MidwestChamp

When you click on the link above, be sure to click on and go through the interactive presentation of the three proposals, its pretty cool, basic, but cool.

Very interesting article in PD today regarding Public Square redesign. I hope the region can get behind the concepts in these designs (I like design #3, the wooded, man made hill above the mega Superior-Ontario Intersection). Which design does the UO faithful like, and can we get behind something and make Public Square what it should be...a premier public space for all to enjoy. Re-imagining Cleveland's Public Square By Steven Litt, The Plain Dealer December 20, 2009, 12:30AM "But James Corner, one of the nation's leading landscape architects, sees a huge potential to turn the 10-acre space at the heart of downtown into an iconic destination on par with Chicago's Millennium Park. He wants to see the square filled with people strolling, sunning, picnicking or relishing public art, concerts, gardens or outdoor markets. At the behest of two nonprofit organizations, Parkworks and the Downtown Cleveland Alliance, Corner has come up with three radical and highly inventive plans for the square. " http://blog.cleveland.com/architecture/2009/12/reimagining_clevelands_public.html I have to say I have really enjoyed Steve Litt's articles lately...he is on fire from the Med Mart to the Port to the Innerbelt Bridge and more...he is really keeping design issues regarding all of these big projects front and center and in everyone's face.

Just wait until the new Asia Foods opens in Asian Town Center! :wink:

Asian Town Center should open very soon with a great mix of restaurants, shops and offices. Here's a link to their website http://www.asiantowncenter.com/ Also, Asian Town Center is across the street from Tyler Village, so the potential for great synergy here is amazing. As for AsiaTown, it is not struggling. The Asian community has been in the area since migrating decades ago east from the Rockwell location. Present day AsiaTown has the highest concentration of Asians in our region (its true that many more are in the suburbs, but they are spread out across the region). If you go to any of the restaurants or particularly the markets in AsiaTown English is often the last language you hear. This is what makes the area authentic and less touristy than Chinatowns in other cities, but also presents unique challenges, particularly if you are comparing AsiaTown to say Little Italy. AsiaTown caters to the Asian community needs/goods/services extremely well, and the area is very busy in that respect, but with the exception of restaurants it is not yet the tourist draw it could be. However the Year of the "Chinese Zodiac" public art project has greatly raised AsiaTown's profile. A website was launched last year (www.asiatowncleveland.com) and this year, in addition to the seasonal Year of the Tiger sculptures, permanent public art will be installed. There are also plans for banners and other initiatives to make the area more inviting to visitors. Hopefully you all will see the impact of these initiatives, as well as new developments like Asian Town Center, this year. So in short, definitely check out AsiaTown and support these efforts. And go beyond the restaurants and venture into one of the markets like Tink Holl, Park2Shop, Asia Foods, and more. Nothing's on the shelves is in English, and its just a great experience most Clevelanders miss that's right here in town. I certainly did not know about it before working in the area.

Continental Airlines cancels non-stop seasonal flights from Cleveland to London By Alison Grant, The Plain Dealer December 03, 2009, 6:05PM " The airline in a statement blamed 'the inability to secure economically viable seasonal slots at Heathrow and the impact of the global recession on the performance of the route.' Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson said he will lead a delegation of business leaders to Continental headquarters in Houston early next year to talk about resuming the service. " http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2009/12/continental_airlines_cancels_n.html

...if Vegas can learn from Pittsburgh, what can Cleveland?

Ok so I totally did not want this to turn into a "my city is better than yours" competition. I recently read this article in the Las Vegas Sun which points to Cleveland's shortcomings and Pittsburgh's recent success and I wanted the thoughts of the people who post on this site as to what may be at the root of this. Both cities have positives and negatives...but we can certainly learn from each other. That was my goal. As for the article that sparked my idea to pose the initial question...it is here: "...How do we avoid becoming Detroit or Cleveland or Buffalo — once prosperous cities now deeply scarred by decay? More pointedly, what can we learn from their failures? Also, what can Las Vegas learn from those Rust Belt cities that have transformed themselves and are now thriving — cities such as Boston and surprising gems like Pittsburgh?" Full article: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/oct/11/lessons-las-vegas-can-learn-rust-belt/

Ok, so I'm from Cleveland, born and raised, but went to Pitt 1997-2001. When I left Cleveland in 1997 the Pittsburgh Post Gazette heralded Cleveland as a revitalization model (new Rock Hall, Science Center, Waterfront Line, Flats, etc, etc). I was proud to be in Pittsburgh and hearing all of this positive press about Cleveland in our rival city. Well now I am back in Cleveland and am astonished (not really) at the positive press Pittsburgh is getting in the Plain Dealer and, well everywhere, while Cleveland seems to have lost something we had in the late 1990's. So my questions to the smart people at UO...what happened in these two cities that set them on such separate paths?? What caused what seems to be Cleveland's regression? Was it crime, poor schools, OH/Cle laws versus PA/Pitt laws, business environment, or was Cleveland's 1990's rebirth simply over hyped? Conversely, what is the source(s) of Pittsburgh's success...lack of forced school busing, terrain that forces tight neighborhoods, formation of the RAD (regional assets district) tax in 1990's (the region pays for their cultural assets, not just Pittsburgh residents), change from 3 county commissioners to county exec/council back in 1990's, better city/state laws, or is this all over hype for Pittsburgh that may fade like Cleveland's 90's hype? My sense is that beyond terrain, these are near twin cities in history, industry, size and culture, so what's the deal?? Don't get me wrong, I'm not hating on Pittsburgh, I love it! (Some of my best memories are being a student in Oakland) But I love Cleveland too and my sense is these two cities are so similar there have to be lessons that we can learn. Your thoughts...

Finished my one...lol...i guess it helps! :-)

11am on Saturday...I will try to attend

1910

PD story on Brookings Institute report regarding employment sprawl away from the city Spread of jobs outside city centers hurting Cleveland and other cities, study shows Posted by Olivera Perkins/Plain Dealer Reporter April 06, 2009 00:01AM Categories: Economy, Real Time News Plain Dealer file A rider gets on a RTA bus. The Brookings Institution ranked metropolitan areas based on the percentage of jobs located more than 10 miles from downtown. The closer you live to downtown in Northeast Ohio, the farther you may be from a job, concludes a national study to be released Monday. Read the full article at: http://blog.cleveland.com/business/2009/04/spread_of_jobs_outside_city_ce.html

just turned 30 last month! :x

GREAT variety of the city...it seems like you covered everywhere (including my street!)...really neat threat!

This is EXACTLY what I was thinking. As a planning student, I am pissed about this situation and I know the mall is the best site. HOWEVER, when I consider the people who will visit this center, TC is the right choice, no matter how monstrous this box will look behind TC. We can ridicule this Bruce Harris guy for being a suburbanite, but let's face it...a lot of the convention visitors who will use this place will be suburbanites who think like him. Love or hate Forest City, TC is one of the best examples of a mixed use, well connected facility, and it is just as much an asset to this city as the mall is...and tower city is still our landmark tower...this is just the latest chapter of planning drama that has played out in this city since the group plan was built and we were blessed with 2 great civic spaces (both of which could be better cared for, but i guess thats another forum topic)...whats cleveland's civic center...public square and tower city...or the malls of the group plan...we've never decided and both spaces need help so the story continues...and i've ranted off topic so i'm done! ;-)

JMasek...is there any reason why the blue emergency lights are on constantly at several of the HL stations, particularly in East Cleveland?

Interesting way to look at it...evidence of a corrupt deal would show that the bank was stronger than everyone was led to believe...

Oh ok...you're right...it is good to see a local official getting passionate about something...but I do wonder what all the UO posters think about NCC's prospects for survival should the PNC deal be stopped for whatever reason.

The neighborhood photographed is St. Clair Superior. Although some may not like the architecture of the homes, this area is one of Cleveland's most diverse, home to a growing Asian community (Asiatown - where development is really starting to take over...such as Asian Town Center and Tyler Village), still home to some of the Eastern Europeans who built the Slovenian National Home (a beautiful gem on St. Clair Ave), a growing Ethiopian population (and Empress Taytu restaurant), a small Latino community and large African American community. This diversity makes the area very interesting, as well as its location on the lakefront, industrial area along the lake (alive and well, with revived interest due to the port's move to East 55th), and growing arts community in the numerous warehouse lofts in the East 20's, 30's and 40's. Warning...shameless CDC plug here...check out these websites for more info: www.stclairsuperior.org www.asiatowncleveland.org

Hold on MTS...I don't think this is all good. As bad as NCC going dark is for Cleveland and all of the other communities mentioned on here, the reality is the damage has already been done. For the past month all the nation has heard is that NCC is a bad bank that had to be forced into a sale so that it would not fail. I know that NCC obtained 7 billion in the spring, and is well capitalized and all, but perception is soooooo much of reality. How will Cleveland be impacted if LaTourette is successful, NCC is saved, and 3-6 months later the bank completely fails...not because it is in so much trouble on paper but because of perception...because outside of the Cleveland area, no one has as deep of a vested interest in the banks survival and as such they simply pull their money out of the bank...and other banks and institutions refuse to do business with NCC due to the fear. I think any effort to save the bank now must also include additional funds and protections put into place to restore confidence in NCC. Otherwise the bank will fail...and that would be even more disasterous for Cleveland...its psyche and its employment base (most likely all jobs lost...PNC will certainly need some of NCC workforce). I'm not trying to be down on NCC when they're low...I've been a loyal customer since my college days...but I'm also trying to be realistic about whats best for the region given the severe damage this press has done to the bank. The destruction of NCC's reputation, which is still a very good bank despite all of the bad press, is the real crime in all of this, and that's whats killed NCC.

Forget David Bryne and his assessment of Euclid Avenue! Those were AMAZING shots of the street...and sooooo many people out downtown! Love it! Thanks!

My father was born and raised over there. He's a tru "tarblooder"! Thats whats up! My mom is a tarblooder ('66) although I'm a John Hay Hornet ('97). All my fam went to either Glenville or Hay. We battle it out about which is better to this day! Seriously though I'm glad to see both schools are doing so well...Glenville sports and of course the new Hay!

Glenville Baby!! Born and raised in Wade Park/Ashbury Historic District!

Hilarious...although Ohio is sadly beginning to feel like a suburb of Western PA! "Guess yunz better head dawntahn to watch dem stillers!"

Here's PNC chair James Rohr's letter to PNC employees: Dear Colleague: I am pleased to announce that PNC has reached a definitive agreement to acquire National City Corporation for approximately $5.2 billion in stock, and additionally $384 million in cash payable to certain warrant holders. The addition of National City will more than double the size of PNC and accelerate our efforts to build a great company. Upon closing, which is scheduled for later in the fourth quarter of 2008, PNC will have more than $180 billion in deposits and 2,500 branches across 13 states and Washington, D.C., ranking us in the top five in each of those categories. It will also make PNC the number one bank by market share in Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania as well as number two in Indiana. The agreement is subject to customary conditions including shareholder and regulatory approval. The combination of PNC and National City will create a powerful deposit franchise with significant opportunities to generate revenue growth. By applying PNC’s business model, risk management system and technology platform on this larger scale – and incorporating appropriate policies and processes that have been successful at National City – we can do even more to create value for the customers, employees, shareholders and communities served by both companies. To maintain our strong capital levels, PNC plans to issue to the U.S. Treasury $7.7 billion of preferred stock and related warrants under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) Capital Purchase Program subject to standard closing requirements. Finally, I would like to thank every PNC employee. Without the efforts we have collectively taken to grow our company, serve our customers and strengthen our communities, we would not be in a position to enter into this unprecedented transaction.