Oldmanladyluck

Yep, I was surprised as I went by the building today. Crazy how fast this demo is occurring.

This topic has been discussed in many threads before, but never directly in it's own thread. I would like to focus on Cleveland's perception nationally, statewide and locally. Why is it that Cleveland's perception continues to be negative throughout the national media? What can be done to change it? The link below came from another post, but is relevant to this discussion. A couple of points- The article below points to the growing positive perception of Pittsburgh, while reporting negatively towards the perception of Cleveland. Both are metro areas which have lost population for the last 60 years, lost their main employment sectors to southern and overseas markets, and both have transitioned (for the most part) to an economy which is based on eds and meds. It can be noted that Cleveland is a leader in the midwest in regards to venture capital and biotech-business start-ups. In fact, the Cleveland regional economy's largest employer is now health-related, as the 2001 recession finally pushed Cleveland in that direction (for better or worse). http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/oct/11/lessons-las-vegas-can-learn-rust-belt/ Lessons Las Vegas can learn from the Rust Belt By J. Patrick Coolican (contact) Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009 | 2 a.m. The images streaming from Las Vegas during the past two years — foreclosed homes, long unemployment lines, unfinished eyesores on the Strip — must be shocking but also achingly familiar to many Americans. For although they’ve come to expect, from media images and their trips here, a dazzling Las Vegas of perpetual change, growth and prosperity, at the same time they know all too well the signs of economic decline.

It isn't like we couldn't have predicted this for some of the cities in the fast growing sun-belt. I'm sure some of us predicted this long ago, and not just out of envy towards the growth rate of these cities. I find it interesting how the "perception" of Pittsburgh, at least seemingly, is becoming progressive and positive, while Cleveland's "perception" seems to be declining and rust-belt. Why is this? Both cities have dealt with population loss for the last 60 years. Both cities have lost their former main employment sector to overseas markets. Both cities have now transformed their economies, for the most part, to eds and meds economies (with Cleveland's being more medical than educational). WHY is it that the overall image of Cleveland remains negative, at least nationally? Sorry to get off topic, but Cleveland's "perception" is important from many standpoints. I'll start a different thread on this topic if one does not already exist.

Creating some of the best schools in the country (which Cleveland had) would create great interest in living in the city. But what of the current mindset of some individuals who do not value education, nor teach their children to do so? This issue can't be answered with money. You could throw all the money in the world at this and have little change. I would therefore start somewhat of a "go to school" propaganda campaign aimed towards city residents which would be driven by the various local news media. That couldn't hurt...

Can't say that I'll miss it... having it half demolished for so long on the Shoreway was a bad move. Let's hope that the rest of the demolition happens quickly.

WELL, I could go on forever with this post. But since I have only 30 minutes before class, I'll have to cut it short... With unlimited funds I would... -Start marketing campaigns regarding the collection and retention of immigrants to the area. We all know that the city was literally built by the many immigrants who came to start their lives here. Now the lack of immigration is hurting the city and region. Immigration made Cleveland what it was, and it can only help in the future. -Let all residents who live in the City of Cleveland go to a two-year college for free. If they graduate with, let's say a 3.2 GPA, give a scholarship towards a degree at Cleveland State. Let's face it- the inner-city's population contains a large segment of individuals who are uneducated. That's not to say that a college education will guarantee jobs (we know the answer to that), but it sure as hell would help foster a spirit of entrepreneurship which is missing in many neighborhoods. How many BBQ joints, barber shops and salons, and daycares must open before we realize that people are capable of starting more than just these types of businesses? -Start a marketing campaign throughout the Great Lakes states and provinces regarding the region. It's time we shake this old rust-belt image off of us. It's time that this city let the nation know of our assets and culture. To most individuals, perception is 9/10 of reality. We will have problems drawing businesses and residents here with the same old Cleveland perception which the nation loves to hate. -Start a local marketing campaign regarding regarding the City of Cleveland. It's time we shake the negative stigma of the city off of itself and let the region know that this is a great city with great resources which can't be found elsewhere in the region. -Start a true competitor to the Plain Dealer. Though newspapers are a dying medium, I would want to have a paper which truly tells the news without bias (yeah, I know... impossible) towards projects throughout town or towards any particular political group/ politician/ business . Having just the PD in this town is part of the reason why we as Clevelanders have a "can't do" attitude. HELL, WE READ ABOUT HOW WE CAN'T DO EVERYDAY! -Start a marketing campaign towards urban living/ urban design within the region. It's a shame that some of the most gorgeous structures in the city/ inner suburbs are vacant, vandalized, or being demolished. As a public, the region has lost its want for good design, and has accepted mediocre. With the Euclid Corridor, we should not have to accept any design. The designs along this stretch should be urban, they should say "Cleveland", and they should be attractive.

^That's GREAT news! Let the expansion continue.

^German Village is definitely a great neighborhood, and that's coming from a Clevelander!

^Yeah, there's no way Cleveland could be cool enough to land any event, especially the Gay Games. Cleveland's too square. WTF is wrong with this "paper"? I'm not even going to bother reading the article.

^I would see no other use being planned for the site other than surface parking. KJP has a pic of what building was on that exact site during Euclid's heyday. Yay for parking.

0-4. Oh well, Go Cavs!

^You're probably right... I just remember (or probably wanted to see) something larger on that site ;) .

Would you be able to elaborate, if possible, regarding what you know?

In the spirit of the Olympics, I give him an "8" for creativity, but "2" for degree of difficulty!! Hahaha, yeah, the mister thought it was a pretty good line too. That would have made me laugh too!

Well, knowing that the Lakefront Plan will take 20 years to fully realize, it may be a while before we actually see Dike 14 as a nature preserve. Just as a refresher, here is what the Dike is to become. This is from the Cleveland Planning Commission's website...

Beggars can be choosers. Woah! This type of situation happened to me as well. When I was walking down Lakeshore close to the strip shopping center across from Euclid Beach, some guy came up to me who I had seen hanging around in the area before. He asked me for some money to buy food. I had a large bag of Cool Ranch Doritos in my hands as I was walking (yeah, I know), and offered him the bag. He said "Man, I don't want that", to which I replied, "Well, you must not be hungry then". That was the last time I saw him there.

^That article pretty much sums up what we knew was going on between Forest City and the PD during the convention center fiasco, which Nesht was conveniently a part of. Sorry to get off topic, but it just aggravates me to no end.

Cleveland's City Council approves huge financial package to help revive Flats east bank project By Henry J. Gomez, The Plain Dealer October 05, 2009, 6:34PM With Michelle Jarboe Cleveland’s City Council threw a life raft Monday to private developers hoping to tackle a major real estate project along the east bank of the Flats. Council members approved a substantial financial package, including a $30 million loan, that Mayor Frank Jackson proposed last month as part of city and state efforts to revive the recession-stalled plans. A $270 million first phase is to be anchored by a new office building to house the Ernst & Young accounting firm and the Tucker Ellis & West law firm. http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/10/clevelands_city_council_approv.html

Great.

Notice that the office tower in this first phase is 6-8 stories shorter than what was previously planned... thanks to the financial crisis. Though we've debated on this forum the importance of street-level interactions, it would have been nice to see a new structure of some greater height being built.

The site is not removed from downtown. A site near the Rock Hall or near the Flats East Bank would be MUCH more removed from downtown than the location behind Tower City. This location is 2 BLOCKS from Public Square! Not only that, but it is directly adjacent to the Q, Progressive Field, and all of the restaurants in Tower City and it is within very short walking distance to both East 4th and West 6th. Pull up Google Maps and check out the distances for yourself. If it is built with the main entrance at street level than it will effectively extend our downtown core all the way North to the River. This development coupled with wide sidewalks and traffic calming features (crosswalks, stop lights, etc...) will make Huron Rd. MUCH more pedestrian friendly. If this casino were developed downward toward the River it could even lead to some development along Canal Rd. That might be a bit of a stretch but I don't think it's out of the question. You mentioned the parking lots on Superior between W6th and Public Square. Do you really want a casino on that lot? Leave this easy developable land for the offices, apartments, retail and restaurants that are currently proposed for those sites. Use the more difficult terrain for the casino. They'll develop it because they know they can still make money on it and it could lead to an interesting design. I like to design possibilities on the TC site much more than any other flat parcel. I'm pretty sick of the Forest City hating too. I understand there are valid reasons to not trust them, but for God's sake every other city has a predetermined site and I don't here anyone complaining about those! Just because Forest City HAPPENS to own what is the most logical casino site should not be reason enough to vote against Issue 3. My thoughts exactly. With this site, we will truly have a clustering of entertainment options within downtown, which I believe will be uniquely Cleveland. Before or after leaving the casino, a person would have the choice of going to Tower City to shop or watch a movie, go to a Cavs game since Tower City is connected to the Q, go to an Indians game, visit East 4th, visit the Warehouse District, visit Gateway, visit Playhouse Square via the Healthline (or taxi), visit the Powerhouse, while in the future, visit some of the retail options being planned along Euclid, visit the East Bank via the Waterfront Line, go to a Browns game, visit the Rock Hall, etc. Though Tower City currently ties these entertainment options together, these connections will be made even stronger with the addition of a casino, which will only add to the many entertainment options available downtown. What will matter is if the city will be able to market itself as a true entertainment destination. If the city is able to do so, I believe that much of downtown will benefit.

^Maybe with this investment we could begin to see some of the gaps being filled with more Asian businesses. But I don't look at this development as being a bad thing. I've always wondered why the building was never redeveloped for any particular use, as it is a massive complex with huge potential.

It's one of the most logical places in Cleveland to put it. I agree... it in my opinion would be the BEST place to put a casino in this town.

I find the exodus from the schools to be very troublesome. Sure, we've had population loss, but I would guess that the bulk of the students who have left the CSD have been enrolled into charter schools. These charter schools are now, in turn, affecting the building of new schools which the city needs. There is NO simple answer for turning around the graduation rate.

^Truth. There's definitely special interests and politics on both sides of the equation.