KJP

The last quote, from port Chairman John Carney, says a lot! I'm sure the property owners have their own take... __________________________ http://www.portofcleveland.com/news/newsdetail.asp?NewsID=126 News Releases Contact: Jeri Waters Communications Manager (Click for Print Version) Federal Regulations Ensure for Equity Flats Owners Posted: 4/21/2006 – The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority voted unanimously to authorize eminent domain proceedings if further negotiations do not result in the acquisition of several properties identified for redevelopment in the Flats east bank. Eminent domain is always a last resort, but the agency must be prepared when all good faith efforts to reach an agreement have been exhausted, Chairman John Carney said today at the port’s board meeting. “We are still hopeful we can resolve this situation before it actually goes to the courts. That is still our desire,” he said. John Loftus, the port authority’s vice president of regional development, said the steps taken to acquire the properties met stringent state and federal guidelines designed to protect the financial interests of owners during negotiations for their properties. Since the Flats redevelopment project involved federal money, the Uniform Relocation Act takes precedence in governing compensation to property owners and provisions for relocation assistance, he said. “The law very clearly spells out the rules for acquiring property for redevelopment. We are not given a choice in the matter. Either we follow the letter of the law, or the project could be in jeopardy,” Loftus told board members. Ohio’s policies regarding Uniform Relocation mirror those of the federal government, Loftus said. The port’s role as coordinator of public funding for the project and its experience on numerous other complex development projects made it logical for the agency to also manage land appropriations for the venture. “We are committed to treating the business owners fairly and also seeing this development project through to completion,” Carney said. “The project will transform a crime-ridden area plagued with neglected buildings and deserted streets into a thriving lakefront neighborhood. This will result in millions of dollars in revenue for the region and thousands of construction and full-time permanent jobs.” The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority helps the regional economy grow and keeps local industries connected to the world by supporting thousands of jobs and providing area businesses a competitive advantage through maritime and development finance partnerships. The port averages 13.1 million tons of cargo per year, while generating more than $570 million in personal incomes through the 11,000 jobs supported by port activities. ###

The port authority was expected to pass a resolution this morning that will authorize its law firm to use eminent domain to acquire land for the Flats East Bank redevelopment. The land includes 21 parcels owned by 21 companies. I haven't yet heard if the port authority board has authorized its law firm to proceed, or which property are, or are not being targeted. Also, the property owners are now alleging that Wolstein doesn't own the 70 percent of land needed for his redevelopment, but instead owns just 30 percent.

Mok is gone. I sure hope Ricky Smith is all that Jackson thinks he is or this is a step backwards for the region. __________________- http://www.city.cleveland.oh.us/mayor/press/2006/200604/04_21_2006.htm NEWS RELEASE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mayor's Office of Communications Cleveland City Hall 601 Lakeside Ave., Room 227 Cleveland, Ohio 44114 Telephone: (216) 664-2220 Facsimile: (216) 664-3570 www.cleveland-oh.gov FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Maureen Harper, Chief of Communications (216) 664-2220 Michael House, Press Secretary (216) 664-4171 RICKY D. SMITH, SR. NAMED DIRECTOR OF PORT CONTROL CLEVELAND , Apr il 21, 2006 – Mayor Frank G. Jackson has named Ricky D. Smith, Sr. as the next Director of Port Control for the City of Cleveland . Mr. Smith will oversee the administration of Cleveland Hopkins International and Burke Lakefront Airports as well as the use of City-owned land along Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River . Mr. Smith is currently the Senior Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer for the Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA), which is responsible for the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and Martin State Airport . Mr. Smith will join Mayor Jackson at a news conference on Friday, April 21, 2006 at 3:00 p.m. in the Red Room, City Hall, 601 Lakeside Avenue . Over the last 17 years, Mr. Smith has had management responsibility for business administration, airport operations, planning and engineering, marketing and air service development – virtually every major function of a large commercial airport. He is credited with overseeing the development and implementation of BWI’s $2 billion expansion program, including the new Southwest Airlines terminal. Mr. Smith led the development of a new concession and retail program, a new airport/airline use and lease agreement and expansion of the airport’s domestic and international air service program. He earned a master’s degree in business administration from Loyola College in Maryland in 1999 and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Howard University in 1987. His leadership development pursuits include participation in programs such as the Greater Baltimore Committee’s The Leadership Association and the world-renowned University of Maryland’s Government Executive Institute. Mr. Smith has an outstanding reputation in the industry as well as the civic community. He is a member of the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials’ Standing Committee on Aviation; a Board Member of the Airport Minority Advisory Council, and Chair of its Government Affairs Committee; a member of the Transportation Research Board Security Research Funding Committee; and Chair of the Conference of Minority Transportation Official’s Maryland Chapter. In the interest of full disclosure, Mr. Smith shared information during the candidate selection process about a 2003 parking violation that escalated into a trespassing charge which was later dismissed. “The parking violation was overblown and the court agreed not to file the incident. Until recently, I was not aware that the matter was recorded,” he said. Mayor Jackson thanked Mr. Smith for disclosing the information and does not view the incident as a hindrance to Mr. Smith’s ability to perform his duties. Mr. Smith is expected to start working for the City of Cleveland in mid-June. -30-

John Mok is out. This new guy better be at least as well regarded as Mok or we (Greater Cleveland) just took a step backward. I don't understand why it is was necessary to replace Mok. __________________ http://www.city.cleveland.oh.us/mayor/press/2006/200604/04_21_2006.htm NEWS RELEASE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mayor's Office of Communications Cleveland City Hall 601 Lakeside Ave., Room 227 Cleveland, Ohio 44114 Telephone: (216) 664-2220 Facsimile: (216) 664-3570 www.cleveland-oh.gov FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Maureen Harper, Chief of Communications (216) 664-2220 Michael House, Press Secretary (216) 664-4171 RICKY D. SMITH, SR. NAMED DIRECTOR OF PORT CONTROL CLEVELAND , Apr il 21, 2006 – Mayor Frank G. Jackson has named Ricky D. Smith, Sr. as the next Director of Port Control for the City of Cleveland . Mr. Smith will oversee the administration of Cleveland Hopkins International and Burke Lakefront Airports as well as the use of City-owned land along Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River . Mr. Smith is currently the Senior Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer for the Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA), which is responsible for the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and Martin State Airport . Mr. Smith will join Mayor Jackson at a news conference on Friday, April 21, 2006 at 3:00 p.m. in the Red Room, City Hall, 601 Lakeside Avenue . Over the last 17 years, Mr. Smith has had management responsibility for business administration, airport operations, planning and engineering, marketing and air service development – virtually every major function of a large commercial airport. He is credited with overseeing the development and implementation of BWI’s $2 billion expansion program, including the new Southwest Airlines terminal. Mr. Smith led the development of a new concession and retail program, a new airport/airline use and lease agreement and expansion of the airport’s domestic and international air service program. He earned a master’s degree in business administration from Loyola College in Maryland in 1999 and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Howard University in 1987. His leadership development pursuits include participation in programs such as the Greater Baltimore Committee’s The Leadership Association and the world-renowned University of Maryland’s Government Executive Institute. Mr. Smith has an outstanding reputation in the industry as well as the civic community. He is a member of the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials’ Standing Committee on Aviation; a Board Member of the Airport Minority Advisory Council, and Chair of its Government Affairs Committee; a member of the Transportation Research Board Security Research Funding Committee; and Chair of the Conference of Minority Transportation Official’s Maryland Chapter. In the interest of full disclosure, Mr. Smith shared information during the candidate selection process about a 2003 parking violation that escalated into a trespassing charge which was later dismissed. “The parking violation was overblown and the court agreed not to file the incident. Until recently, I was not aware that the matter was recorded,” he said. Mayor Jackson thanked Mr. Smith for disclosing the information and does not view the incident as a hindrance to Mr. Smith’s ability to perform his duties. Mr. Smith is expected to start working for the City of Cleveland in mid-June. -30-

What the hell is this? The reporter didn't even interview me! And the guy this reporter interviewed at ORDC -- his name isn't Don Dawson -- it's Don Damron! Now I'm probably going to get in trouble at work!

And they did it PDQ. I'll still treat you like a VIP, OK?

WOW! :-o

I think it's time for a visual tour of the proposed corridor. It's a fascinating mix of land uses, and even the suburban portions have some pretty decent density, while some urban portions have some significant abandonment, poor streetscape and dead-sidewalk issues (MetroHealth Medical Center is a prime example). The following photos were all taken on April 20, 2006. Let's start at the outer part of the corridor, in the Parmatown Mall vicinity, and work our way north toward downtown on Ridge Road and Pearl/W.25th Street. Mileage shown is the distance to Cleveland's Public Square based on the proposed routing... 1) 9.5 miles - A half dozen apartment complexes are concentrated just west of Parmatown, between the mall and the Tri-C West Campus... 2) 9.4 miles - RTA's new Parmatown Transit Center, under construction across Day Drive from the mall 3) 9.3 miles - RTA passengers wait out in the elements on Day Drive at Parmatown 4) 9.1 miles - Byers Field, on Day Drive between Parmatown and Parma Community General Hospital. When football games and other big events are held here, parking and traffic is pretty horrible 5) 8.9 miles - Some outlot mixed uses along Ridge Road, between Day Drive and Ridgewood. This is across Ridge from the hospital 6) 8.9 miles - Parma Community General Hospital -- a fairly urban-looking medical campus for the 'burbs 7) 8.8 miles - Parma City Hall at the corner of Ridge and Ridgewood. Ridgewood was the southern endpoint of Cleveland Railway Co. streetcar line No. 40, which was abandoned in 1928 south of Brookpark Road (Route 16 streetcar line on Pearl was abandoned in 1947 north of Brookpark Road). 8 ) 8.1 miles - This is an interesting traffic circle (OK, sort of circle) where Canterbury, Chestnut Hills Ackley, Wainstead and, of course, Ridge Road all come together. The traffic circle is paved with brick, just as it was when streetcars came through here 9) 7.6 miles - Numerous small apartment buildings line this part of Ridge Road in Parma, plus churches and mom-and-pop shops. But the business district is still farther north 10) 7.3 miles - This is one of Parma's "Main Street"-style business districts, on Ridge at Snow Road. There's drug stores, offices, library and an old theater -- all "on the sidewalk" -- and surrounded by small-lot single- and multi-family uses 11) 7.0 miles - Some more of the Ridge Road business district, between Snow and Pearl roads 12) 7.0 miles - Just one of the local draws along Ridge Road -- a bowling alley in Parma? Who-da-thunk-it? 13) 6.8 miles - The infamous intersection of Pearl and Ridge roads, looking south on Pearl toward Ridge. It is among the county's 20 busiest intersections 14) 6.2 miles - Pearlbrook Shopping Center, at Pearl and Brookpark roads -- hence the name. Stereotypical early (1940s-1960s) suburban sprawl 15) 6.0 miles - Crossing the great divide on Pearl -- I-480 and the CSX mainline near the Cleveland-Parma boundary (actually Brookpark Road is the legal boundary, but the highway and tracks form a more substantial physical boundary) 16) 5.6 miles - Part of the business district on Pearl Road in the southern part of Old Brooklyn 17) 4.7 miles - Near the heart of Old Brooklyn on Pearl is an RTA bus garage, with Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, School, Convent and Party Center immediately behind it 18) 4.4 miles - "Downtown" Old Brooklyn, where three busy streets -- State, Broadview and Memphis -- all converge into Pearl. Part of the old Deaconess Hospital, now MetroHealth South Campus, can be seen in the background 19) 4.2 miles - Intersection of Pearl and Broadview during afternoon rush 20) 4.2 miles - Transit scene in downtown Old Brooklyn 21) 4.0 miles - The Brooklyn-Brighton Bridge over the Big Creek Valley, looking north. The main entrance to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is at the left -- the access road is called Wildlife Way 22) 3.5 miles - Brooklyn Centre, where traffic often gets gridlocked and would require signal preemption for any improved transit service (bus or rail). A first phase of this signal system could actually come later this year, but for emergency vehicles (the incremental cost of similarly equipping transit vehicles would be pretty low).... 23) 3.4 miles - More bumper-to-bumper stuff. Brick building at right behind the white sign is an 1880s fire station, now home to architectural firm Arkinetics 24) 3.1 miles - General landscape around the interchange between Pearl (which becomes West 25th in this area) and Interstate 71 25) 2.9 miles - MetroHealth Medical Center's campus, employing 6,000 people and annually sees 800,000+ visitors. Unfortunately, it doesn't mesh well at all with its urban surroundings along West 25th Street 26) 2.8 miles - West 25th, past MetroHealth -- a wasted opportunity! 27) 2.7 miles - This view gives a little better explanation why the medical campus doesn't related well with it surroundings. It sits like a fortress, isolated from the street, preventing the neighborhood from being enriched by the hospital's presence 28) 2.4 miles - Some terrific but faded architecture is awaiting an injection of new life from a transit corridor project! 29) 2.3 miles - Ditto for the famous Aragon Ballroom, now closed but often the subject of renovation plans. This was where the big bands and swing bands would swoon your parents or grandparents back in the day 30) 2.2 miles - West 25th and Clark Avenue. This is how dense most major intersections in Cleveland used to look, before they were demolished for gas stations, parking lots or were left to fall down or be burned down. In fact, the white building at left was gutted by fire a few years ago, but the neighborhood fought to restore it rather than raze it 31) 1.9 miles - Ugliness near the West 25th / I-90 interchange. This was a densely developed neighborhood, and was the subject of a famous photograph taken during the Blizzard of 1913 that has been posted elsewhere on this site. Perhaps a transit corridor can restore some of that lost density and vibrancy 32) 1.3 miles - Looking south from the intersection of West 25th and Columbus Road, taken from the bridge over the Red Line tracks. The larger bridge south is over the Norfolk Southern tracks from Lorain to Painesville and the Flats Industrial Railroad 33) 1.3 miles - Looking northerly from the same spot as above, toward the heart of Ohio City and West Side Market 34) 1.3 miles - Looking due north along the Red Line, from the West 25th Street overpass. The Ohio City/Lorain Avenue station is in the background That's all for the tour. Hope you enjoyed the trip!

An addict's steps to recovery -- denial, anger, bargaining, acceptance. I think we're still somewhere in the denial/anger stage. I'm in the bargaining stage -- still owning a car, but taking transit and walking more and more. I'm about $1 away in gas price hikes from selling my car -- but then I'll get less money for it. Ah dilemma....

If rail is chosen, it will almost certainly be a surface line. The only question to me is, on what sections can a dedicated rail or bus right of way be provided to separate transit vehicles from car and truck traffic?

I'd have flunked him. He put the blind passenger in a serious safety situation. The driver needs to be bumped down to a custodial position or some other similar level job.

Don't force transfers if you don't have to!

Thanks. Here's the official statement from the Shaia Family about their counteroffer: _____________ Statement April 18, 2005 Last week the developers of Lighthouse Landing made a counter offer to the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority’s offer to purchase our property. The counter offer, attached, is that the developers of Lighthouse Landing would retain ownership and development rights and would provide parking to the Wolstein Group at mutually acceptable terms. The proposed Lighthouse Landing development has a substantial degree of flexibility for the public parking it can offer to the Wolstein Group for the neighboring Flats East Bank development. Lighthouse Landing is offering a variety of scenarios, including: Adding one or two additional parking levels to our garage, providing up to 360 available public spaces. Modifying the number and locations of the W. 10th St. townhouses to allow for expansion of the garage and additional access from W. 10th. Providing a temporary staging area for the Wolstein Group’s construction management and equipment. Coordinating the phasing of Lighthouse Landing with the construction needs of the Flats East Bank project as appropriate. The principals of Lighthouse Landing have offered to enter into a written agreement suitable for the Wolstein Group’s parking goals for its neighboring Flats project. The principals of Lighthouse Landing would like the terms of such an agreement incorporated into a development agreement that would include Lighthouse Landing, the Wolstein Group and appropriate public bodies. ###

^ One of the reasons that was stated in the grant request was that a streetscape was already done for the section of West 25th north of Lorain. That would probably suit the bus-rapid transit concept (just a guess on my part). But I think another reason is that if they go with rail, a rail line could very easily diverge from the Red Line near West 25th, south of Lorain.

A suspect was arrested.... http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=51055 AKRON -- Police have arrested a suspect after a stabbing on board an RTA trolley. He's 45-year-old Darrell Livingston of Cleveland. Channel 3 first showed you the surveillance tape of the attack yesterday involving a fight between two passengers. That tape generated leads for police and late Wednesday afternoon, the tips led Akron police to an address on Rhodes Avenue, where they say they took Livingston into custody. He's being held in Akron, pending a charge of felonious assault.

A suspect was arrested.... http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=51055 AKRON -- Police have arrested a suspect after a stabbing on board an RTA trolley. He's 45-year-old Darrell Livingston of Cleveland. Channel 3 first showed you the surveillance tape of the attack yesterday involving a fight between two passengers. That tape generated leads for police and late Wednesday afternoon, the tips led Akron police to an address on Rhodes Avenue, where they say they took Livingston into custody. He's being held in Akron, pending a charge of felonious assault.

Here's some reader/viewer comments about fuel prices from CNN/Time, followed by some worthwhile graphics and an article.... http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/04/19/feedback.gasprices/index.html Your e-mails: Spend $3 in gas to buy $6 beef jerky CNN.com readers on rising pump prices Wednesday, April 19, 2006; Posted: 4:43 p.m. EDT (20:43 GMT) Gas prices are rising, seemingly unstoppable on their way to an average $3 gallon, and the peak vacation driving season is still ahead. On Wednesday, oil prices jumped above $72 a barrel to set another record after a government report said supplies of crude made a surprise decline and gasoline stocks fell far more than expected. CNN.com asked for readers' opinions on how rising gas prices affect their daily routines, how much gas costs in their area and how concerned they are about overall trends in energy pricing. Here is a sampling of responses, some of which have been edited: I fill my car with 50 dollars worth of gas. I drive to the store to buy a 6 dollar bag of beef jerky. ......... http://money.cnn.com/2006/04/19/markets/eia_oil/oil_guzzling_restyled.gif http://money.cnn.com/2006/04/19/markets/eia_oil/oil_production_10.gif

Come to think of it, 200,000 square feet can't be the biggest Wal-Mart around. I distinctly recall from the past dozen or so years that I've written about other superstores in the area of similar size. Perhaps they just weren't Wal-Marts.... Sucks either way.

Don't forget the 11-story CSU transit center.

Yes. You buy a ticket from a machine on the platform or in the station and get on the train (or EC bus) without having to show the driver anything. However, RTA is hiring something like 50 police officers in the coming years to patrol the trains and EC buses to check to see if riders have their proof of payment (farecard, etc). If they don't, they can be subject to very hefty fines (in Ottawa, it's something like $500). Baltimore and numerous other cities also have the proof of payment/honor system.

^ Dats a byootifull photo

^ See my post above at http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=4504.msg91860#msg91860

The idea wasn't generated by NOACA or RTA. But NOACA didn't have to approve funding the grant for the transit study. And if stakeholders along the route, including the city of Cleveland, say this is something they ultimately want to build and secure funding for, then RTA officials I've spoken with said they would have to do it. Who knows, it may end up being what's called a turnkey project -- everything is studied, funded and built by non-RTA stakeholders, then the whole thing (except for some or all of the operating funding possibly) is turned over to RTA for them to operate. Also, keep in mind that, as Musky noted, the Old Brooklyn Neighborhood Services (a cosponsor of the grant request) and the Old Brooklyn Community Development Corp. are in the process of merging. The president of the OBCDC board is Maribeth Feke. She's also planning and programming director for RTA. So RTA will be involved.

I've had several experiences like that in the last couple of weeks. There was a really old guy who got on one bus I was on on Saturday and the driver waited until he was seated until he started the bus rolling again. I was on another bus heading out to the west end of Lakewood, and the driver was pleasant in greeting everyone and he also called out all the stops along Detroit Road. When I headed back east, it was the same driver. He remembered me and that I had an all-day pass, so he waved me by the fare machine and just pressed a button on it to record my boarding. But, on the downside, I was on a Red Line train heading west out of Tower City a couple of days ago, when some gangbangers were playing some loud rap "music" on their cell phones. They started in the Tower City station and continued while on board the train. I don't care if the music is on a portable radio/CD player or on a cell phone -- riders aren't supposed to share their tunes with everyone. No RTA employees said anything to them -- not the cop strolling around in the station or the operator on the train. They were still playing that shit when I got off at West 117th.

This was on my Cox-Cleveland home page today.... Convention Authority Loses Money 04-19-2006 8:52 AM (Cleveland, OH) -- The group charged with finding a site and financing for a new convention center in Cleveland will have less money to work with. The Cuyahoga County Commissioners have slashed the Convention Facilities Authority budget to eight-thousand-dollars a month. The cuts follow the authority's suspension of operations earlier this year. The county commissioners will send the remaining 25-thousand-dollar monthly payouts to the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland. Copyright 2006 Metro Networks Communications Inc., A Westwood One Company