KJP

I believe the Pinnacle garage was a former warehouse, converted for parking. It was not built with Pinnacle in mind. KJP

^Maybe that's for the Ferrari and the Bugati KJP

The Fulbright scholars in Congress will probably argue for a oil profits windfall tax. They won't get it, considering who's in the White House. Even if something like that does pass, who believes the oil companies will eat the cost? KJP

Correct, but the only articles I had this week that might be of interest here are on the Towpath Trail and the reopening of Deaconess as MetroHealth's South Campus (and its impact on Old Brooklyn). That neighborhood could (and should) be more like University Circle, what with the hospital facilities, zoo and high-density housing. Nothing about aluminum hot dog stands yet. I wasn't expecting the article to be done by our weekly deadline -- each Tuesday. KJP

Just call me Dr. Frankenstein, as I've created a monster I can no longer control.... KJP

Now you're getting warm! (referring to the hot dog stand) KJP

You guys are getting out of hand. If I knew my teaser was going to have this effect, I wouldn't have teased! Sorry guys! Now I fear it's going to be a letdown.... KJP

My articles appear mostly in the West Side Sun, Brooklyn Sun Journal and the Sun Herald (West Shore), but some can appear in any of them if they are regional in scope. KJP

Little guy media outlet? Sun is the largest chain of suburban weeklies in the nation! We have 28 papers in Greater Cleveland. Wimwar, If I can't get the developer to go on the record and can't get an article in for next Thursday, drop me a private message. KJP

Sorry. But I don't want to jinx it. And I don't want the PD, Crain's or anyone else to jump on this first. Sun is beating the PD on the CMHA plan to build the Hope VI development east of East 9th Street on the Waterfront Line, and we're going to try to beat them on this, too. Since I started covering the Cleveland beat, I'm absolutely amazed at all the story tips, press releases and other potential news items I get. I wrote eight articles for this week's paper, and I could've written twice that many, but had to ignore the others. When I covered only the western suburbs, I was lucky to have 3-4 stories a week about new development projects, or updates on ongoing ones. Now, my head is spinning! KJP

Speaking of parking lots, there's another major development brewing. It could be delivered to the city for approval in January, but I suspect you'll hear about before then (hopefully much sooner, if I can break the story). In other words, stay tuned. KJP

Mr. X, I didn't know you lived downtown! Last I heard you were out in Avon Lake. Congrats on the relocation to civilization! KJP

That's correct. On both West 25th and Detroit Avenue, you can tell by the widths of the streets where both subway ramps were located. The one on Detroit is more apparent, as the street suddenly widens and then narrows again in front of the long, brick building converted into apartments a few years ago (I forget the name of it). But the on-street parking for it occupies what was the westbound lanes of Detroit Avenue, between West 28th and West 29th. The West 25th ramp was located between Church and Franklin, but West 25th doesn't have the same abrupted changes in its width anymore to clearly indicated where the ramp was. Both ramps still exist below the streets, just filled in. In 1994, I saw where the subway tunnels end at the spot at which each fill begins. And the fills are limited only to the streetcar ramps. It wouldn't take much at all to excavated them, but the walls would likely have to be reinforced and some utility lines relocated, which will probably constitute the bulk of the cost. KJP

Hopefully, the results of the economic impact study will encourage Ohio's Congressional Delegation to literally get on board. Congrats on the victory. KJP

I know this is going to sound like a complete shock, but I developed a concept for a southern routing! It would basically follow Route 21 from the suburbs north to Granger Road, then railroad alignments from there north. Another routing is south on West 25th, which is a very heavily use transit route. KJP

The site is just east of the Wolstein development, between the lakefront railroad tracks and Front Street, just west of West 9th (the bridge to nowhere across the tracks). KJP

CBRE's latest report, released after Sept. 30, shows a minor rise in overall office vacancy rates, though Class A space saw a slight drop in vacancies. Also, the region's unemployment fell slightly, from 5.6 to 5.5 percent, though not as dramatic a drop as in 2Q (when it fell from 7.1 to 5.6 percent). Still, Greater Cleveland's unemployment rate is better than the statewide average of 5.9 percent, yet worse than the national average of 4.9 percent. See the full report at http://gkc2.cbrichardellis.com/GlobalMarketReports/us/cleveland3q05ofcdt.pdf I was surprised it made no mention of the DFAS decision, unless CBRE is waiting to see if Congress amends Bush's recommendations in any way. Also, it makes no mention of Quicken Loans' announcement to open a call center downtown. Again, CBRE may be waiting to see where they will lease space. By the way, see CBRE's industrial and suburban office market reports for Greater Cleveland, visit: Industrial: http://gkc2.cbrichardellis.com/GlobalMarketReports/us/cleveland3q05ind.pdf Suburban office: http://gkc2.cbrichardellis.com/GlobalMarketReports/us/cleveland3q05ofcsub.pdf KJP

Thanks. Here's some information to help Ohioans communicate with these two legislators.... Contact info for Rep. Calvert: http://www.house.state.oh.us/jsps/MemberDetails.jsp?DISTRICT=69 Contact info for Rep. Spada: http://www.senate.state.oh.us/senators/bios/sd_24.html

Is there any thing that constituents can do to help at this time? Are there any legislators who need some last-minute calls, faxes, e-mails of encouragement? KJP

I just wish we had more private-sector jobs, but I'll take `em where I can get `em. Is someone keeping a scorecard on all of this?? KJP

Correct. Most of the streetcar tracks were never removed. Just the overhead wires (though most of the poles are still standing -- look for those metal poles along city streets!), the substations and, of course, the streetcars themselves. KJP

^Nah, what Amtrak needs is a stable capital funding source to keep the trains maintained, to expand mainline capacity nationwide to relieve freight traffic congestion, as well as the ability to contract out train servicing, maintenance and inspections, a more modern accounting system, and a few dozen other things. Back to the subject of this thread, I think whatever route is selected for an historic trolley, ought to be placed where it could start literally laying the tracks for a better rail circulation system in the urban core. Below are two maps I composed a couple of years ago showing two variations of a built-out downtown rail system. My preference is to see the historic trolley be started using one of these lines. Proceed with a larger vision in mind.... Or maybe.... Or, one of the existing Shaker Lines could be extended from Tower City, directly over the Detroit-Superior bridge to Lakewood (and beyond?). In that case, all that might be needed is to break through some concrete and dirt which separates the Tower City trackage from the east portal of the Detroit-Superior bridge's lower level. Some utilities would probably have to be relocated, however. Those are my thoughts. KJP

If what Fritz Plous says is correct, and I have no reason to doubt that it is (as I respect Fritz's knowledge and awareness of rail issues), then I recant my statement that previously filled this space. But I continue to be concerned that the Bush Administration and others of his ilk will use this as an opportunity to scuttle Amtrak in the mere hopes that something better will magically replace it. Create the replacement before throwing the baby out, bathwater and all. KJP

It doesn't. In fact, it requires more valuable downtown land than the alternative proposal that Paul Alsenas of the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission and I have posed. We've also proposed a signature bridge, but built slightly south of the existing Innerbelt bridge. See the presentation at for an overview: http://members.cox.net/corridorscampaign/Inner%20Belt%20presentation.pdf (737K) Or the following for more detail on the downtown neighborhood that could be created by realigning the Innerbelt (showing before and after views): http://members.cox.net/corridorscampaign/Inner%20Belt%20Hood1.pdf (385K) KJP

I see at the following link that the Higbee Building has 895,000 square feet. That would more than satisfy the DFAS's space requirements, and have room for expansion, plus an entire first floor for restaurants, retail and common areas if they so desire. http://www.downtownclevelandpartnership.com/pdf/euclid.pdf You may be right Punch (or is it now Hunch?). KJP