Cleburger

Amen. There is a failure in our leadership to push this through to its full vision. It's allowing us to be subjected to the usual ODOT mentality. This project should be put into action, including bike paths and at-grade intersections.

Yeah, when they tore down that corner in late 2012 it's been a terrible eyesore ever since. That gas station was "remodeled" in 2009, IIRC. At least Enhance Clifton is finally in real progress after years and years of waiting. By fall, there will be a much needed facelift to the streetscape. Fingers crossed on the church repurposing. It seemed that it was beyond the point of economically viable repair. Kudos to the folks who searched for viable options! My only hope is that the church plan doesn't make it easier to let the rest of the site become another strip mall. There seems to be too many factions all working towards something different here. Everyone needs to combine forces.

I wouldn't count union members amongst the poor. In terms of wage earners, they are doing better than most. And they stand to benefit from the work that happens around the venues.

West 117th was a three-year project that began in 2000. I drove it to work every day from 1996-2008. I remember detouring around the construction on Sept. 11, 2001 while listening to radio news coverage of the attacks as they were happening. Thats when I remember it being done as well. So just a little over 10 years ago it was finished. The road should show some signs of wear and tear, but not utter destruction as we are witnessing today.

That is the first I have heard of it. How big? I am sure that NFL fans paying $60/ticket could afford to pay another million/year in fees. It would cost about a dollar/ticket. It varies by the event and is included in your ticket price. $2-$5 is typical.

The city is still involved with a suit against Allega for the shoddy work and concrete on W 117th? It was a brand new reconstruction around 2000 if I remember? Now it's like a third world country....

it's really not that simple. Tons of local businesses buy up groups of seats. They pass the ticket costs on to customers I hate to tell you, but these facilities already have facility fees on the tickets. I'm sure that goes to the general operating costs....

Agreed 100%. While I'm not pro tax generally, if put to good use then why not. It's not like saving that nickel on your pack of smokes is going to change your life. As an alternative, what if we the NFL lost its tax exempt status and was forced to kick in some of their money?

Man it sure would help the neighborhood if they could reroute the freight traffic off those rails!

Off of this sounds like what Mike White pulled off to bring down the main stretch of Old River Rd.... Clubs and restaurants that had been operating for years were suddenly raided by electrical and building inspectors and shut down--with no chance to remedy the code violations.

I wasn't sure if this was the appropriate thread, but couldn't find one for what other countries were doing with rail. Wherever it belongs, it's sad! http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/03/16/1285080/-Amazing-photos-show-us-why-the-American-transportation-network-has-fallen-off-the-rails#

That building is cool--and honestly I never noticed it before. Would love to hear about it.

This would be good, but I would also hope with their eyes on growth that they would also join one of the big alliances to tie in overseas partners, etc. It's one of the reasons I don't fly Southwest unless it's truly convenient--most of my status is built on partner/overseas flights.

This is the hub of our city. Where transport, entertainment and employment meet. It should be very urban, yet comfortable to hang out in. And most importantly, in Cleveland, is it has to be functional in 4 seasons, and easy to keep clean and tidy. I'm thinking something more along the lines of Trafalgar Square in London. Some fountains, a little greenery, and traffic somehow restricted to the outside (perhaps buses exempted). Plenty of space for lunchtime, transit waiters, and maybe a concert or two. Have a look: http://architecture.org.nz/2011/06/15/trafalgar-square/

I'm not a fan at all. I don't mind some green, but would prefer this setting remain truly urban. Like a European city centre, with lots of paving bricks. These look like a Disney entrance.

I'm going to miss some of those flights, but would miss them less if we actually had properly scheduled train services to places like Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Detroit! What I'm NOT going to miss is being crammed into a RJ for 3.5 hours on the way to places like San Antonio or Denver. At that point I don't mind a connection to stretch my legs and aching back!

It's actually brilliant on their behalf--stealing from the Southwest marketing. Perfect to keep the Cleveland-hating rubes believing that the fares are lower at CAK, even if that's not true any longer.

Like Jimmy Dimora's collection of golden spoons? ;)

Even those of us who don't work directly for the industry (a.k.a MD88Pilot), but travel our arses off for our careers (a.k.a CLEBurger) use these acronyms and abbreviations. Check out Flyertalk.com--it's filled with tons of them that I've never even heard of! http://www.flyertalk.com

He supposedly flew in yesterday right before the game from Chicago, but his Instagram posts yesterday were showing up from Fairlawn OH. He must have been at "home" already. Has anyone else heard the rumor that he wants to put together an allstar team here back in Cleveland--not only with the Cavaliers, but also NBA guys with teenage sons so they can all play together at SVSM? I, for one, would be all for this arrangement.

Good point there should probably be a coordinated effort on the state level to at least pitch one of the three as a finalist.

Not that I wouldn't mind seeing a mixed use tower, but I think you are overselling the potential of a handful of housing units 35 floors above ground. That's not a transformative number for Downtown or even a portion of it. And that high up, they won't even be adding any street presence to that block. But given the economic climate of new construction vs rents and sale prices in downtown Cleveland, this may very well be the only chance to do such a thing. That alone, would make them unique and (IMO) highly marketable.

Cincinnati also taxes touring bands--2.1% of their gross income. So does Cleveland. Columbus and Dayton do not.

Now you've asked the right question. Why should I pay for hotel amenities at a convention center hotel? I'll ask it this way, why should I pay HOA fees at a small number of condos, yet not have full access to the pool or amenities other buildings have. I'll have to pay for amenities - share - with hotel guests. I'm paying for the pool, that hotel guests are using. Still not following, because even your examples include ones where the owners share the ammenities. If your suggesting the convention hotel isn't "classy" enough for these prospective buyers, I don't disagree. But if the price point is right (thanks to the public money "foundation" for the development), perhaps it would be enough to sell 15-20 units with a prime location near to courts, etc in downtown Cleveland. No they do not share the amenities. There are separate pools (exception W Atlanta), gyms, entrances, visitor suites, etc. There are common things, like valet, restaurants, even the property lobbies are separate. I mention those specific properties because I've been to them. As a home owner, I don't want to pay for something, the hotel guests have access too. If I want to use the pool, I want to do so in peace. Not when a ton of people are there. I do understand your point. But I also think the future of Cleveland needs our leaders to be pressed to think outside the box. You cite a handful of examples of shared amenities in these types of mixed use buildings in other markets. But this is Cleveland. There have been condos sold for $400K plus with no pool in the Pinnacle. Would the same demo go for a condo on the 35th floor of a high rise, with the same or better amenities, AND add a pool, that they might have to share with a convention-goer? I would think there are 10-15 high-roller lawyers who would love an EXCLUSIVE condo like this (for Cleveland). 30-35 stories above the streets, across the street from the courts, walking distance to the rest of downtown. My problem with this convention hotel is that it just stinks of a typical Cleveland politically-moved project. It's all about speed and ease. Its about getting that wood sign posted on the site with all the politicians names listed...free political ads in all their red white and blue glory. No one thought to make a more lasting impact. They just want to get the hotel done and not put any effort into a bigger agenda for the future of Cleveland.

Now you've asked the right question. Why should I pay for hotel amenities at a convention center hotel? I'll ask it this way, why should I pay HOA fees at a small number of condos, yet not have full access to the pool or amenities other buildings have. I'll have to pay for amenities - share - with hotel guests. I'm paying for the pool, that hotel guests are using. Still not following, because even your examples include ones where the owners share the ammenities. If your suggesting the convention hotel isn't "classy" enough for these prospective buyers, I don't disagree. But if the price point is right (thanks to the public money "foundation" for the development), perhaps it would be enough to sell 15-20 units with a prime location near to courts, etc in downtown Cleveland.