MuRrAy HiLL

More rediscovery of Cleveland: http://welcometocle.com/my-misconceptions-about-cleveland/

Becoming a 24-hr neighborhood? Getting closer and closer.. West Side Market Cafe In the mood for a late snack? We will be opening extended hours on Friday and Saturday night for our new Moonlight Menu! We will be serving breakfast & sandwiches from 11:00pm-4:00am. Starting in July 2012!! Currently accepting applications for nightime shifts. http://www.westsidemarketcafe.com/index.php/19-joomla-sample-data-articles/joomla/24-joomla

So anyone see the CBS truck this morning?

National media in Downtown Cleveland today. CBS Buzz tour will be in front of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame today: http://www.cbs.com/buzz/

shameless bump -- these pictures are too fun to look at.

going native: local scribe takes rust belt migration expert on a tour through cleveland Richey Piiparinen | Thursday, July 05, 2012 Cleveland has a long history of trying to become something -- something other than shtick. Too often, the makeovers do more harm than good. In the 1980s, for example, we tried to convince the world that we were plums. "New York may be the Big Apple, but Cleveland’s a Plum!" announced the civic tagline. But we aren't plums. No, this city -- the product of stiff winds against strong faces; a city of handshakes and hard work -- definitely is not a collective of soft fruit. -- At one point during the night the well-traveled Russell turned to me and said, "This is one of the best days I’ve had in any city. Ever." And like most great days, this one wasn’t planned. Rather, it just happened. The same can be said about great cities: they often just happen. At least if they are allowed to without tired slogans or boondoggle makeovers. And while Rust Belt Chic might very well sound like another hollow attempt at civic rebranding, it is not. Because Rust Belt Chic is less about self-promotion than it is about self-revelation. What are we revealing? The awareness that Cleveland’s essence is a steely heart, not the pit of a purple fruit. And in a world of so much trying, how ironic is it that Cleveland’s core is now cutting edge. http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/features/rustbeltchic070512.aspx

historic downtown buildings will be transformed into apartments using tax credits Thursday, July 05, 2012 The State of Ohio has awarded $35.8 million in tax credits to 18 owners who are planning to rehabilitate 44 historic buildings across the state. Two of the projects, the Vincent building and the Truman building, are located in downtown Cleveland. The Truman building, located on Euclid Avenue between E. 9th and 12th streets, will be renovated to include retail storefronts, office space, 18 market rate apartments and parking. Construction is expected to create at least 50 jobs. http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/devnews/historicpreservationcredits070512.aspx

Former museum director Bruce Latimer once called the building’s main entrance a "brown hole," and said "it sucks all the energy out of you." I agree with this 110%. I think a "Welcome to Jurassic Park" gateway entrance or equivalent is in order.

Guys, We do have a Truman building thread... http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=21129.0

I'll be headed to the London Olympics at the end of the month!

^ North Collinwood? http://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/a-big-turn-on/Content?oid=2984073

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Port authority receives some funding: Northeast Ohio funds win $4 million in state New Markets Tax Credits, to aid business expansions Published: Monday, July 02, 2012, 6:45 PM By Michelle Jarboe McFee, The Plain Dealer • Northeast Ohio Development Fund, LLC, which also will receive $1 million. Controlled by the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority, the fund is looking at 10 potential projects. "The goal would be to have it out by the end of the year," Brent Leslie, the Cleveland port's chief financial officer, said of the tax-credit allocation. "We have $5 million in federal New Markets Tax Credits remaining, and they need to be coupled together." http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2012/07/northeast_ohio_funds_win_4_mil.html

Northeast Ohio funds win $4 million in state New Markets Tax Credits, to aid business expansions Published: Monday, July 02, 2012, 6:45 PM By Michelle Jarboe McFee, The Plain Dealer CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Three Northeast Ohio investment funds won a combined $4 million in state tax credits meant to fill financing gaps for growing businesses in low-income areas. Community development entities tied to the Greater Cleveland Partnership and port authorities in Cuyahoga and Summit counties could channel those credits into corporate expansions and job creation. The Ohio Department of Development expects the $10 million in credits to support at least $25.6 million worth of investments in the state. The local winners are: • Cleveland New Markets Investment Fund II, LLC, which will receive $2 million. Controlled by Cleveland Development Advisors, an affiliate of the Greater Cleveland Partnership, the fund hopes to allocate some of its credits to the AmTrust Financial Services Inc. project at 800 Superior Ave. in downtown Cleveland. The New York-based insurer acquired an office building and is renovating it to house 1,000 workers, including employees of its GMAC Insurance subsidiary. http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2012/07/northeast_ohio_funds_win_4_mil.html

CWRU football will welcome the second largest (and hopefully most talented) Freshman class in the past ten years -- 45 recruits coming from 11 states: http://athletics.case.edu/sports/fball/2012-13/releases/20120426c49sul Not too bad for a program that has had a 48-6 record for the past 5 years.

White House highlights CWRU broadband initiative posted Jun 14, 2012 6:32 AM by Kristen Kolenz WASHINGTON, D.C. – Case Western Reserve University’s efforts to provide high-speed internet access to residents near campus won White House recognition and a $300,000 federal grant today. The news came as President Obama signed an Executive Order to make broadband construction involving federal property – including roadways and buildings – 90 percent less expensive. The President also announced US Ignite, a partnership to promote new applications that use broadband connectivity in health care, education and other fields. Case Western Reserve is one of 60 research universities involved in the coalition, which also includes government agencies and businesses, among other organizations. “CWRU is the acknowledged leader around the country in the innovative use of advanced technology that advances both research and the community's priorities on topics such as health and wellness, science education, neighborhood safety, and energy management,” said Lev Gonick, Vice President for Information Technology Services and Chief Information Officer. Two years ago the university led the launch of the Case Connection Zone, an initiative that connected just over 100 residents near campus to ultra-high speed broadband via Gigabit fiber. A video about the Case Western Reserve initiative can be seen at: http://youtu.be/StNN2tHDVwM . https://sites.google.com/a/case.edu/its/news/whitehousehighlightscwrubroadbandinitiative

Open view from French impressionists gallery.

A few new pics from the south side: 1) Chipotle is open 2) A new boutique signage is up 3) Panera Bread signage is up in the "alley" 4) Restaurant planners in the window...Sasa?

View from the Cleveland Public library:

New CWRU student center

Congrats on the new home! I've always enjoyed looking up at those houses when driving down MLK. True architectural gems in that area.

Interesting and in depth analysis: Oh! Come let’s sing Ohio’s praise: Cleveland transit explored. Posted on Sunday, 24th June 2012 Of all the surviving trolley systems in eastern North America, Cleveland is the one to which I’ve devoted the least attention, in terms of railfanning and collecting. I began to rectify that situation with a two-day outing this month, an enjoyable experience which has me regretting not spending more time exploring the system much sooner. Light rail was my principal focus, in the form of Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority’s Blue and Green lines, historically known as the Shaker Heights Rapid Transit system. Diverging from this venerable light rail operation (embodying the LRT concept decades before it acquired the name), I also was keenly interested in riding RTA’s HealthLine. The 24-hour bus rapid transit route opened in 2008 along the busy Euclid Corridor using massive articulated buses — equipped with real streetcar gongs — serving high-platform stations in and along the street. Finally, there was the system’s lone heavy rail line, the Airport-Louis Stokes (Windermere) Red Line, to ride, along with a busy urban bus network. http://tramsstophere.wordpress.com/2012/06/24/oh-come-lets-sing-ohios-praise-cleveland-transit-explored/

CSU still hopes to convert Mather Mansion into boutique hotel: Whatever happened to ...? Published: Sunday, June 24, 2012, 8:55 PM Karen Farkas, The Plain Dealer By Karen Farkas, The Plain Dealer One of the few surviving Millionaires' Row homes is still vacant and untouched, but Cleveland State University remains hopeful that it will be transformed into a successful, top-notch hotel. CSU, which owns the 43-room Tudor mansion, sought proposals last December from developers who would sublease it, spend about $10 million to redevelop the property and operate it as a hotel. University officials expected the facility would open in 2013. Two proposals were received. But after a committee met with the developers in May, there were still some concerns whether the developer could obtain financing for the project and if the hotel could generate enough income, said Stephanie McHenry, CSU's vice president for business affairs and finance. McHenry said CSU will work with the developer that ranked highest after the interviews to gather more information, including a marketing study, before any decision to lease the building is made. CSU doesn't plan to go forward unless it's a viable project, she said. A decision is expected to be made within six months, she said. http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2012/06/csu_still_hopes_to_convert_mat.html

Cleveland School District plans to move STEM high school students to Cleveland State University campus Published: Wednesday, June 20, 2012, 6:00 AM Updated: Wednesday, June 20, 2012, 9:32 AM Karen Farkas, The Plain Dealer By Karen Farkas, The Plain Dealer CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland School District's MC²STEM high school for science, technology, engineering and math plans to move its juniors and seniors to Cleveland State University. Students would attend classes in a campus building, be tutored and mentored by CSU education students and can take classes at CSU that count for high school and college credit. Cleveland teachers would work with CSU faculty and students. The high school would be located on the second and third floors in a building west of Rhodes Tower at Chester Avenue and East 21st Street. Plans call for a FabLab stocked with computers linked to cutting-edge production machinery, including laser-powered cutters and etchers and a machine that makes three-dimensional plastic parts. The Campus International School opened in the Fall of 2010 with kindergarten, first and second grade students in rented quarters in the First United Methodist Church at East 30th Street and Euclid Avenue. The school planned to add two classes of kindergarten students each year and expected it would need bigger quarters in 2013. But in the fall of 2011, the waiting list was so long that it added four kindergarten classes. It will have four kindergarten classes this fall. http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2012/06/cleveland_school_district_plan.html

Let's save one then: