grown-up area. They just mean that the WHD has taken on many of the "flats type" of establishments.

Oh I was going to ask you guys what you thought of this statement in the article from Joe Roman: ".......said the business community recognizes the importance of getting the new plan right. He pointed to mistakes made in building Gateway, which he said did not adequately link the arena and baseball stadium to the rest of downtown." I thought gateway was one of the best examples of an urban ballpark/arena in how it does connect to downtown or integrated into its surroundings (without tearing down the middle of downtown to build it) Am I missing something here?

The closing was certainly hinted at in articles after LUXE opened. It is one place that I unfortunately never got to try, but in the past couple years I think it wasnt given the attention that it was known for. Ive read some very inconsistent reviews of the place.

That's what I was wondering. Its great that the city is acknowledging some of the opportunities here (I had worried that it would pass them by), but some of this would have ideally been in progress since the plans are already being drawn for the mall (which funding and future plans Id think would be a determinant to what the designers are considering). I'm encouraged that the idea of extending the sales tax had finally been brought up, since 16 million isn't going to go far for the mall, but corporate sponsorship would be even better (due to the more pressing needs issue). Definitely collaboration is in order, and that requires people being on the same page. This is certainly a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Same here. I know their previous plans were'nt terrible (but their finished product doesnt always live up to what it could have), plus it should be a much hipper hotel/residences than they were thinking for that building.

No silly... Reconfigured etc...