MuRrAy HiLL

More abstact art for CWRU campus anyone?? Case Western Reserve University acquires a Minimalist sculpture by Ronald Bladen By Steven Litt, The Plain Dealer December 17, 2009, 12:46PM December isn't exactly the perfect time to go traipsing around looking at outdoor sculpture. But Case Western Reserve University has something new worth seeing: a large, Minimalist sculpture by the important 20th century American artist, Ronald Bladen. When things warm up, it will be worth remembering that the Bladen is there, waiting to be appreciated among the notable sights around University Circle. MORE AT http://blog.cleveland.com/architecture/2009/12/case_western_reserve_universit_1.html

Great news! It'll fit right into the area, with a nice transition into the Arcade.

O Christmas Ale...

Ohio housing agency approves financing for renovation of two West Side Cleveland apartment communities By Michelle Jarboe, The Plain Dealer December 16, 2009, 4:46PM CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Ohio Housing Finance Agency approved $15 million in financing today to help with renovations of two apartment communities on Detroit Avenue in Cleveland. The quasi-public agency announced $15 million in multifamily housing revenue bonds for the Neal Terrace and Boulevard Terrace apartments. The tax-exempt bonds will cut borrowing costs for local developer Harvey Oppmann, who has been working for several years on plans to buy and renovate the properties. Boulevard Terrace, at 10119 Detroit Ave., and Neal Terrace, at 8811 Detroit Ave., were built in the early 1900s and currently house low- to moderate-income families. MORE AT http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2009/12/post_24.html

I received this via email today: Join the CSU Vikings for the Big Holiday Showdown Doubleheader Event! This Saturday, December 19th head over to the Wolstein Center for the Big Holiday Showdown doubleheader event. At 2pm watch the Vikings men’s team take on #6 West Virginia, the highest ranked opponent ever to play CSU in Cleveland. Immediately following the men’s game, the CSU Lady Vikings will take on the Big Ten’s Indiana Hoosiers at 4:30pm. ALL home CSU Basketball Saturdays –including this one -are Family Value Saturday: Dollar hot dogs! FREE KidZone with inflatable games, balloon artist, and more! Free t-shirt to the first 1,000 fans courtesy of Pepsi Get $5 off $20 tickets on specially marked cans of Crush and Dr. Pepper. Discount redeemable at Wolstein Center Box Office on game day only Doubleheader tickets start at just $8 Beginning tonight, the Vikings will face four straight March Madness teams from last year. They will take on Robert Morris tonight at home @ 7pm, #6 West Virginia on Saturday @ 2pm, and then they head on the road to take on #18 Ohio State (Tues 12.22 @8pm) and #17 Kansas State (Tues. 12.29 @8pm). This weekend is a don’t miss in college basketball. Come out and show your support for CSU Basketball! For more information about the CSU Vikings schedule or ticket information visit www.csuhoops.com We look forward to seeing you there! Maura Reilly PR & Marketing Downtown Cleveland Alliance

We talked about the new ownership and possible influence on the team and city a few months ago: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,15104.180.html Maybe we should merge the two discussions and create a new thread in "Ohio Business" since there seems to be some interesting news ahead?

Another store being added to the Airmall: AIRMALL® at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) Signs Lease with Swatch - Stylish Watch Retailer Expected to Open Unit in 2010 - CLEVELAND, Dec. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Travelers in search of stylish watches, jewelry and accessories will soon be able to shop at Swatch at the AIRMALL® at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE). BAA Cleveland, developer of the AIRMALL® at CLE, has signed a lease with the retailer. Swatch is expected to open a unit (450 sq. ft) on Concourse C in February 2010. "BAA Cleveland is pleased to add a respected international retailer such as Swatch to the specialty retail program at the new AIRMALL® at CLE," said Tina LaForte, vice president of BAA Cleveland. "Moreover, travelers will be able to shop for Swatch's watches, jewelry and accessories knowing that they are paying 'Regular Mall Prices...Guaranteed.' It's part of the AIRMALL® promise." http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/airmallr-at-cleveland-hopkins-international-airport-cle-signs-lease-with-swatch-79230092.html

One more article. Looks like Cleveland had some influence with the league coming back: Cleveland Gladiators owner pleased to be joining revamped Arena Football 1 By Dennis Manoloff December 08, 2009 CLEVELAND, Ohio -- At a news conference in December 2008, Cleveland Gladiators owner Jim Ferraro announced that he had voted with 11 Arena Football League teams to suspend operations for 2009. Cleveland football fans played a huge role in getting Ferraro, a trial attorney, to dive back into the arena pool. MORE AT http://www.cleveland.com/gladiators/index.ssf/2009/12/cleveland_gladiators_owner_ple.html

A lot of activity going on in that little University Circle area: Biotech firm Thermalin Diabetes nabs exclusive insulin therapy option from CWRU By SHANNON MORTLAND 3:06 pm, December 14, 2009 Thermalin already has raised more than $275,000 in seed financing from individual investors and has received a $254,000 grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to test in animals one of the company's insulin therapies. MORE AT http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20091214/FREE/912149975

Hell yeah! Cleveland Muesum of Art board OKs next phase of expansion project By Steven Litt, The Plain Dealer December 14, 2009, 10:16PM Encouraged by a rebounding endowment and favorable construction prices, trustees of the Cleveland Museum of Art voted unanimously on Monday to embark on the second major phase of a $350 million expansion and renovation. But the vote authorizes only the first half of the remaining work, called "Step C," which includes completing exterior facades and the raw interior structure of a new West Wing and central atrium. Trustees will vote in June on whether to proceed with the final stages, including completion of interior floors, walls and ceilings, and the installation of art in galleries devoted to textiles, pre-Columbian and Asian art. MORE FROM LITT: http://blog.cleveland.com/architecture/2009/12/cleveland_muesum_of_art_board.html

Maybe this is more buiness, but great news for both the Cavs and the City of Cleveland! Chinese investor Kenny Huang sees bigger, better things for both Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James By Brian Windhorst December 14, 2009, 8:48PM CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Kenny Huang is a man who understands. He speaks Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese and English. He has an undergraduate degree from a Chinese university and postgraduate degrees from two American universities. He knows about roads, electrical infrastructure, used to work on Wall Street and soon will own pieces of basketball teams in both China and America. He splits his time between Hong Kong, Guangzhou and the United States. His perspective on the world, and specifically the way Americans and Chinese relate and can do business, is unique. When he sees the Cavaliers and LeBron James he thinks big, grand long-term ideas. Then he executes them. With Huang standing over their shoulders, Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena President Len Komoroski and Xu Yan, the Tsingtao President of Global Marketing, signed a large multi-year sponsorship agreement at The Q Monday afternoon. Tsingtao (CHING-dow) is China's most popular beer company and one of its most well-known brands. Sort of like Budweiser in the U.S. By the end of the year, Huang will likely finish another deal, completing the purchase of a 15 percent stake in the Cavs, representing the first major investment by the Chinese in American pro sports. That ownership deal, signed in May during the Eastern Conference Finals, will sell former Cavs Vice Chairman David Katzman's 15 percent to a group led by Huang. MORE AT http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2009/12/chinese_investor_kenny_huang_s.html

Don't worry, it's being countered by the expanding health care :-D

To add to the list by quoting myself: Miceli Dairy Products looks to expand Cleveland cheese operationBy Michelle Jarboe, The Plain Dealer December 11, 2009, 5:31PM CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Miceli Dairy Products Co., a family-owned cheese maker, wants to nearly double the size of its manufacturing operation south of Buckeye Road in Cleveland. The company is considering a $20 million expansion onto land to the west of its longtime facility at 2721 E. 90th St. The project would include building a new cheese factory and buying 12.6 acres for a facility to transform waste from the cheese-manufacturing process into energy. Roughly half of Miceli's 135 workers live in Cleveland, where the expansion could create 50 more jobs. MORE AT http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2009/12/miceli_dairy_products_looks_to.html And of course Cleveland Clinic: http://www2.wjtv.com/jtv/ap_exchange/business/article/ClevelandClinicToAdd1800JobsIn2010Oh/70817/

^^ that's awesome, thanks for posting. On a similar note...about 2 months ago when I was in Boston, I ate at an Italian place in the North End with a line out the door almost 12 hrs a day. Even with a line out the door, I would say HALF of the restaurants in Cleveland's Little Italy had better food than that place...and I did order a few things, to sample as much as the menu as possible. not to mention, the less hectic feeling of dining in Cleveland restuarants as well.

Good mood all week now! And man we have some die-hard fans: http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/12/cleveland_browns_fans_endure_s.html

"Mr. Einhouse also is optimistic that the group's request for $2 million in federal stimulus funds may win approval in a few weeks. Plans call for strings of light-emitting diodes to go into the pavement at East 14th Street, forming a nighttime image of piano keys." Never opposed to federal money and more lighting! Going to be an interesting upcoming few weeks with possible tax credits and stimulus money announcements.

These have been some nice business announcements for Cleveland over the past three days: - UH expanding - American Sugar doubling - Biotech/manufacturing company moving to University Circle And these are just the ones who got nice spiffy news articles.

Case Western Reserve receives $19.7M federal contract By SHANNON MORTLAND 3:03 pm, December 8, 2009 Case Western Reserve University has received a $19.7 million federal contract to become an international clinical trials site for the Tuberculosis Trials Consortium. MORE AT http://crainscleveland.com/article/20091208/FREE/912089973

^^Here's the link: http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2009/12/american_sugar_expansion_plan_would_nearly_double_cleveland_plants_size.html

AIM Pharmakon plans to open plant in University Circle By Tom Breckenridge, The Cleveland Plain Dealer December 07, 2009, 5:55PM CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A maker and marketer of drugs and dietary supplements plans to open a University Circle-area plant employing up to 40 people, officials say. AIM Pharmakon, based in Centereach, N.Y., announced Monday that it will invest $2 million in a manufacturing and research-and-development facility, thanks partly to state and city tax breaks. The company was drawn to the region's growing biomedical base and expertise in heart care, company president Vijay Puntambekar said in a news release. MORE AT http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2009/12/a_new_york-based_marketer_of_p.html

2009 Annual report is out: http://universitycircle.org/annual2009/

GOD BLESS GLBC and CHRISTMAS ALE: Christmas Ale: It tastes like Christmas in Cleveland By Amanda Garrett, The Plain Dealer December 08, 2009, 9:05PM CLEVELAND, Ohio — Some Clevelanders call her winter's mistress, an irresistible temptress who warms them through the holidays. Others call her a ninja whose stealth attacks repeatedly shock them, leaving them cold and alone -- and sometimes naked -- lying on a floor. Men sing songs exalting her strength and pen poems pining for her return after she's gone. But she's no lady. This femme fatale is a beer. MORE AT http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/12/christmas_ale_it_tastes_like_c.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- And also: Christmas Ale: The legend By Amanda Garrett, The Plain Dealer December 08, 2009, 8:55PM Since November, bartenders at The Winking Lizard have poured more than 31,000 glasses of Christmas Ale, and that doesn't include pitchers, said John Lane, a partner in the local chain of restaurants. "It's crazy," he said. "It's by far the No. 1 selling beer here for two months." MORE AT http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/12/christmas_ale_the_legend.html

Maybe there's a better place for this...but: Cleveland's University Hospitals to add more than 550 jobs, restructure management By Sarah Jane Tribble, The Plain Dealer In an effort to keep pace with a $1.2 billion expansion and growing number of patients, University Hospitals said Tuesday that it will add more than 550 jobs in the coming year and announced a new management structure. The region's second-largest system, which saw patient volumes increase even in a dismal economic year, is gaining market share and plans to use the staff to add more services for people downtown and in the suburbs. MORE AT http://www.cleveland.com/medical/index.ssf/2009/12/university_hospitals_of_clevel.html

Well, the league is back! Cleveland will continue to be a member: Indoor football returns in 2010 as Cleveland franchise takes part in 'Arena Football 1' By Dennis Manoloff December 07, 2009, 11:44PM UPDATED: 11:45 p.m. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Arena football is returning to Cleveland in 2010. The Cleveland team will play in a new league, Arena Football 1, which begins in the spring. A news conference is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. Jim Ferraro, who owned the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League in 2008, will own the new team, also expected to be named the Gladiators. MORE AT http://www.cleveland.com/sports/index.ssf/2009/12/source_arena_football_will_ret.html

Ernst & Young gets major tax break in move to east bank of the Flats By Michelle Jarboe, The Plain Dealer December 07, 2009, 6:18PM CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The state is awarding a major tax break to Ernst & Young, which plans to move its Cleveland offices from East Ninth Street to the east bank of the Flats. The Ohio Tax Credit Authority on Monday approved a 75 percent, 10-year tax credit for the accounting firm, for moving 625 employees to a planned office tower in the Flats East Bank project. The state said the tax credit, of up to $16.5 million over a decade, is a major factor in Ernst & Young's decision to stay in Ohio. MORE AT http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2009/12/ernst_young_gets_major_tax_bre.html