KJP

The USA has the best job growth among the G7 and yet has the least amount of workers returning to the office. What we do have the most of is urban sprawl and long commutes. Address that and you address WFH/RTO.

The sources I quoted are not prone to self-serving in that manner. Coyne is, when it comes to his "Look at me" approach, but not when it comes to pretending the market is doing something when it isn't just because he doesn't like it. he tends to be pretty sober when it comes to market trends. I found some of their comments very interesting about why America has been so loathe to return to the office vs the rest of the world. And a big reason why is because of urban sprawl and the long commutes it subjects us to (in addition to having larger homes). If corporate America truly believes there is a corporate benefit to having people back in the office, then it needs to start doing something about having more comfortable offices AND urban sprawl which may be adding a new set of ills that corporate America can appreciate -- starting with reduced productivity and innovation, loss of corporate culture, loss of control, etc. I would hope that major office employers consider financing mixed-use developments with housing at their core within walking distance of their offices as a means to get more people into the office.

Miami Airport station was FDOT's fault. They were told multiple times during planning that the platforms were too short, the waiting room and ticketing/baggage facilities too small and the lack of train servicing/commissary was too inadequate. After it was built, Amtrak said the station would have to be retrofitted for it to come there and FDOT didn't seem to care. So Amtrak said adios.

Cross-posted from the Cleveland downtown office thread

2025 is the year Cleveland returns to the office By Ken Prendergast / January 1, 2025 For better or worse, for richer or poorer, many of us are about to rediscover our relationship with the office. Some of us never left. Others left and aren’t coming back. But an increasing number of Americans and Greater Clevelanders will be coming back to the office in 2025, for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic caused employers to dabble with remote or hybrid working. MORE: https://neo-trans.blog/2025/01/01/2025-is-the-year-cleveland-returns-to-the-office/

I double-checked this and it's true. Ridiculous!

Fort Lauderdale now says it will only accept tunnel to accommodate commuter rail https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/fort-lauderdale-now-says-it-will-only-accept-tunnel-to-accommodate-commuter-rail/

Haslams respond to Cleveland mayor’s ‘Modell’ letter By Ken Prendergast / December 30, 2024 Ten days ago, NEOtrans broke the story that the city of Cleveland intended to pursue invoking “the Modell Law” against the Cleveland Browns in order to make them keep playing their home games within the city limits — and especially Downtown Cleveland. Today, the Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb sent a letter to the Browns’ owners outlining the terms of how the city intends to do that. And now the Browns’ owners have responded. MORE: https://neo-trans.blog/2024/12/30/haslams-respond-to-cleveland-mayors-modell-letter/

CBJ is owned by American City Business Journals which, in turn, is owned by Advance Publications. Advance also owns Cleveland.com and the Plain Dealer as well as my former employer Sun Newspapers. Advance is owned by the billionaire Newhouse family. They have owned the PD since 1967 and hated Cleveland ever since.

Top Cleveland-area developments of 2024 By Ken Prendergast / December 30, 2024 Beyond the Cleveland Browns stadium debate, the Cleveland Cavaliers, city of Cleveland, Sherwin-Williams and more pushed projects forward on the lakefront across Northeast Ohio. MORE: https://neo-trans.blog/2024/12/30/top-cleveland-area-developments-of-2024/

So many Americans struggle to imagine life that doesn't revolve around cars or consider the upsides. Reminds me of the David Foster Wallace line about a fish that passes other fish and says "hey, how's the water?," to which one replies, "what the hell is water?" How extreme car dependency is driving Americans to unhappiness A car is often essential in the US but while owning a vehicle is better than not for life satisfaction, a study has found, having to drive too much sends happiness plummeting https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/29/extreme-car-dependency-unhappiness-americans

You're assuming that the data will be accurate. I've seem some pretty gerrymandered concentric market areas to come up with some incredible market data.

I cheated @stpats44113. You were close.... https://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20050110/REG/501100734/constantino-s-opens-its-doors

What's sad is that CLE had 600 flights a day 25 years ago. Charlotte also has a pretty cool rail system with lots of development along it, and it's still growing.

That's what $1.4 billion gets us nowadays?? What a letdown.

Maybe we shouldn't rush into AI so quickly??

‘Godfather of AI’ shortens odds of the technology wiping out humanity over next 30 years Geoffrey Hinton says there is 10% to 20% chance AI will lead to human extinction in three decades, as change moves fast https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/dec/27/godfather-of-ai-raises-odds-of-the-technology-wiping-out-humanity-over-next-30-years

The end of industry on Breakwater By Ken Prendergast / December 27, 2024 In the coming weeks, the last vestiges of industry along a once heavily industrialized street are due to pass into history. What will replace it is the same thing that has replaced industrial uses along the rest of Breakwater Avenue in Cleveland’s redeveloping Gordon Square neighborhood — housing. Lots of housing. MORE: https://neo-trans.blog/2024/12/27/the-end-of-industry-on-breakwater/

Stickney was in Rocky River and it appears that's still the address of record based on the website. So I assume he's still the guy. But there's some "new" (2017) companies (certainly newer than 1828 which is how old some of the oldest ancestor companies are in Scranton-Averell!!) with affiliated names like Scranton Averell Investments LLC as well as East West Alliance Scranton Averell LLC (East West Alliance is the partnership of companies that pursued the Thunderbird development). Interestingly, there is no Scranton-Averell Inc. registered with the Ohio Secretary of State's office.

Ex-Medical Mutual HQ sale amount ‘A great deal’ By Ken Prendergast / December 26, 2024 Although the buyer of the former Medical Mutual of Ohio headquarters in Downtown Cleveland publicized earlier this month it had closed on its purchase financing, they declined to reveal the transaction amount at that time. But that amount became public when the deed transfer was filed with the Cuyahoga County Fiscal Officer on Christmas Eve. MORE: https://neo-trans.blog/2024/12/26/ex-medical-mutual-hq-sale-amount-a-great-deal/

Miceli Dairy to start its big expansion in spring By Ken Prendergast / December 24, 2024 Miceli Dairy Products is taking the first big steps toward its multi-phase expansion vision by unveiling plans for its $16 million first phase. But when all three phases are completed in the coming years, Miceli anticipates making a $128 million investment that will bring hundreds of new jobs to Cleveland’s Buckeye-Woodland neighborhood. MORE: https://neo-trans.blog/2024/12/24/miceli-dairy-to-start-its-big-expansion-in-spring/

I avoid RTA. It's gross, slow, expensive and...gross.

There was one but I can't find it. It was started by a friend of mine @biker16 probably a decade ago. More... Funding Announced For Red Line Extension As City Approves Zoning https://chicagoyimby.com/2024/12/funding-announced-for-red-line-extension-as-city-approves-zoning.html

Historic Carriage Co. project in Ohio City advances By Ken Prendergast / December 23, 2024 A slew of construction permit applications were submitted to the Cleveland Building Department last week for the redevelopment of the former Voss Industries plant, 2168 W. 25th St., in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood. This $63.4 million project along with a planned bus rapid transit corridor on West 25th promises to expand the vibrancy of the Market District farther south. MORE: https://neo-trans.blog/2024/12/23/historic-carriage-co-project-in-ohio-city-advances/

Demolition permits were submitted Dec. 19 for the Bonwit Teller site, 2720 Van Aken Blvd, by Sitetech of Grafton.