Cleburger

Understood--but in the bigger picture how much could 8 more feet of concrete and a fence cost? The City of Cleveland should be able to seek additional funding for that add-on from other sources. If you want to attract suburbanites, who thrive on the shortest possible routes and convenience, to live in the Tremont neighborhood, a direct walking/biking connection to downtown is a huge sell.

How can they manage to put in a bike lane across the entire new Bay Bridge construction in San Francisco/Oakland, but the Cuyahoga River valley is somehow an insurmountable feat of construction?

I agree wholeheartedly. For example, the impending West Shoreway conversion and upgrades to Clifton Blvd presents a huge opportunity to improve both Detroit Shoreway and the already viable, though slipping, Clifton/Edgewater area, and bring along the region in between with it (Detroit and Lake Aves). Cudell should be talking to Gordan Square and starting to lay the groundwork for the not-so-distant future.

Here here--and while we're at it I think 50 mph would be reasonable on Chester, Carneigie, Shaker and Fairmount. Who needs an Opportunity Cooridor when you can BLAST through the Heights at 50 MPH. Game on! ;) Where on Shaker or Fairmount can you drive at 50 MPH or is that sarcasm? Maybe just a tinge of sarcasm. ;) But don't you think 50 MPH on Shaker makes sense? We could put underpasses on the square with ramps to the outer roads. Let's not let a few extra minutes of commute time stand in the way of suburban progress.... My point is the 50 MPH argument on the 3 mile stretch of West Shoreway is ridiculous when compared to the bigger picture and what that stretch of road can mean to the near west side, Lakewood and the next 100 years of Cleveland's lakefront development.

It's this type of zero-sum thinking that is killing this state. We can grow the pie and everyone will benefit. We're not allowing these casinos to compete with casinos from out-of-state, which guarantees that most of the business is going to be local. If anything, that will cause the casinos to cannibalize other local entertainment options. What are you talking about? The casinos have to abide by the same laws everyone else does. We voted for casinos, not to change the state's liqour laws. The laws should be changed for everyone, but especially for casinos, if we want them to compete on a regional level, and not just a local level. I feel like we're recycling the same argument from before, but as I said previously, take whatever the casinos in Indiana, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Michigan are allowed to do, and let our casinos go one step further. Otherwise, most of our casino traffic will only be from local residents, and these casinos will be taking business from other local establishments. It's pretty simple to understand. When every state within an 8 hour drive has casinos, like is soon to happen, you are correct. The traffic will be mostly local. It's a tax on the poor of our state. No glitz and glamour here--only politicians taking the easy way out, trying to market Cleveland against a race track at a freeway exit in Erie. Think I'm wrong? Check the gaming industry revenues of the last 5 years. Too little, too late. Cleveland should have opened a casino in the Powerhouse when the Flats were booming and a legitimate destination. The Bourbon St of the North. Game on--let's hire another 500 cops and make sure everyone stays safe. Alas, never happened...

Here here--and while we're at it I think 50 mph would be reasonable on Chester, Carneigie, Shaker and Fairmount. Who needs an Opportunity Cooridor when you can BLAST through the Heights at 50 MPH. Game on! ;)

You've obviously never worked with the labor force at either the IX or the Convention Center as I have. I dare you to go ask the Teamsters at the Convention Center how much training they've had. ;)

I'm interested to hear about the labor deal at this new convention center. Would the county own the negotiations with the unions, or would the city? And how would their jurisdictions divide between the county-owned CC and city-owned Public Hall? One of the biggest factors in shows going to the IX will be it's use of non-union labor. Let's hope the city and county can convince the unions to be competitive to bring the work to them.

Haha! :) A stone arched viaduct perhaps?

Plus, as Toledo learned with I280, those cable stays are rough when the ice starts building.

Actually in the 1990's Cleveland was getting some phenominal press. The PBS show hosted by the economist Adam Smith showcased Cleveland. Magazine articles from across the spectrum trumpeted the re-birth and renaissance. Other cities such Oakland, CA came to ask Clevelands advice as to how to jump-start their own cities. City planners beleived that the city's popluation had stabilized around 505,000. There was the flats, new sports venues, etc, etc... What happend? Jane Campbell, Frank Jackson While we're off topic, the end of the Flats in the late 1990's under Mike White's administration was a HUGE mistake. Cleveland's legitimate tourist destination was shut down and sold off to a developer who has yet to deliver over 10 years later. What does this have to do with the airport? Especially since the post is incorrect. It had nothing to do with the airport, as I pointed out in the first line of my post. Was just weighing in on the Jane Campbell/Frank Jackson comment which I believe is not entirely fair either. There have been plenty of mistakes by all mayors.

Actually in the 1990's Cleveland was getting some phenominal press. The PBS show hosted by the economist Adam Smith showcased Cleveland. Magazine articles from across the spectrum trumpeted the re-birth and renaissance. Other cities such Oakland, CA came to ask Clevelands advice as to how to jump-start their own cities. City planners beleived that the city's popluation had stabilized around 505,000. There was the flats, new sports venues, etc, etc... What happend? Jane Campbell, Frank Jackson While we're off topic, the end of the Flats in the late 1990's under Mike White's administration was a HUGE mistake. Cleveland's legitimate tourist destination was shut down and sold off to a developer who has yet to deliver over 10 years later.

And slow speed zones for the train operators during these clean up events--along with the mandated talking train announcements ;)

I'm willing to bet these recordings had more to do with the liability and future employee policy direction of the ATU and less with RTA's actual liability. Everyone knows that RTA is getting sued no matter what recording is playing if a person gets killed. The transit union would argue that RTA offered these recordings as a stopgap and therefore they are released from liablity (and the driver keeps his/her job).

My guess is RTA doensn't have the authority over the trees, much like the crumbling concrete. I'm sure the buck will be passed to the city, who will claim that THEY were not aware.... :)

or downtown apartment living in places like Charlotte..... Avon Lake and Charlotte--sort of the same thing, though Charlotte is coming round.

My prediction: Give those buildings a scant few years in the proximity of the salt and road grime of the innerbelt combined with the overall lack of government building proactive maintenance and everyone will get their chance to review the design when it needs to be replaced. I'm in agreement with the complaints above--it looks like it should be a medical office in Avon Lake.

Notes from the first public meeting are up on the Enhance Clifton website: http://www.enhanceclifton.com/node/5?q=node/45 Since the project is really a road construction project with some transit components (and has nothing to do with BRT) I'm thinking it deserves a separate thread from this one. Perhaps entitled "Enhance Clifton"?

(Or lack thereof) ;)

Dan I agree that every city is cash strapped and needs revenue--my opposition is that casinos do nothing for the economy or surrounding areas. It's just another tax on the poor designed to fill budget gaps. So when the casino revenue tanks (as has happened nationwide in the last few years) where are the local beancounters going to come up with the cash?

I can't believe anyone would think Forest City would do any differently since the site was specifically named in the casino amendment. Talk about being in the catbird's seat! I'm sure FCE will be good civic-minded partners and cut Dan a break. :roll:

$1 Million a day at MGM! No wonder Detroit is such a beautiful place! Those multiple casinos are sure turning things around. :-D

Gottaplan is about to start chanting: "Polebarn! Polebarn! Polebarn!" You answered your own question when you said it was "crammed down voters throats as a tool for creating jobs in a down economy." The puppeteers behind this measure don't care about Cleveland. And you can bet if Dan Gilbert could throw up a polebarn to start lining his pockets he would. Thankfully there is still some measured debate on the issue...

there are significant shortcomings with both the physical machines and the software. all that is being addressed now is the software. basically, the height isn't the real issue. the real issue is the screen angle which was changed to make them ADA acceptable because of the width of the stations - it was off by something like 1 or 2 inches, so they decreased the screen tilt by 2 inches, which led to a bunch of other problems. basically, the new redesign by including the button number and the "....." aligning to the button will help fix this. there are also separate proposals for creating a 3 color front panel and introducing a "1. select" "2. pay" and "3. Take" approach to the actual fronts on the machines instead of all being the red color with no orientation. I understand that RTA hasn't committed to these changes b/c they would have to pay and not the vendor. HEIGHT isn't the issue? Speak for yourself! I have to literally get on my knees to conduct a transaction. I'm only 6'3. They are in danger of being crushed by a dwarf! Whoever the board or committee who approved these things should be fired and forced to personally pay for the replacement.